Blog Posts & Stories

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently published a comprehensive list of application deadlines for its conservation programs, including the...

Creating a safe environment in response to the COVID-19 pandemic often means additional expenses for farmers, farmers markets, food processors, and distributors. A new U.S. Department of Agriculture...

Across the country and throughout Nebraska renewable energy is taking off as more municipalities, utilities, and companies make commitments to reduce carbon emissions.

The Center for Rural Affairs recently submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on how internal policies and protocols can be changed to better advance racial justice and equity...

Farmers and ranchers interested in implementing conservation on their operations can get valuable technical and financial support from programs such as the Conservation Stewardship Program and Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Investing in soil health on the farm through implementation of conservation practices helps build resiliency in the face of our changing climate. These investments can range from in-field management practices to retiring marginal land in perennials or wetlands.

Ask any beginning farmer or rancher about the greatest challenge to starting an operation, and the most common answer is access to land and operational assets.

Small cities have been the backdrop of my entire life, on a technicality. While both Iowa and Minnesota classify incorporated municipalities as cities regardless of their population, my hometown—Marshalltown, Iowa—and the town where I went to college—St. Peter, Minnesota—may be cities in the eyes of their respective states, but, to me and the residents who live there, they are rural in nature.

Los mercados de agricultores en todo Nebraska ponen un poco de sazón a los meses de verano al ofrecer productos cultivados localmente, artículos hechos a mano, productos recién horneados, entretenimiento en vivo y más.

Farmers markets throughout Nebraska spice up the summer months by offering locally grown produce, handcrafted items, freshly baked goods, live entertainment, and more.

El Center for Rural Affairs tiene una larga y orgullosa historia de proporcionar asistencia financiera a los estadounidenses rurales que de otro modo no podrían obtener financiamiento tradicional.

The Center for Rural Affairs has a long, proud history of providing financial assistance to rural Americans who would otherwise be unable to get traditional financing.

The true spirit of hard work and helping others is demonstrated on a daily basis in rural communities.

From hair salons and restaurants to grocery and hardware stores, more than 80% of the state’s entrepreneurs operate a microbusiness. Their hard work helps keep our community strong and our Main Street alive.

Iowa's fall harvest is underway, with some farmers reporting better yields than expected. But others are still worried about drought-related losses, and supporters of cover crops say the current conditions could be seen as an opportunity, both for a producer's land and the climate.

Rural Americans with an eye for renewable energy recently received promising news—the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $464 million in solar, wind, and other renewable energy projects benefiting small businesses and farming operations.

Farmers interested in implementing conservation in their operations can get valuable technical and financial support from programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). In Iowa, an application deadline has been set for Oct. 1.

Because the Center’s not a bank, I occasionally get asked: “Why did you get into lending?” Or “Why would you risk lending to people that banks won’t lend to?”

With school back in session, many Nebraska students will be fueled by fresh beef, fruits and vegetables sourced from local farms.

A degree in general agriculture and a desire to explore his options brought Charles Shapiro from New York to Nebraska in 1975. His passion for the practice kept him here to further his education, and...