Blog Posts & Stories

As the operator of a small local meat locker, I find that the goal of our day-to-day work is not to get our product to a big-box grocery store customer. Instead, we do our best to create a quality food that our neighbors, family, friends and farmers can be proud of.

Last week marked the 10th week of the 2021 Iowa legislative session. On Friday, the Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) met and projected a revenue increase of $109 million, reaching a total of $8.079 billion for fiscal year (FY) 2021, which ends on June 30, 2021. For FY 2022, which ends on June 30, 2022, the REC increased the revenue estimate to $8.385 billion, an increase of $120 million compared to the December estimate.

It has been a good couple of weeks for the Center’s priority bills. Legislative Bill (LB) 324, which would amend the state’s meat and poultry inspection law to make it easier to buy meat from local farmers, passed General File (the first vote) 46-0. It has advanced to the Select File stage; after one more round of review, it will be moved to a final reading and vote.

​​​​​​​Bonnie Haugen believes the better she takes care of her part of the world, the better it is for herself and those around her.

Rural America is vastly different from how it was in the early 1990s, but one constant has been the Center for Rural Affairs’ core values. They have been upheld and have remained strong since their inception. That’s why, for nearly 30 years, Keith Mahaney has lent his voice to the Center for Rural Affairs Board of Directors.

In mid-February, a large swath of the Midwest and Great Plains faced extreme cold and winter weather. While many states, including Nebraska, were impacted, Texas was by far the hardest hit by these events.

For almost a decade, Sarah Smith has worked tirelessly on advancing farm to school efforts in Nebraska. Her work began in a pilot program at the Center for Rural Affairs to launch farm to school in the state, and serve as the state lead in partnership with the National Farm to School Network. Sarah managed grant-funded projects that built rural farm to school programming, partnerships, and resource development.

When Ana Carlota Mendez found herself between a rock and a hard place in terms of employment, she decided to start her own small business as a seamstress, something she’s been practicing since she was 7 years old.

Cuando Ana Carlota Méndez se encontró entre la espada y la pared en términos de empleo, decidió iniciar su propio pequeño negocio como costurera, algo que ha estado practicando desde que tenía 7 años.

Molly Herman, a rural public health worker at a health department in Nebraska, stepped into her role in this field not long after the coronavirus spread throughout the nation. She recently received both doses of the vaccine, and says she had plenty of reasons to do so.

I have been involved in a number of different aspects of the production side of beef agriculture for my entire life. I grew up on a family ranch in the Sandhills, was employed in sale barns and feedyards as I worked my way through college, and have worked on a variety of cattle ranches before owning and operating my own business, Broken Arrow Cattle Co.

On Feb. 12, a 4 million gallon waste tank sprung a leak at the AltEn ethanol plant in Mead, which sits a half hour north of Lincoln. The toxic brew of manure and waste material from the tank spread into waterways and culverts for more than four miles.

​​​​​​​In recent years, there has been an increase in cover crop implementation across the U.S. due, in part, to federal and state programs offering financial and technical assistance.

The legislative session is coming to a close. March 11 was Day 36 of South Dakota’s 37-day session. The last date for bills or joint resolutions to pass both houses was March 8. The 37th day of the session is March 29, which is reserved for gubernatorial vetoes.

La comunidad de Schuyler, Nebraska, ha acogido y apoyado a los dueños de negocios Luis Salinas, su hermano José y su padre, Cristóbal, desde que abrieron su restaurante, Burrito House. Han ofrecido a sus clientes platillos favoritos mexicanos como burritos, chimichangas, enchiladas y más durante casi dos décadas.

The community of Schuyler, Nebraska, has embraced and supported business owners Luis Salinas, his brother Jose, and their father, Cristobal, since they opened their restaurant, Burrito House. They’ve offered their customers Mexican favorites like burritos, chimichangas, enchiladas, and more for nearly two decades.

A major legislative deadline, known as the “first funnel,” has come and gone at the Iowa Legislature. The first funnel deadline stipulates that bills must have made it out of their committee of origin by Friday, March 5.

Late February and early March saw the majority of hearings wrapping up, with a few final hearings before the Judiciary Committee being held this week.

For nearly half a century, the Center for Rural Affairs has worked toward ensuring a better future for Nebraska’s family farmers and ranchers, new business owners and rural communities.

Energy costs frequently make up a substantial portion of the monthly expenses for small businesses. This is especially true in rural areas, where energy—the percentage of income spent on energy—is on average higher than in urban areas.