SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (RFD NEWS) — This week’s winter storm caused electricity disruptions for many rural communities across the country. At the same time, a new assessment projects how extreme temperatures and rising electricity demand could affect the nation’s power grid in the years ahead.
Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to provide an update on how rural communities were affected by the recent extreme weather and how electric cooperatives have been responding to outages and system challenges.
In his interview with RFD NEWS, Matheson also discussed the findings of NRECA’s new long-term reliability assessment, outlining key highlights from the report and what they signal for the power grid’s future. The conversation focused on what these projections mean for rural communities and their access to reliable electricity, as well as the steps that may be needed moving forward to address reliability concerns.
Corn demand is rising thanks to ethanol expansion, yet year-round E15 remains missing from the Farm Bill—leaving farmers questioning the policy gap.
March 05, 2026 12:09 PM
·
Dr. Jeffrey Gold discusses spring allergies and respiratory illnesses on this week’s Rural Health Matters, offering advice on managing symptoms and knowing when to seek professional help.
March 04, 2026 04:22 PM
·
ASFMRA’s George Baird shares insight on spring planting progress, acreage trends, and the financial factors influencing Mid-South farmers this season.
March 04, 2026 04:13 PM
·
Domestic textile demand plays a shrinking role in supporting U.S. cotton prices.
March 04, 2026 10:00 AM
·
Record ethanol demand continues supporting corn markets and rural economies.
March 04, 2026 06:00 AM
·
Falling commodity prices and rising costs continue to squeeze farm margins. Kip Jacobs with The Mosaic Company addresses fertilizer market pressures, nutrient use efficiency, and strategies growers can consider to protect their fertilizer investment this season.
March 03, 2026 05:00 AM
·
