What's happening with the Center for Rural Affairs? Find the latest on rural America and our work here.
As presidential hopefuls make their final pitches to Iowans before the upcoming caucuses, rural residents say they want to hear more about climate change.
- Policy
Like most rural schools in Nebraska, Diller-Odell Public Schools faces an imbalanced funding stream caused by a complex property tax and school funding system.
- Small Towns
Local foods are not just a trend, they’re a means to benefit our health, economy, and local producers. From the abundance of rural farmers markets to menus in city restaurants, local foods are cropping up more throughout our state. Another place they’re emerging is our local schools.
- Small Towns
- Farm and Food
Tom Wahl and Kathy Dice, owners of Red Fern Farm, have built resiliency in their operation to overcome challenging weather.
- Policy
- Farm and Food
The honey industry has experienced a drop in the number of bee hives in production in the past decade. This decline is a result of a number of pressures on bee health and beekeeper retirement. However...
- Farm and Food
Our priority issues in Iowa include clean energy, soil health, and water quality. Relevant developments concerning priority legislation will be shared via email.
- Farm and Food
- Policy
We all know water is essential for life, but the sufficient consumption of water also has long-term health benefits. Increased water consumption has been found to reduce levels of dental decay, positively impact cognition, improve overall eating and physical activity habits, and reduce the risks for obesity.
- Small Towns
- Farm and Food
- Policy
Judy Sandeen wasn’t planning on testifying when she walked into the Kearney Public Library last fall for the second of four public hearings on the implementation of Medicaid expansion in Nebraska. But...
- Policy
After years of acquiring business knowledge, Raúl Arcos Hawkins now has the opportunity to share everything he’s learned with aspiring entrepreneurs throughout Nebraska. Recently hired as a business...
- Lending
Max Wilson grew up watching his parents raise crops and livestock on his family’s farm in Burwell, Nebraska, all the while learning the importance of land stewardship.
- Farm and Food
Elected representatives in Nebraska will debate a host of issues during the 2020 legislative session, including economic development, budget and tax, health care, energy and environment, and food and agriculture.
- Small Towns
- Farm and Food
- Policy
At the Center for Rural Affairs, we are deeply engaged on the farm bill because of the enormous impact it has on rural communities. This is particularly true for conservation programs. Even though...
- Farm and Food
The Pew Research Center finds that only 63 percent of rural Americans have a broadband internet connection at home, and 24 percent of rural adults consider access to high speed internet a major problem in their local community. Recent policy developments are designed to address this. But, will they be enough?
- Small Towns
It's official! The first day of 2020 is here. What better way to kick it off than with a look at our most viewed post in 2019, authored by Liz Daehnke and Cora Fox. This piece takes a look...
- Farm and Food
In our second highest viewed post of 2019, we feature a useful tool for all rural Americans. Across the nation, internet service providers report service information twice every year to the Federal...
- Small Towns
Today, we share number three in our top five posts countdown, a blog asking Nebraska senators to support a bill that would allow cottage industry products, such as locally-produced jams, jellies...
- Small Towns
The year in review countdown continues with a blog featuring one of our own staff members and the steps she is taking to be an even better leader in her community. Coming in at number four is a blog...
- Small Towns
Countdown time! With less than one week remaining in 2019, a recap is in order. Starting today through the end of the year, we'll review the five best Center stories of the year, chosen by the most...
- Policy
- Farm and Food
Small food and arts-based businesses were offered tools needed to be successful in growing their businesses at the first-ever Food + Art Conference in Pender, Nebraska. The event was hosted by the Center for Rural Affairs in October.
- Small Towns
On Nov. 12, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced changes to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the nation’s largest conservation program. A public comment period is now underway, and we encourage you to submit a comment on the changes, especially if you have held or applied for a CSP contract.
- Farm and Food
