Blog Posts & Stories

It's official! The first day of 2021 is here (finally). What better way to kick it off than with a look at our most viewed post in 2020, authored by Anna Johnson in April. This piece takes a look at...

In our second highest viewed post of 2020, we feature details on a new program for producers that opened up as part of COVID-19 relief. A second round opened up later in the summer, and a third round...

Today, we share number three in our top five posts countdown, the first of our top blogs on the COVID-19 pandemic which has shaped 2020. This particular piece outlines food access, grocery stores, and...

The year in review countdown continues with a blog featuring two entrepreneurs who have worked to open a storefront business with the help of our loan specialists. Coming in at number four is a blog...

Countdown time! With less than one week remaining in 2020, a recap is in order. While this year was more than ordinary, we are keeping at least one end-of-year tradition alive. Starting today through...

As they continue to face challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic, rural small businesses and communities with loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program find themselves on the outside once again.

​​​​​​​Nebraskans are fortunate to have ample access to natural resources. These resources have long supported agriculture in our state, and fairly recently have allowed for the expansion of our renewable energy industry.

​​​​​​​Since its founding by the Center for Rural Affairs in 2017, the Nebraska Food Council has worked toward its mission to strengthen Nebraska’s economy and environment while fostering food security for all Nebraskans through broad collaboration.

With the dust settling from the 2020 election, questions about how the results will impact farm policy and the next farm bill have surfaced. One of the biggest changes is that formal leadership on...

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we are often reminded to shop small as a way to support our small businesses. This year that message takes on a more important meaning as local entrepreneurs continue to face challenges stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. Small businesses, especially those in rural areas, are hurting and we need to make sure they are strong enough to make it through the pandemic and beyond.

We are nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic, and cases in rural America are increasing at a rapid rate. The impacts vary greatly across rural states, yet per-capita infections are most extreme in communities occupied by meatpacking plants, predominantly in the Midwest, low-income African American communities in the Southeast, and Native Americans.

For almost 50 years, the Center for Rural Affairs has been a leading force in standing up for the family farmer and rancher, small business owner, and rural communities. We look forward to working...

With the help of resources available through agencies, such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Seth Watkins has learned good things can happen when one starts to reduce their carbon...

South Dakota is powered by renewables. In 2019, nearly 70 percent of all electricity generated in the state came from renewable sources. In contrast, renewable energy makes up only 16 percent of the...

Cover crops are a conservation practice used by many Iowa farmers, with benefits ranging from improving soil health to protecting water quality.

Whether with co-workers or the community members she serves, Erin Schoenberg is at her best when she’s connecting with others. Since fall 2019, Erin has worked with the Center for Rural Affairs as a...

Through Dec. 15, an anonymous donor will match all gifts, up to $12,000. That means your impact will be doubled, for example, your $50 gift automatically becomes $100. The money raised will assist...

Small businesses are counting on support from local shoppers this holiday season to stay in business and are following Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines to keep customers and staff safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

In spring 2020, we heard terrible stories of overburdened hospitals leading to preventable deaths in Italy. Soon after, these stories started to hit closer to home—New York City.

​​​​​​​Many of us have heard about Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting small businesses and communities across the country, which falls on Nov. 28 this year.