Blog Posts & Stories

Today is Day 19 of South Dakota’s 38-day legislative session, which will conclude March 25. The last day for bill introductions was Feb. 1. Bills must pass out of their house of origin by Feb. 21...

We are four weeks into the 2024 Iowa legislative session. Bill introductions and committee and subcommittee meetings continue to keep lawmakers busy. In our last Field Notes, we introduced you to...

On Tuesday, Jan. 30, a hearing for Legislative Bill (LB) 1116 was held before the Agriculture Committee. This Center for Rural Affairs legislation, introduced by Sen. Teresa Ibach, would create a...

Significant snow, wind, and brutally cold temperatures impacted Nebraska in January. Given the frequency of extreme weather events experienced across the U.S. during the past several years, preparing for emergencies is an important consideration for utilities and regulators. Extreme weather events have an outsized impact on the electric grid and show the necessity of protecting its integrity and resiliency.

Crop insurance provides a safety net for farmers, protecting their operations from loss due to natural perils such as drought, frost, excess moisture, pest infestations, or disease.

From a potential client to a member of the Board of Directors, Krista Dittman has spent the past few decades getting to know the Center for Rural Affairs. She started on the board in 2018, but she had...

Progress is shaping up as lawmakers work their way through the third week of Iowa’s legislative session. Individual senators and representatives were busy introducing legislation of their own through...

Today is Day 10 of South Dakota’s 38-day legislative session, which will conclude March 25. The session got off to a quick start this year with bills coming up for hearings on Legislative Day 3. All...

Across the country, lawmakers are gathering in their respective state capitols and Washington, D.C. to begin another year of debating and passing legislation. The democratic process is something...

Wednesday marked the end of bill introduction in the Nebraska Legislature. Senators introduced 521 new bills during the 10-day period, and hearings will begin next week. Among the bills introduced is...

Several years ago, Amarah Wright started down the path toward opening her own apothecary and nursery. She had no idea that, along the way, she’d also begin a journey in farming and conservation. She says everything she does is informed by nature, and she plans to continue with that mindset.

Cuando María Dolores Arias Villalpando comenzó a trabajar en Laundry Mex, LLC, en Grand Island, Nebraska, no tenía idea de que eventualmente sería dueña del negocio. Además de convertirse en propietaria de un negocio, María también heredó las responsabilidades de administradora de propiedades, lo que le ha brindado oportunidades para ayudar a otros empresarios.

When Maria Dolores Arias Villalpando started working at Laundry Mex, LLC, in Grand Island, Nebraska, she had no idea she’d eventually own the business. Along with becoming a business owner, Maria also inherited the responsibilities of a property manager, which has presented her with opportunities to help other entrepreneurs.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for IPAP grants until Feb. 16. Eligible processors may apply for up to $100,000 and must operate as either a U.S. Department of Agriculture-Food Safety and Inspection Service facility or a federally regulated custom-exempt slaughter and processing facility.

Los impuestos de ventas pueden ser un tema complicado de abordar, pero no es necesario que lo haga solo. En este artículo, analizaremos las normas y regulaciones del impuesto de ventas, responderemos algunas de las preguntas más frecuentes y le brindaremos recursos para ayudarlo a seguir adelante con confianza.

Sales tax can be a tricky subject to navigate, but you don’t have to do it alone. In this article, we’ll dissect sales tax rules and regulations, answer some of the most commonly asked questions, and provide you with resources to help you forge ahead with confidence.

After spending time working in the corporate world, Edgar Romero Gonzalez grew tired of feeling insignificant, like his only purpose was making money for his employer. He wanted to do something more; he wanted to make an impact. He felt farming was something meaningful to which he could dedicate his time.

Today, Tuesday, Jan. 9, marks the first day of the 2024 South Dakota legislative session. The Center for Rural Affairs will be tracking policies that affect the rural quality of life and intersect with our goal of building vibrant rural communities.

One of the inaugural projects of the Center for Rural Affairs was the Small Farm Energy Project. It sought to demonstrate that the adoption of alternative energy technologies by small family farms can make positive contributions to their incomes.

Dozens of Microenterprise Development Organizations from 28 states, including Nebraska's Center for Rural Affairs, have signed a letter urging Congress to support the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Act.