News Releases

We are committed to keeping the issues facing rural America in the news media. Here you'll find news on the work we do on public policy, farming and ranching, small businesses, and rural communities.

Beatrice, NE - The Center for Rural Affairs Women’s Business Center in collaboration with Gage Area Growth Enterprise (NGage) is planning a five-week Business Plan Basics course starting March 1, 2016...
  • Lending
Lincoln, NE - Today, the Nebraska Unicameral voted for final passage of LB 176, legislation introduced by Senator Ken Schilz in 2015 that will rescind Nebraska’s statute prohibiting meatpacking...
  • Small Towns
Broken Bow, NE - The Center for Rural Affairs Women’s Business Center along with partnering organizations will host a five-week Business Plan Basics course beginning Monday, February 15 continuing...
  • Small Towns
Lyons, NE - The Center for Rural Affairs' Rural Food Business Growth project is coming to Miss Molly's in Wayne, Nebraska, to showcase opportunities for food businesses. The Grow Your Food Business...
  • Small Towns
Lincoln, NE - Today, the Nebraska legislature voted to advance LB 176 from Select File to the bill’s final reading and vote on final passage, which could occur as early as next week. LB 176...
  • Farm and Food
Lyons, NE - On Tuesday, January 19, 2016, concerned citizens and like-minded organizations, including the Center for Rural Affairs, will hold a press conference in the State Capitol Rotunda to support...
  • Small Towns
Lyons, NE - The Center for Rural Affairs is partnering with University of Nebraska Extension to offer several FREE farm to school trainings to Nebraska’s school food service staff and fruit and...
  • Small Towns
Lyons, NE - The Center for Rural Affairs, Iowa Department of Agriculture and University of Missouri Extension will be presenting the inaugural Midwest Farm to School Conference at the beautiful Lied...
  • Small Towns
Lyons, Nebraska - The Center for Rural Affairs is pleased to announce it has raised $10,635 in the Newman’s Own Foundation Challenge for #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the...
  • Small Towns
Lyons, NE - Farmers, gardeners, farmers market vendors and those interested in developing a food product for market are invited to participate in a “Recipe to Reality Seminar” on Saturday, January 16...
  • Small Towns
Lyons, Nebraska - Today the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued their final rule to define what it means to be actively engaged in farming, and therefore eligible to receive federal farm...
  • Farm and Food
Lyons, Nebraska - On November 6, the Center for Rural Affairs REAP Women’s Business Center hosted a local InnovateHER Challenge for the state of Nebraska. The Challenge, sponsored by the Small...
  • Small Towns
Walthill, Nebraska - On Thursday, Dec. 3, the second annual Christmas Bazaar will be held at the new Walthill Fire Hall from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The event will offer Native American artwork and...
  • Small Towns
Lincoln, Nebraska - Today, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature’s Revenue and Education Committees are holding a joint public hearing to gather public input on LR 332 and LR 344, interim studies...
  • Small Towns
Lyons, NE - The Center for Rural Affairs was recently awarded a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant from the Rural Business Development Grant program to support startup and expansion of rural small...
  • Small Towns
Lyons, Nebraska - As early as next Tuesday, the U.S. Senate will vote on S. 1140, which would halt the Obama Administration’s near-final rulemaking to clarify longstanding Clean Water Act protections...
  • Policy
Lyons, Nebraska - Two Northeast Nebraska communities in Burt County will unveil separate public artworks on Sunday, Nov. 1 and Monday, Nov. 2. The projects, part of the Byway of Art project, are a...
  • Small Towns
Lyons, Nebraska - This week, the White House and Congressional leaders struck a tentative budget deal that provides a framework and additional funding needed to allow Congress to complete the annual...
  • Farm and Food
Lyons, NE - The Center for Rural Affairs is celebrating Farm to School Month by hosting three webinars filled with useful information for school staff and farmers and ranchers interested in starting...
  • Small Towns
Lyons, Nebraska - Several organizations from across the Midwest and Great Plains partnered this week to urge people in their states to take action to address climate change and call for investments in...
  • Policy