Niobrara Nebraska from nearby hill

Blog Posts & Stories

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Organic certification can be a valuable economic avenue for farmers to pursue, as it allows them to access both new markets and higher price premiums. However, many farmers either are not familiar...
  • Farm and Food
Sara Brubacher’s interest in plants, food, and farming has evolved over the past few years. She wanted to learn more about conservation practices she could implement on her farm, so she applied for and was accepted into the Center's Beginning Farmer Conservation Fellowship Program.
  • Small Towns
  • Farm and Food
When applying for organic certification from USDA, farmers first need to create an Organic System Plan that describes how their farming, handling, and/or processing practices meet organic standards. Here are six standards to consider when working to get certified organic.
  • Farm and Food
A newly released report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows growth in wind and solar development has led to substantial increases in local ordinances. As demand for clean energy grows, local governments are tasked with identifying how clean energy will be regulated.
  • Policy
Jorge Velásquez pasó años trabajando en plantas empacadoras de carne y como instalador de pisos antes de decidir convertirse en propietario de un pequeño negocio. Pero enfrento algunos desafíos a lo largo de su camino hasta convertirse en propietario de George Flooring, con sede en South Sioux City, Nebraska.
  • Lending
Jorge Velasquez spent years working in meatpacking plants and as a flooring installer before deciding to become a small business owner. But he has faced a few challenges along his journey to being the owner of George Flooring, based in South Sioux City, Nebraska.
  • Lending
The holiday season is right around the corner and it comes with great news. According to a Gallup survey, 74% of holiday shoppers said they expect to pay about the same amount or more on holiday gifts this year compared to last. Moreover, 23% of shoppers said they choose one retailer over another because they want to support small and local businesses in their community.
  • Small Towns
In southwest Iowa, local foods are often overlooked more than in the rest of the state. With that in mind, the Southwest Iowa Local Foods Summit, held Nov. 10 in Avoca, was meaningful for the 70-some...
  • Small Towns
  • Farm and Food
For the Prairie Island Indian Community, taking advantage of renewable energy is a way to preserve its way of life for future generations. Tribal leaders have been interested in the opportunities renewable energy could bring the community for several years, and in 2020 they moved from interest to action by becoming one of the first Tribal Nations to set a goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions.
  • Policy
Small Business Saturday is Nov. 25 and there are plenty of Nebraska small business owners hoping for your business. In 2022, shoppers across the country spent nearly $18 billion at small shops and restaurants on Small Business Saturday.
  • Small Towns
On Thursday, President Joe Biden signed a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown. In addition to funding the U.S. government, the legislation includes a significant measure for rural communities—an extension of the 2018 farm bill.
  • Policy
Throughout my last essay I wrote about why access to capital—who can get money and what they are able to do with it—is central to rural communities and central to the Center’s work. Close followers of...
  • Small Towns
Rural communities in Nebraska and across the Midwest have a new resource for assistance in addressing environmental challenges: the Heartland Environmental Justice Center (HEJC), a Thriving...
  • Small Towns
With support from the Center for Rural Affairs, two Nebraska communities are on the path to reviving a once proud tradition of growing their own food, and, in turn, improving their local businesses and offering residents a place closer to home to purchase groceries and other necessities.
  • Farm and Food
​​​​​​​In recent weeks, farm bill progress was limited as other developments in Congress took priority. Lawmakers elected a new Speaker of the House, and now face a Nov. 17 deadline to reach an agreement on spending or shut down the government.
  • Policy
Cuando se trata de determinación, disciplina y un compromiso inquebrantable con la excelencia, pocos grupos ejemplifican estas cualidades, como los veteranos de nuestra nación. A medida que pasa del servicio militar a la vida civil, puede embarcarse en una nueva misión: el espíritu empresarial. Iniciar y administrar una pequeña empresa es un viaje que requiere dedicación, ingenio y una caja de herramientas bien equipada.
  • Lending
When it comes to determination, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, few groups exemplify these qualities like our nation's veterans.
  • Lending
There’s a strong belief in honoring the sun in the Lakota culture. “If you don’t have the sun shining, you can’t have plants and flowers and photosynthesis,” said John Red Cloud, a member of the...
  • Small Towns
  • Policy
When the Center for Rural Affairs was founded in 1973, its focus was on federal policy. Today, the organization’s work includes capital access, community development, and small business and clean energy policy, in addition to rural federal policy.
  • Small Towns
Luis Franco has a passion for encouraging entrepreneurs and supporting rural economies. He began his career in the retail industry, working in accounting, payroll, and financial planning. That experience led him to the Nebraska Business Development Center, where he served three years as a business consultant supporting entrepreneurs.
  • Lending
  • Small Towns