What's happening with the Center for Rural Affairs? Find the latest on rural America and our work here.
The 2016 session of the Nebraska Legislature is well behind us, and while there were plenty of frustrations and issues left unaddressed, it is important to recognize the good news and victories that did come out of the Unicameral this year.
- Policy
Latinos and immigrants are not only bringing population growth to rural America, they are also bringing economic growth. (The great majority of foreign-born rural residents in the U.S. come from Latin America.)
- Small Towns
While an extensive amount of climate change data exists, it's not always readily digestible. Sometimes it takes a great visual representation of scientific results to get the full sense of what is going on with global temperatures.
- Policy
Unfortunately, in the rancor of the presidential primary season, discussion of the benefits immigrants bring to rural communities and states has gotten lost. In this two-part series, we aim to remedy that oversight.
- Small Towns
Just over two years ago, a tornado ravaged the northeast Nebraska town of Pilger. It left destruction in its wake. In a marvelous testament to rural grit and ingenuity, the community hosted a “Grand Reopening Celebration” on Saturday, June 18, 2016.
- Small Towns
On Tuesday, June 14, North Dakotans went to the polls in a primary election to decide, among other things, the fate of North Dakota’s long-standing anti-corporate farming law.
- Farm and Food
We are happy to announce the Storefront Theater located in Lyons, Neb., has been selected and recognized as part of the Americans for the Arts 2016 Public Art Network (PAN) Year in Review program, the only national program that specifically recognizes the most compelling public art.
- Small Towns
It’s great when a new owner/entrepreneur wants to buy a business in a rural community. Small businesses are foundational to the economy. We’d severely miss the products and services, not to mention the sales tax revenue that commerce bring to our communities.
- Lending
Right now the Nebraska Energy Office, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, and our Public Power Districts are hard at work planning for Nebraska's energy future. These agencies have been tasked with putting together a comprehensive State Energy Plan.
- Policy
The Center for Rural Affairs has the distinct honor of leading the National Farm to School Network’s Midwest Region and working with state leads in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota...
- Small Towns
The National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Madison, Wis., was themed Moving Forward Together. The real impact I walked away with was: Who are we leaving behind?
- Small Towns
We are currently accepting applications for our School Greenhouse to Cafeteria facilitation program for the 2016 to 2017 school year! We first told you the news last month.
- Small Towns
Kitty Vacha, owner of Tasteful Indulgence, Cake Art of Seward, will appear on Food Network’s Cake Wars on Monday, June 13, at 8 p.m. CST. Kitty has worked with the Center for Rural Affairs Women’s...
- Lending
On June 14, North Dakota voters will have the opportunity to protect North Dakota’s proud heritage of family farm and ranch agriculture by voting NO on Measure #1 to preserve North Dakota’s corporate farming law.
- Farm and Food
A new type of carbon credit program designed for long-term conservation initiatives such as conservation easements on grasslands is beginning to enroll landowners this year. The goal of this effort is to develop a pilot project designed to conserve grasslands and reduce potential greenhouse gas emissions from land conversion.
- Farm and Food
I attended what was supposed to be a community energy meeting in Norfolk, Neb., last Tuesday evening. It seemed to be more like a salesmen's pitch on how electricity produced with coal, nuclear power or natural gas is the customer's "best buy."
- Policy
One of the great things about being a Loan Specialist for the Center for Rural Affairs is the fact that you participate in lots of activities. From attending conferences and meetings to developing trainings and providing coaching to a variety of businesses, you are constantly meeting new people.
- Small Towns
On May 10, 2016, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), reintroduced legislation to prohibit ownership of livestock by meatpacking companies. S. 2911 would amend the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 to make it unlawful for a packer to own, feed, or control livestock intended for slaughter.
- Farm and Food
In 2009 I co-authored a Center for Rural Affairs’ report detailing the critical, but overlooked, need for mental and behavioral health services in rural areas.
- Policy
For 100 years, Great Plains states have battled against corporate farming, fighting to keep farming in the hands of family farmers and ranchers. Several states have passed laws to ensure that remained the case.
- Farm and Food
