What's happening with the Center for Rural Affairs? Find the latest on rural America and our work here.
We’re excited to announce five schools have received awards to participate in the School Greenhouse to Cafeteria facilitation program for the 2016-17 school year.
- Small Towns
76 rural hospitals have closed since 2010. According to the National Rural Health Association, about one-third of U.S. rural hospitals are at risk of closure due to financial distress.
- Policy
It’s nearly time for the 2016 Midwest Great Apple Crunch on Oct. 13, during National Farm to School Month. At noon, students in schools across the region will crunch into apples all at the same time...
- Small Towns
The proposed merger between German based pharmaceutical and chemical giant Bayer and U.S. based seed giant Monsanto would create the world's largest supplier of seeds and agricultural chemicals. A merged company would control a quarter of the world's seed and agrichemical market.
- Small Towns
In every community, there are people who go above and beyond their civic duty to make their home a better place for everyone. These are the people that are absolutely vital to our work, but more importantly, vital to rural America. In Hastings, that person is Aida Olivas.
- Small Towns
For over three decades, the Center for Rural Affairs has worked alongside farm and rural organizations, U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives to reform federal farm subsidies. The impetus for those reform efforts has been the negative impacts unlimited farm subsidies have on beginning farmers, and on small and mid-sized family farms.
- Farm and Food
During September, Brittany Sage promotes Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month at her business, Cut it Out Salon in downtown Litchfield, NE population 259.
- Lending
In 2010, Congress designated October as National Farm to School Month. This acknowledged and celebrated that farm to school programs are an important way to improve child nutrition, support local economies, and educate children about where their food comes from.
- Small Towns
The amount of property taxes collected in Nebraska is nearly double the totals collected for either sales or income taxes. It is the largest source of revenue for the state’s schools, as well as for local and county government services.
- Farm and Food
The development of renewable wind energy provides significant benefits to rural communities. We've mapped a few wind development stories from the Midwest and Great Plains.
- Policy
A report from the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project got me thinking about the rural development potential of transforming the energy sector. The report outlines pathways to reduce carbon pollution...
- Policy
Sharon Freemont sits on a stool in the evening, weeding the garden. Sometimes her three grandchildren join her. The garden is surrounded by high grass, and beyond that, fields, shaded in the evening...
- Small Towns
There was much discussion last spring in Nebraska Legislature about whether we should find a way to help people in our state who fall into the health coverage gap to finally afford health insurance. Unfortunately, our state leaders again failed to capitalize on a solution to this ongoing problem.
- Policy
Justin Doerr left the Army after serving overseas and knew he wanted to farm for his civilian career. He is big on planning, so he attended farm tours and webinars across three states to prepare for...
- Farm and Food
Every morning I get up at sunrise and I get my paint horse (whose name is “Paint”) saddled up and go out in my pasture and check on cows and calves.
- Small Towns
Tacos vs. smoked ribs. Frozen treats vs. salads. Hundreds flocked to downtown Norfolk, Neb., on a warm Friday evening in late July for a taste of local food and local music. The focus? Food Truck...
- Lending
Last November, with the help of a USDA Rural Business Development Grant, the Center launched the Rural Food Business Growth project providing technical assistance and resources, along with a helpline...
- Small Towns
Their farmhouse door was one of many that Horizon Energy Services staff members knocked on when they went door-to-door asking if anyone would be interested in a wind farm in McLean County, Illinois.
- Policy
I had thought nothing of it when our conversation grew louder to compensate for the sound of my dad’s lawnmower starting. Occasionally Dad, when he wants to do something, will randomly get up and mow the area in which the activity is to take place.
- Small Towns
'Tis the season for ears of corn coming out of our ears! One of the many benefits of living in rural America - particularly in the corn belt - is the abundance of sweet corn during the late summer.
- Farm and Food
