Illinois Farm Bureau’s Mark Gebhards talks with RFD Radio’s Rita Frazer about state and national topics affecting agriculture, including: Illinois Farm Bureau’s two call-to-action requests Fertilizer grant details National issues including the Endangered Species Act and the recently passed Continuing Resolution Low river levels affecting the ability to load barges IFB staff’s meeting with Gov. J.B. Pritzker about priority issues LISTEN

“We truly do move America forward.” In recognition of National Truckers Appreciation Day today (10-4), Bruce Jung of Jung Trucking talks with RFD Radio’s Rita Frazer about the changing industry about whether supply chain woes have eased and the impact on truckers. One challenge, Jung said, is overwhelmed rail hubs. WATCH

The only precipitation lately in much of the state has been a little dew and frost. And State Climatologist Trent Ford says the next seven days will bring more of the same, with a couple-day cold snap Friday and Saturday. Is October shaping up to be drier than normal? Ford explains. LISTEN

A new state grant program makes $6 million available to meat and poultry processors to build, expand and modernize facilities. Independently owned companies are eligible for grants ranging from $250,000 up to $1.5 million, with priority given to applicants located in rural and underserved areas. READ MORE

Consumers love pork. How much? A new dashboard aims to measure the sentiment and number of meat mentions, including pork and bacon, on social media and traditional news sources. The dashboard shows the consumer sentiment for pork (the world’s top-consumed meat) beef and poultry are all trending in a positive direction as of late September. READ MORE  “We’re searching online conversations with a focus on (pork) production and the eating side to get a sentiment for the percentage of positive and negative posts.” –Jayson Lusk, professor and head of ag economics at Purdue University    

Kendall-Grundy Farm Bureau member Dr. David Nayak shared his experience as a participant at the recent White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. The White House recognized his small farm and its commitment to fight hunger in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Missouri by donating fresh sweet corn and green beans. “I came out more energized than I went in. We must stay connected to this mission,” Nayak told FarmWeek’s Kay Shipman. READ MORE