Blog Posts & Stories

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced application deadlines for a new federal grant program that offers funding to rural communities to make investments in reliable clean energy. The...

Farmers, ranchers and livestock producers are working with solar companies in Iowa to find multiple uses for land once used only to plant corn and soybeans. Some are investing in what's known as "dual-use solar" or agrivoltaics. They are cultivating profitable crops, grazing livestock, even raising healthier honeybees, all in the shadows of solar panels.

Tres mujeres en South Sioux City han demostrado su espíritu emprendedor en Nebraska rural, satisfaciendo la necesidad de servicios de cuidado infantil, por eso ellas son las ganadoras del Premio al Empresario 2022 del Centro.

Three women in South Sioux City have exemplified their entrepreneurial spirit in rural Nebraska, filling a need for child care services, and are this year's Center's 2022 Entrepreneur Award recipients.

Since the Center’s founding, we mark decades of working with rural communities taking note of their resiliency. Sandra Renner, Farm & Community director, speaks to our past work, present endeavors, and what’s in store for the future.

Every property owner knows Nebraska relies too heavily on property taxes to fund our public schools.

The 2023 South Dakota legislative session is coming to a close. Yesterday was the last day for bills to pass both houses. The 38-day legislative session will officially conclude March 27, which is reserved for gubernatorial vetoes.

We’re around the halfway mark of the 2023 Iowa legislative session, but plenty of work remains for state lawmakers. The projected last day is April 28.

The Nebraska Legislature will be wrapping up committee hearings by March 24. The past two weeks, the Center for Rural Affairs provided in-person testimony during committee hearings on Legislative Bills (LB) 62, 84, and 566.

Travis Scheffler, a beginning farmer in Lonsdale, Minnesota, routinely finds himself in a quandary. He has to choose between planting in the way he knows is best for his operation and his crop...

For her contributions to the betterment of West Point, Nebraska, through service in a variety of capacities—giving her time, talent, and resources to the community—Kylie Kai has received the 2023 West...

Community leaders come in all forms—from young go-getters to seasoned professionals, and everything in between. The one thing they all have in common is their dedication and passion for making their...

This is the third installment in a series on carbon pipelines with the purpose of providing neutral-fact-based information. Carbon pipelines have become a contentious issue in the Midwest in recent...

A study released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates close to 120,000 households in Nebraska faced food insecurity between 2018 and 2020. The agency defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active and healthy life.

El Programa de Asociación de Negocios y Cuidado Infantil está abierto a nuevos y existentes proveedores de cuidado infantil quienes desean expandir la capacidad de su licencia para abrir más espacios en su negocio.

The Business and Childcare Partnership Program is open to new and existing child care providers who will expand their licensing capacity to open more spots in their business.

The time is now for farmers and ranchers to apply for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) working lands conservation programs. Additional funding for programs—including the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)—has been made available from the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Approximately every five years, the federal government passes a package of legislation that impacts all rural Americans: the farm bill. The current farm bill is set to expire on Sept. 30, indicating...

The Iowa Legislature is considering a bill to maximize protecting the state's water. Senate File 311 would allow the state Department of Agriculture to use urban water project funding for agricultural projects at its discretion, in what's known as the Water Quality Initiative - a strategy for protecting Iowa's watersheds.

It has been a busy few weeks at the Capitol. Yesterday was Crossover Day, which is the last date for bills to be passed through their house of origin. All bills must pass both houses by March 6,with...