Double Whammy: Interest Rates and Extreme Weather Threaten Rural America
Rural farmers are facing a slew of challenges. Ongoing interest rate hikes are placing further financial pressure on farmers as the cost of lending increases. And prices aren’t the only thing rising in rural America. In the coming decades, global warming will force farmers to find new ways to adapt to increasing heat. On this episode of The Hot Dish, we look at these two forces and what this means for people in rural America.
Joel and Heidi first speak with Brad Nordholm, the President and CEO of Farmer Mac. Farmer Mac is a financial services company servicing rural communities across the United States.
Later, Joel and Heidi are joined by climate scientist Dr. Mason Fried to talk about his new report on what rising temperatures will mean for rural America.
To find out more about the One Country Project, visit our website.
Join the One Country Project for the fourth annual Rural Progress Summit, July 8–10. The keynote will feature a virtual fireside chat between Sec. Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Heidi Heitkamp.
The Rural Progress Summit is a virtual event that brings together voices from across the country to explore ideas and solutions that address the real needs of rural America.
Go to OneCountryProject.org to learn more or https://pdcst.news/RPS2025 to register for the Rural Progress Summit.
Creators and Guests
Host
Heidi Heitkamp
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp served as the first female senator elected from North Dakota from 2013 – 2019. he is the founder and Chair of the One Country Project, an organization focused on addressing the needs and concerns of rural America. Heidi was recently named the Director of the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago, a university she has long been committed to and a place where she enjoys engaging with students over civic discussions while encouraging them to seek opportunities in public service to our country. Heidi also serves as a contributor to both CNBC and ABC News.
Host
Joel Heitkamp
He is an multi-award winning talk show host both regionally and nationally. Before radio, he served in the North Dakota Senate from 1995-2008.
