Blog Posts & Stories

The supply chain for meat processing still is dealing with issues caused by the pandemic, and smaller operations have been picking up the slack. A proposal in the Iowa Legislature would create a grant program to help with the surge in demand.

William, ahora propietario de Sabrina Salon, LLC, pudo asumir este nuevo rol con la ayuda financiera del Center For Rural Affairs. A través de esa financiación, realizó los cambios necesarios para abrir su negocio y comenzar el trabajo de sus sueños.

Now the owner of Sabrina Salon, LLC, William was able to take on this new role with financial assistance from the Center for Rural Affairs. Through that funding, he made the changes necessary to open his business and start his dream job.

On April 5, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reopened part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) for applications.

El 5 de abril, el Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU. (USDA) reabrió parte del Programa de Asistencia Alimentaria por Coronavirus (CFAP) para solicitudes.

Over the past eight years, Iowa has invested millions of public dollars toward the goals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy which aims to reduce nutrient loss in the state’s waterways by 45 percent by 2035

Many of us have changed the way we purchase and prepare our food over the past 12 months. Families now spend more time cooking at home. We are learning that local meat provides a better and more affordable alternative to the big box store.

When Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth ran for the Nebraska Legislature in 2018, improving broadband service in rural areas was one of the issues at the top of his priority list. But, his first attempt at...

The past two weeks have seen continued floor debate on bills, agency confirmations, and appropriations. Legislative Bill 324, the bill to amend the state’s meat and poultry inspection law to make it easier for customers to buy meat from local farmers, was placed on Select File and advanced Tuesday to Final Reading and vote.

Last week marked the 12th week of the 2021 Iowa legislative session. On Friday, the second funnel deadline came and went. This deadline means that bills from one chamber must have made it out of the committee of another to remain alive.

The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG), a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant program available for farmers and ranchers, has received a major funding increase, a lower match requirement, and an application extension.

South Dakota’s meat supply chain has experienced significant disruptions because of the COVID-19 pandemic and small meat processors are under incredible strain. Due to increased demands, reservations at local meat lockers have increased from 4-6 weeks in advance to 20-24 months, creating hardships for livestock producers needing to process their animals.

Rural small businesses have two more months to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), to keep their workforce employed and to cover normal operating expenses during this ongoing COVID-19...

The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award is presented annually to an individual or individuals who best exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit that is so crucial to the future prosperity of Nebraska’s rural communities. This organization has demonstrated outstanding support for the Center for Rural Affairs and exceptional dedication to small business development through technical assistance, business training, lending, and networking across rural Nebraska.

Paul Swanson joined the Board in 1995, and says a gathering in Brewster, Nebraska, holds extra significance for him.

Residents of Santee, Nebraska, were offered a unique opportunity in December 2020 that not only provided some holiday cheer to those who participated, it served as a potential small business venture as well.

Over the past 12 months, we have lost many of the small businesses that make our communities whole. Thousands more have been forced to delay planned investment and pause plans for future growth.

Before finishing cosmetology school, Jennifer Hill had a dream to be a business owner and open her own salon. With the drive and determination to make that dream a reality, she started looking into what it would take to start her own business. Jennifer reached out to a contact at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension office and received guidance on where to begin, including how to make a business plan.

Growing up in North Dakota on a small hobby-type ranch, Dean Dauphinais became interested in farming at a young age. Dean is now an honorably discharged Marine Corps veteran and has relocated to...

School districts and organizations across Nebraska are putting a renewed emphasis on food—not only which food students eat, but where it comes from and what the students know about it.