These Policies Are Squeezing Farmers

These Policies Are Squeezing Farmers

Author: The One Country Project June 17, 2026 Duration: 37:15

Nick Levendofsky has spent years watching Washington write farm bills that land badly in the field. As director of the Kansas Farmers Union, he's tracked input costs climbing, cattle herds shrinking, and processing power concentrating into fewer hands, and he's done sugarcoating what that means.


While Heidi is out this week, Joel sits down with Nick to work through where the farm bill actually stands, why the House version leaves too much on the table, and what trade wars cost rural markets long after the headlines move on.

In this episode:

  • Why the House farm bill misses on crop insurance, antitrust, and beginning farmers
  • The bipartisan math required to pass anything that actually sticks
  • How packers and processors have shifted market power away from producers
  • What tariffs and trade disruptions do to rural markets over the long run
  • The structural problems no single bill can fix, and where the pressure points are

Resources & Links

Kansas Farmers Union

Connect with Nick Levendofsky on:

LinkedIn

The farm bill keeps falling short, and farmers can't afford to wait. Tune in, get informed, and find out what real reform actually looks like.

The Hot Dish is brought to you by the One Country Project. To learn more, visit OneCountryProject.org, or find us on Substack (Onecountryproject.substack.com), and on YouTube, Bluesky, and Facebook (@onecountryproject).

  • (00:00) - Overview of today's focus on U.S. farm policy challenges
  • (02:00) - Current status of the farm bill and legislative prospects
  • (03:00) - Why the House version falls short for farmers’ needs
  • (04:45) - Critical issues: antitrust, beginning farmers, and safety nets
  • (05:50) - Land transfers, farm retirements, and generational shifts
  • (12:00) - The impact of past reconciliation cuts and nutrition programs
  • (14:00) - Farmer reliance on federal aid versus trade-based income
  • (15:46) - Concentration in meatpacking and input industries
  • (20:12) - The efficacy of checkoff programs amid trade conflicts
  • (22:30) - Challenges with U.S. trade policies, tariffs, and international markets
  • (26:20) - Long-term outlook for market recovery and trust rebuilding
  • (33:27) - The political landscape and farmers’ support for current leadership
  • (36:31) - Reflections on football coaching ties and regional pride

Heidi Heitkamp, a former U.S. Senator, and her brother Joel, a longtime Midwest radio host, bring a unique perspective to the table in their podcast The Hot Dish. Their dynamic is the engine here-a blend of deep policy knowledge from the halls of Congress and grounded, everyday insight from community radio, all filtered through the familiar and often humorous lens of sibling debate. They sit down with a range of guests, from national newsmakers and elected officials to local policymakers, focusing squarely on the ideas and actions that impact rural communities across America. These aren't dry lectures; they're animated discussions that dig into practical solutions for real challenges, from economic opportunities to infrastructure. Produced by The One Country Project, the conversation on this podcast is as informative as it is engaging, often punctuated by the kind of lively back-and-forth that only a brother and sister can provide. You'll come for the insightful analysis on politics and news, but you'll stay for the authentic and enlightening dialogue that makes complex issues relatable. Each episode serves up a hearty mix of substance and personality, offering listeners a fresh take on the stories that shape the heart of the country.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Hot Dish
Podcast Episodes
Shutting Down Rural Healthcare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:26
Heidi and Joel Heitkamp welcome Michelle Rathman and Jeanne Lambrew to discuss their expert insights on the future of rural hospitals, premium tax credits, Medicaid, and nursing care, as well as how community leaders and…
"Don't Be Chicken Shit!" Sen. Tina Smith has something to say [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:10
Senator Tina Smith joins hosts Heidi and Joel Heitkamp to discuss urgent rural issues like skyrocketing health insurance premiums, farm policies, crop markets, and rural hospital survival.You will learn how current decis…
Exciting Announcements! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:19
Host Joel Heitkamp announces exciting updates for The Hot Dish, including the move to weekly shows and upcoming video content. Joel also shares details about the upcoming Hot Dish live show, which will take place at Croo…
Drowning in Debt: A National Security Risk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:25
Maya MacGuineas, President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, joins host Heidi Heitkamp to tackle the urgent issues of federal debt, government spending, and the economic challenges facing rural America.…
Tennessee Red: Justin Kanew on theocracy in the Volunteer State [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:35
Today, hosts Heidi Heitkamp and Joel Heitkamp welcome Justin Kanew, founder of the Tennessee Holler. They discuss the political climate in Tennessee, the role of faith in politics, and the impact of media on public perce…
This Land is Your Land: the Fight for Public Lands [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:05
Co-founders of the American Hunters and Anglers Action Network, Land Tawney and Aaron Murphy, join hosts Heidi and Joel Heitkamp to tackle the urgent threats facing America’s public lands. Land and Aaron break down recen…
Beto O'Rourke on the Fight for Democracy in Texas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:51
In this brief conversation with Heidi, former Congressman Beto O'Rourke discusses the critical political landscape in Texas, focusing on the fight against gerrymandering and the implications of recent Republican Party ac…
Texas GOP goes all-in for Authoritarianism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:16
Matt Angle, founder of the Lone Star Project, joins the Hot Dish to break down the urgent issues of gerrymandering and redistricting in Texas. Host Heidi Heitkamp and Matt explore how recent political maneuvers aim to we…
Immigrants in Rural America [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:19
In this episode, Bryan Little, Director of Labor Affairs for the California Farm Bureau, and Sonia Parras Konrad join hosts Joel and Heidi Heitkamp to discuss farm labor regulations, immigration, and affects of this Admi…