RFD Illinois

Rachel Peabody, Director of Communications with the Illinois Soybean Association highlights the recent Field and Bean Publication. Markets and a weather outlook for the coming week and into the summer is covered. Steve Bridge from RFD affiliate WFMB reports on labor shortages and legislative action that could be taken.

Illinois Farm Bureau President, Rich Guebert Jr., highlights a gathering of Cattle Producer and general Agriculture groups to discuss recent challenges in the cattle industry and to surface potential solutions. Four Fs Report: Travis Bressner with GROWMARK grain handling systems covers the impact steel availability and labor shortages are having on grain storage project timelines and prices; Fuel prices across the state and nation were reviewed. Matt Kaye reports on how EPA refinery exemptions and Supreme Court rulings are impacting the renewable fuel and corn markets.

Matt Kaye reports on the upcoming expiration of Trade Promotion Authority and the potential impact of that. Travis Mateer, Beef Educator with University of Illinois Extension and Nic Anderson, Illinois Livestock Development Group talk about current issues facing beef production. An update on the Brazilian corn crop in markets and Jim Fleming from Agri-search discusses challenges of finding candidates for agriculture jobs

Matt Kaye reports on Senate Finance Committee member Chuck Grassley’s critique of the Biden Administration’s progress on current and new trade agreements. FarmWeek’s Dan Grant shared his View from a Cab with Julie Newhouse, Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau President. They discussed priorities and activities for the CFB coming out of the pandemic. Josh St. Peters, Executive Vice President, Illinois Beef Association reviews the IBA summer conference being held in East Peoria, June 8 & 9. Tracy Zea, President and CEO of the Waterways Council talks about transportation and the importance of waterways to infrastructure and the environment. Recent rainfall amounts were covered. Doug Harlan, U of I Extension, DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt counties talked about upcoming 4-H Fairs and health and safety rules established by the county and state and how they will work together.

Matt Kaye provides a news update covering challenges for US Dairy exports to Canada. Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Illinois Director of Public Health discusses Illinois’ COVID-19 recovery and vaccination efforts in rural areas. Director of Agriculture Jerry Costello shares the importance of vaccinations as county and state fairs are held over the summer. Tracy Zea, President and CEO of the Waterways Council talks about transportation and the importance of waterways to infrastructure and the environment. Farm Week crop watcher Dave Mool from northern McLean County provides an update from his farm. Kent Casson from RFD Affiliate WGCY provides an update from Livingston and LaSalle Counties.

Mark Gebhards, Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Illinois Farm Bureau, discussed developments on proposed federal tax policies and how they would impact agriculture. On the state level, Mark discussed the pending delivery of the redistricting map, the final stages of the state budget and the state renewable energy plan. In markets, Curt Strubhar with Advance Trading had commentary on the recent volatility in the corn market. Ben Gordon, with Corteva’s Carbon and Ecosystems Services portfolio, provided insight on Carbon and how Corteva can partner with farmers to sequester it.