Show wrap-up with Farm Progress National Shows Manager Matt Jungmann:

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs

Mark Davey, Market Manager, Gators, John Deere

Martin Lunkenbine, Camso

Matthew Madding, Marketing Manager, Combines, John Deere

Tiffany Turner, Product Marketing Manager, Large Tractors, John Deere

Tom Tracy, CEO, Farm Credit Illinois

Wesley Spurlock, President, National Corn Growers Association

Day # 3 is here!  Gates opened at 8 this morning, open til 4.

Andrew Mizell, Country Financial App

Dave Johnson, DuPont Crop :Protection/Herbicides

Eric Vanasdale, Country Financial on Drones

Jason Webster, Precision Planting

Marc Risinger, Pioneer Soybeans

Russ Sanders, Pioneer Plenish Soybeans

Steve Classen, Redball Hood Sprayers

Wesley Shupe, DuPont Crop Protection Agronomist

illinoisfarmradio.com Local Farm Broadcaster Jared White took what he described as a "once in a lifetime" ride in the Touchstone Energy Hot Air Balloon, at the Farm Progress Show late Wednesday afternoon.  Jared took these pictures high above Decatur.

Jared did his first-ever interview in a hot air balloon, with John Petrin, who is a world-champion hot air balloon pilot:

Special thanks to Kevin Bernson of Shelby Electric Cooperative, for making the arrangements for Jared's ride.

Looks like he had fun!!!!

Country music artist Easton Corbin performed for Farm Progress Show attendees in a late Wednesday afternoon concert sponsored by Ram Trucks.  The concert was free, and took place in Ram's Ride and Drive area just north of Progress City.

Weather was ideal, and a big crowd greeted Corbin's performance.

Raymond Poe, Illinois Department of Agriculture Director

The much-talked-about "Tribine" combine and auger cart in one.

GSI grain bin exhibit.

Kinze grain cart on tracks.

Kinze prototype planter.

New Case IH building.

Case IH Steiger CVX Drive tractor.

Amy Braun, Midwest Row Crop Collaborative

Cory Reed, Case IH Maxim Tractors

Jonathan Waits, GSI

Mark Gryp, Kinze

Mitch Kaiser, Case IH Steiger Tractors

Ron Kindred, Logan County Farmer and Illinois Soybean Association representative

Sam Funk, RaboAgriFinance

Tom Dean, Case IH New Building

Victor Akita, RaboAgriFinance Brazil

Huge crowds and great weather are the perfect combination for day 2 of the 
Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois.

Even though you couldn't see them, you could hear them to signal the opening of the gates for day 2 of the Farm Progress Show!  

They were shot off from the Eastern Exhibitor parking lot.  Lots of smoke!

Senator Chapin Rose visited the illinoisfarmradio.com booth this morning, to talk about a new Bio initiative for Central Illinois, that could mean jobs for the state, and another market for Illinois farmers' corn and soybeans.

The sun is UP for day # 2 of the Farm Progress Show!!!

Ben Hortenstine, Ramsey Farmer on Enlist

Dan Valen, New Holland

Kevin Bernson, Shelby Electric Cooperative

Lauren Lurkins, IFB on NLRS

Melissa Bell, Mycogen Seed Agronomist

Beck's Hybrids is again our title sponsor for our over 30 hours of LIVE coverage from this year's Farm Progress Show!

illinoisfarmradio.com is originating an Expanded Noon Farm Show during the Farm Progress Show August 29, 30, and 31, from the Beck's Hybrids exhibit.  Stop by and see local farm broadcaster Jared White in action, visiting with many Beck's Hybrids representatives at the booth, from 12:20 til 1pm each day.

Interviews done on Tuesday, August 29:

Gabe Brown, Conservation Presenter

Jen Filipiak, American Farmland Trust

Kevin Covey, Equipment Technologies Sprayers

Lance Tarchione, Dekalb Asgrow Agronomist

Luke Samuel, Climate Corporation

Richard Lyons, Montgomery County Farmer on Conservation

Shannon Schultz, Stone Seed

Ty Witten, Monsanto Extend Dicamba

Susan Moore, IAA Foundation

Warren Goetsch, Illinois Department of Agriculture Deputy Director

Local farm broadcaster Jared White (left) interviewing Farm Progress National Shows Manager Matt Jungeman (right) on Monday, August 28, the day before the show starts.

