Blog Posts & Stories

Over the last 83 years, much has changed in Iowa. The state has weathered a Great Recession, undergone significant demographic shifts, and grappled with a changing agricultural economy. However, one discussion has remained a hot topic for what is now the better part of a century—water quality.

Marilee Polacek and her daughter, Katie, didn’t plan on getting into agriculture, but now that they are, they want to treat their land right. Their farm, located outside Bruno, Nebraska, on Skull...

Iowa's largest investor-owned utility wants to make owners of private solar power systems pay more for generating their own electricity, while opponents warn that could cause Iowa to lose its standing as a leader in promoting renewables.

There are few people in this world with the drive and energy to work full-time while also building their dream business from the ground up.

New opportunities for growth can be difficult to find in a rural community. Bringing in economic development is key to the vitality of small towns, allowing local economies to thrive, and creating jobs in rural areas.

In every town you’ll find people doing their best to give back to their communities, providing support for the next generation, and leading by example so that others can succeed down the line. These are the people our communities need to thrive and who are invaluable to the continued health of rural America. Jerry Fixemer is one of those people.

The Great Plains is an area that has a bright future in renewable energy, especially in rural areas with great access to natural resources. States with wind energy potential, like North Dakota, have a chance to develop these resources and reap the benefits of being a renewable energy leader.

Across the nation, farmers, ranchers, and rural communities are finding that a key component to building a brighter future for rural America lies beneath our feet. Investments in soil health are creating more resilient food systems in the face of frequent extreme weather while reducing pollution in rivers and streams, and providing a long-term anchor for many rural economies.

After working 17 years in a hospital environment, Nancy Haberstitch wanted to transition from controlling infections in health care to helping people avoid hospitalization for infection. So, she...

Stephanie O'Keefe always wanted to own land, but felt she didn’t have what it took to make that happen. “I did not have enough knowledge or muscle for the task,” she said. “However, it became apparent...

Last week, state lawmakers allied with Iowa’s biggest investor-owned utility to introduce House Study Bill 185. This bill would limit the ability of farms and individuals to produce their own electricity.

We are concerned about a bill in the Legislature regarding the proposal of zoning restrictions on new wind farms in Nebraska. Legislative Bill 373 proposes that all new wind farms will need to comply with zoning standards outlined by the Legislature instead of local county zoning boards.

As a small business owner, it’s vital to have internet access; that’s where 95 percent of my sales occur. YouTube videos, as well as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all require internet, and are extremely important for my business to function. Unfortunately, it is very hard to find inexpensive and reliable internet living in rural Nebraska.

Enriqueta Martinez can do it all—from creating artisan hammocks to designing wedding and quinceañera dresses to her current passion, farming.

When Vicky Espinoza heard the Center for Rural Affairs was growing in their efforts to help the Latino community, she jumped at the chance to become part of the team. Since last fall, Vicky’s role as...

​​​​​​​Nebraska’s economy has evolved, but the state’s tax code has not. For decades, property owners have been left to fill in the gaps as the state neglects its obligation to fund schools and other public services.

Across rural America, small businesses are the heart of main street. From local coffee shops to the hardware store, these businesses employ local residents, provide important services to the community, and serve as anchors for their local economies.

My husband and I reside about five miles outside of McCool Junction, Nebraska, a town of about 300 residents, and, for years, have struggled with broadband access. We have been in the category of Nebraskans who didn’t have an internet subscription.

By addressing key issues in food, farm, small business, and community-level and institutional policy, there is potential to identify strengths, changes needed, and gaps in the food system. Good food...

Across the nation, farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and state leaders are finding that a key component to building a brighter future for rural America lies beneath our feet. By investing in soil health, states are creating more resilient food systems in the face of increasingly frequent extreme weather, reducing pollution and runoff in rivers and streams, and providing a long-term anchor for many rural economies.