RFD Illinois

Matt Kaye reports on the ethanol industry. Rodney Knittel provides an end of the year update. He serves as Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Profit Watch Energy features GROWMARK Director of Innovation Heather Thompson.
Richland Community College President Cris Valdez discusses an effort to seek federal funding for workforce training program in Decatur and the Macon County area.

RFD IL segment one – Country Farm #1 Foreign ownership of US farmland grew last year, according to a recent USDA report, but not for key US adversary China. RFD Washington correspondent Matt Kaye reports. Larry Miller of Franklin County completed 10 years as District 17 Director on the Illinois Farm Bureau Board but continues to serve his community as County Board Chairman. Miller spoke with RFD Radio’s Rita Frazer about being involved with local issues and service to others.
Joe Camp with Commstock Investments recaps 2023 market year.
Rumbold and Kuhn sold to River Valley Cooperative.
Highlighting a 2023 Illinois FFA success story.

RFD IL segment one- Congress is in recess for the holidays, but talks continue over the break on keeping the government funded through shutdown deadlines in late January and early February. RFD Washington corr. Matt Kaye reports. Elsie Nord of the Clinton FFA comes from a long line of farmers and successful FFA members, but she is the first 0in her family to receive her American FFA Degree. Nord talked to RFD Radio’s Rita Frazer about the achievement.
Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford talks December weather. And Illinois Farm Bureau's Ryan Whitehouse 2023 success with the "Allies in Agriculture" program.

Congressional lawmakers will try again to pass a farm bill in 2024, and some have already made out their New Year’s wish list of what to include. RFD Washington corr. Matt Kaye reports.
Justin Lewis, business developer at the Illinois Livestock Development Group recaps 2023.
Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, just returned from his board meeting in Panama, and he has a canal update.

Kevin Semlow Executive Director Gov’t Affairs and Commodities Illinois Farm Bureau looks to top ag issues for 2024 and the IFB priorities for the new year. Scott Wilson, GROWMARK Energy Risk Management and a summary of Christmas weather data in IL.

Illinois Farm Bureau's Mark Gebhards previews a survey of members as part of the Future of the Organization strategy. We hear about USDA Rural Development Director Betsy Dirksen-Londrigan's new appointment with USDA. A report from DC on year round use of E15 and the next steps for the pesticide Chlorpyrifos. Plus some last minute gift giving ideas from the U of I meat sciences.

Troy Uphoff, Shelby county farmer took home first place honors in the Illinois leg of the National Corn Growers Association Yield Contest. Uphoff’s 363 bpa broke an Illinois corn yield record, and talks about his achievement. Balint Szalivari from WEEK on a wet week/ H2A info from a Market Intel article Info on the purchase of US Steel

Kevin Semlow, Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director Gov’t Affairs & Commodities, talks about the policy trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington. We learn about InnerPlant, a company that just entered a partnership with GROWMARK. Plus news about IDOA's Fall Cover for Spring Savings program.