Saving AM radio - Rural voices speak up

Jun 07, 2024

Legislative effort to protect radio access

By Farms.com

The American Farm Bureau Federation spearheads efforts to safeguard AM radio accessibility as concerns mount over its potential exclusion from new electric vehicles. Rural communities rely heavily on AM radio for timely updates on weather, commodities, and agricultural policies.

Proposed legislation, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, seeks to prevent auto manufacturers from phasing out AM radio, emphasizing its crucial role in rural communication.

Emily Buckman, director of government affairs at the AFBF, highlights the significance of AM radio, particularly during emergencies when swift communication is vital for remote workers.

Auto manufacturers' plans to remove AM radio from electric vehicles due to battery interference have sparked widespread concern. Despite some companies retracting their decisions, the AFBF remains committed to advocating for legislative protection of AM radio access.

Farmers and ranchers are encouraged to participate in the campaign to preserve AM radio availability in rural areas.

By contacting their congressional representatives, they can voice support for the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, ensuring continued access to essential information for agricultural communities nationwide.

Video: New colours and more durability for Case IH RB6 round balers

Farmers will see a new look and more efficiency and durability from Case IH's RB6 Series variable chamber round balers for model year 2026. In this report from the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois, Case livestock product specialist Brian Williams notes that the first thing farmers will notice is a new colour scheme. "For the tailgate, the frame, and also the pickup, we've changed to our Case IH red colour. One of the really nice things about changing that colour scheme is that you're able to see that crop flowing into the baler much better from the tractor." There's also changes to the pickup with the addition of a second roller. "On the 566 model, you can get it with the double windrower roller," says Williams. "For our customers that are baling corn stalks or large windrows, it helps to push that windrow down to let that feed into the chamber, so that they're able to bale a little bit faster, because everyone's looking for better efficiency." There are also modifications to the rollers in the bale chamber — the stripper roll and the fixed roll have been combined into a one-piece roller. "There's no welds on those rollers, so the dependability is going to be far greater than our previous model," adds Williams.