Blog Posts & Stories

Water quality and Medicaid were a few of the most talked about issues at a candidate forum recently held by the Center for Rural Affairs and the League of Women Voters of Ames and Story County. Voters were given the opportunity to ask questions in an open forum setting in Nevada, Iowa.

The farm bill debate is underway. The Center’s farm bill priorities, released in November 2017, continue our work of addressing the real needs of rural communities: supporting family farms, preserving natural resources for our children and grandchildren, creating opportunity for the next generation of beginning farmers, and fostering rural economic opportunity.

Corbin Delgado, policy assistant at the Center for Rural Affairs, has been tasked with knocking on the doors of hundreds of Burt County, Nebraska residents, so they can demonstrate their commitment to the state’s future.

​​​​​​​Nebraska is seeking to join 32 other states and the District of Columbia in expanding Medicaid. A petition drive is underway to pose the question to voters in the November general election.

Newly hired as chief administrative officer for the Center for Rural Affairs, Linda Butkus is no stranger to rural life. Though she grew up in the city, she’s spent many years taking hunting trips to...

Hilda Moreno and Carlos Alvarado dream of setting their children up for success through opportunity. They want to show their sons that it is important to work hard – it’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

Every small town has that one place locals love to hang out; that business where everyone gathers. There’s something about the comfort of being in a home away from home that draws people in and keeps them coming back for more. In Tekamah, Nebraska, that business is Chatterbox Brews.

Anyone familiar with rural communities knows that locally-owned businesses are the jewels that make them vibrant. However, in many rural communities, entrepreneurs can struggle to establish new...

The farm bill is on the move. This week, the Senate will vote on a draft farm bill, but it is still missing very important changes: policy to address abuse of commodity farm programs and close major...

Rural America is often characterized as mostly white and a place with few immigrants. Those of us who work in small towns across the country know this generalization is slowly being swept aside...

Groups across Nebraska are working to gather enough signatures by the state’s July 6 deadline to put Medicaid expansion onto the November ballot.

Concerns are being raised about cuts to programs in the latest version of the Farm Bill that could undermine Iowa farmers' progress on sustainable agriculture.

Everyone should be able to see a doctor when they need to. But too many Nebraskans can’t get coverage right now. That’s why I signed the petition to let Nebraskans vote this fall to help our neighbors who struggle to make ends meet afford health coverage through Medicaid.

The Senate Agriculture Committee has released a bipartisan bill that provides important support for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. However, there is room for improvement. While it would...

Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) makes billions of dollars in total payments to farmers across the country. They rely on these payments as part of a strong safety net, which helps them mitigate the steep risk that comes with working in the agricultural sector.

After migrating from Mexico to the United States in 1994, Carlos Barcenas discovered that, though the landscape may change, rural living still encompasses the same ideals. “Rural brings a sense of...

Recently, Utahns surpassed the threshold of signature collection to place Medicaid expansion on the November ballot. Idaho is following close behind. The residents of these rural states seek to extend access to coverage that has been denied by their state governments.

Over the next month, Nebraskans have the opportunity to help bring health care access to 90,000 of our hard-working neighbors. By offering your signature to the Insure the Good Life ballot initiative, the state will be closer to closing the gap for those in our communities who work hard every day to provide for their families, but who are left without health care coverage.

Fifteen years ago, a fairgrounds manager was looking for someone to do concessions at events. Dennis and Wanda Pace and their daughter, Jodi, agreed. They didn’t realize the request would eventually...

Driving down main streets in many Nebraska communities offers a similar view – old, brick buildings line the street, interspersed among newer, modern facades. Some are well maintained while others are...