Interviews done August 28:

Andy Thompson, Yetter:

Anson Boch, Salford:

Aron Ballinger, Agco:

Ben Dillon, TriBine:

Brad Cox, Precision Planting:

Dustin Bolic, Drago Corn Heads:

Greg Souder, 360 Yield Center:

Harold Lovin, Beck's Hybrids:

Rachelle Thaibert, John Deere:

Todd Condit, Great Lakes Hybrids:

Tricia Braid, Illinois Corn Marketing Board:

Local farm broadcaster Jared White (left) interviewing Farm Progress National Shows Manager Matt Jungeman (right) at Media Day August 23.

Our broadcast position inside the BASF Media Tent on the east side of Progress City.  Our home for over 30 hours of LIVE coverage!

Scott Beck, Beck's Hybrids (interview done at the Beck's Field Day)

Interviews done Friday, August 25:

Danny Himes--LG Seeds:

David Brix, Host Farmer:

Mark Pomeranz, Case IH:

Mark Loyd, Farm Credit Illinois:

Rebecca Gunderson, New Holland:

Tim McMahon, AWI:

Wes Henne, Great Plains:

As part of a five-state RV tour, titled the "Back To Our Roots" Tour, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue stopped in rural Sangamon County Monday.  NAFB Farm Broadcaster Jared White has more...

Sect. Perdue & IFB President Rich Guebert

Sect. Perdue & IL Ag Director Raymond Poe

Monsanto Cheif Technology Office Rob Fraley today posted an open letter to Monsanto customers addressing dicamba herbicide related issues in conjunction with the company's RoundUp Ready 2 Xtend soybeans.  The letter can be viewed by clicking the link below:

https://monsanto.com/products/product-stewardship/articles/to-our-farmer-customers/

The world’s two biggest corn exporters are preparing for a showdown, according to Bloomberg. The United States and Brazil are set to square off in competition this growing season over corn exports as Brazil is in the middle of collecting the nation’s biggest corn harvest ever, and U.S. supplies remain plentiful from last years’ record harvest. Bloomberg says those conditions set the stage for a stiff battle to win world buyers in the second half of this year. Japan and Mexico are expected to be the biggest corn importers this season. Brazil’s corn production in the 2016-17 season is forecast to surge 45 percent from a year ago to a record 97 million metric tons, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture. The agency estimates that the 2016 U.S. harvest reached an all-time high and that the crop gathered this fall will be the second-bigger ever, but that could change with dwindling crop conditions. Brazil shipments of corn traditionally surge this time of year, during harvest. Meanwhile, U.S. corn shippers are seeing slow bookings for the coming marketing year. Still, experts in the U.S. say the nation is expected to remain the world’s top supplier.

Farmers surveyed as part of the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer indicated more optimism in July because of better commodity prices expectations this fall. The monthly survey for July reached 139, its highest level since January 2017, and its second-highest level since data collection began in October 2015. The increase continues a trend seen over the summer of more optimism regarding the future of the agriculture economy. The forward-looking measure of sentiment, the Index of Future Expectations, climbed seven points in July to 138. A measure above 100 indicates optimism, while a measure below 100 indicates pessimism regarding the farm economy. In July, farmers were asked if they expect to see higher, lower, or about the same grain, oilseed and cotton prices in the next 12 months. Many indicated they expected to see higher commodity prices through the next year. The improvement in producers’ expectations for commodity prices corresponded with early summer market activity. Wheat futures prices, driven by drought conditions in the Northern Great Plains, have been the most active, but uncertainty about the corn and soybean growing seasons has also contributed to market volatility.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway says work on the 2018 Farm Bill will start within the next eight weeks. Speaking during a farm bill listening session in his home state of Texas, Conaway told attendees that he wants to get the next farm bill on the House floor this year, according to the Hagstrom Report. After three hours of listening to farm leaders, Conaway added he wants the bill on the House floor this year because he disliked the turmoil of extensions. The 2014 Farm Bill expires on September 30, 2018. Conaway also noted that Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts of Kansas said last week that he also would like to write the farm bill in 2017. His comments come as the House Agriculture Committee holds two listening sessions this week. The second is planned during the Minnesota Farmfest in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, Thursday.