Christina Pope is the senior research editor in CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange research division. She provides editorial oversight for the bank’s research initiatives, coaches team members on the development of reports and helps shape the bank’s thought leadership publications.
Prior to joining CoBank in 2019, Christina produced and led award-winning publications and communications programs for health care organizations and membership associations, including National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism, with honors, from the University of Colorado Boulder and an MBA from the University of Colorado Denver Business School.
Reports
The Quarterly: Rising energy costs are squeezing the rural economy
Rural Americans are absorbing some of the most acute fuel cost impacts from the conflict in the Middle East. They drive longer distances, lack public transit and rely on diesel-heavy industries like farming and freight, which quickly affect household budgets and business expenses.
The Year Ahead: Forces that will shape the U.S. rural economy in 2026
A forward‑looking analysis of the key forces shaping the U.S. rural economy in 2026, including interest rates, farm financial conditions, commodity markets, labor challenges, and macroeconomic trends influencing rural industries and agribusiness.
The Quarterly: AI won’t eliminate need for college grads
Despite rising fears, artificial intelligence is unlikely to spark a jobs apocalypse for recent college graduates.
The Quarterly: Where have the workers gone?
Lower fertility rates, declining labor force participation, and lower net immigration are combining to squeeze labor supply. With the labor supply in rural America set to get tighter, technology – most obviously AI and robotics – will likely be at the core of any strategy to address the oncoming labor squeeze.
The Quarterly: Historic shift in trade policy risks long-term loss of trust
CoBank’s Q1 2025 Quarterly report examines the economic forces shaping rural America, highlighting key shifts across agriculture, energy, communications, and financial markets as the year begins.
The Year Ahead: Forces that will shape the US rural economy in 2025
While the U.S. economy continues to outperform earlier expectations — delivering solid growth, low unemployment and moderating inflation — the rural economic outlook is less certain
The Quarterly: Rising electricity demand, supply constraints put AI boom at risk, raise worries over residential rates
CoBank’s Q3 2024 Quarterly report analyzes key economic trends shaping rural industries, highlighting shifts in energy, agriculture, communications, and financial markets heading into 2025.
The Quarterly: As inflation and geopolitical concerns fade, domestic issues come to the fore
The U.S. economy continues to perform reasonably well by most metrics, but the red-hot labor market of the last two years is finally cooling off.
The Quarterly: Sticky inflation puts Fed on the horns of a dilemma
As we pointed out in our Year Ahead report in December, expectations that the Fed would cut rates six or seven times were completely irrational.
The Year Ahead: Forces that will shape the US rural economy in 2024
Despite multiple systemic shocks in recent years – COVID-19, trade conflict with China, the Russia-Ukraine war, surging inflation and interest rates – our economy has performed strongly.
The Quarterly: “Higher for longer” a drag on rural economy
The Fed’s battle against inflation amid a resilient U.S. economy has led to the highest interest rate environment since 2007 along with a surging U.S. dollar. That is hurting key segments of the rural economy.
The Quarterly: The slowdown-resistant economy
Despite predictions for a slowdown, the U.S. economy remains the envy of the world. Jobs are plentiful, asset values are near all-time highs, and consumers are spending. Things are good. But inflation is still well above the Fed’s target, and persistent monetary tightening is likely to usher in a mild recession by year-end or early in 2024. Some of the highest inflation rates have been in the grocery store and at restaurants, and that is now triggering consumer pushback. In contrast, energy prices are down considerably, limiting the pain felt at the gas pump and with monthly cooling bills amid sweltering summer heat.