We aren't afraid of the weeds. The people living in rural America deserve a serious and in-depth look at the issues and forces impacting their communities.
Thank you for taking the time to read this guide. At the Center for Rural Affairs, we field many questions about Farm Service Agency (FSA) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans, and what they can and cannot be used for. We work directly with Latino producers and youth to explain the process...
- Farm and Food
- Small Towns
Carlos Alvarado, Sr., owner of Los Dos Potrillos, applied for a $30,000 Farm Service Agency Direct Farm Operating Loan. He used the loan to buy a tractor for harvesting hay and alfalfa. Operation I currently have a few animals, but my main focus is raising Friesian horses and other exotic animals...
- Farm and Food
- Small Towns
Carlos Alvarado, Jr., operator of rodents4ever, applied for a $5,000 Youth Loan from the Farm Service Agency. The loan paid for a hutch to house chinchillas, and gravel and dirt to support the base of the hutch. Carlos sells meat chickens, organic eggs, geese, goslings, pheasants, chinchillas, and...
- Farm and Food
- Small Towns
Roberto Ceja has a cow/calf operation and sells them during the spring. He has applied for two Farm Service Agency Direct Farm Operating Loans for $30,000 each to buy cattle. Roberto has 20 head of cattle, 35 acres of alfalfa, and 10 acres of hay. He also wants to have smaller parcels of sorghum...
- Farm and Food
- Small Towns
My favorite part of this job isn’t the cake we get for birthdays, although that is a pretty neat perk. I absolutely love visiting with you—our donors, event and program participants, small business loan recipients, board members, and everyday, rural people.
- Lending
- Policy
Las políticas estatales y nacionales tienen un impacto directo en nuestras vidas diarias. Entonces, ¿qué puedo hacer yo para afectar la política? Nuestros representantes son elegidos para actuar en representación nuestra para darle forma a las políticas que nos afectan. Se puede interactuar con...
- Lending
- Small Towns
- Farm and Food
With the average age of a farmer at nearly 60 years, and millions of acres expected to change hands over the next few years, many Americans are thinking about who the next generation of producers will be. Investment in the next generation of producers is garnering attention with key congressional...
- Farm and Food
Martin Neal, of Hickman, Nebraska, is a beginning farmer searching for land. Currently farms 5 acres Hopes to farm 150 acres in the future Difficulty obtaining land: “When it comes to buying land, most have a pre-authorization letter and don’t need to go through the three- to four month process...
- Farm and Food
Jami Thoene, of Valparaiso, Nebraska, is a beginning farmer searching for land. Grew up on a family farm and was involved with 4-H and FFA. Obtained bachelor’s degree in agriculture education with a minor in animal science. Worked for a few veterinarians. Began working with Natural Resources...
- Farm and Food
Every day, rural communities benefit from wind energy. Wind development provides new income for landowners, new tax revenue to fund schools and services, and creates local career and job opportunities. County officials are responsible for enacting siting or zoning standards that help ensure wind...
- Policy
Every day, rural communities benefit from wind energy. Wind development provides new income for landowners, new tax revenue to fund schools and services, and creates local career and job opportunities. County officials are responsible for enacting siting or zoning standards that help ensure wind...
- Policy
Every day, rural communities benefit from wind energy. Wind development provides new income for landowners, new tax revenue to fund schools and services, and creates local career and job opportunities. County officials are responsible for enacting siting or zoning standards that help ensure wind...
- Policy
Every day, rural communities benefit from wind energy. Wind development provides new income for landowners, new tax revenue to fund schools and services, and creates local career and job opportunities. County officials are responsible for enacting siting or zoning standards that help ensure wind...
- Policy
The United States’ electric transmission network was originally designed to connect large, fossil fuel-powered plants to population centers with high demand. The way we generate electricity has changed significantly, and the existing electric grid often fails to meet the needs of new generation. As...
- Policy
The nature of electricity in the U.S. has undergone significant change. A growing renewable energy industry has created competition for traditional fossil fuel generating resources in the marketplace. American consumers—both residential and commercial—have also voiced demand for cleaner electricity...
- Policy
The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey estimates about 141,000 Nebraskans are without health insurance, and about 97,000 of them are employed. This map includes American Community Survey’s five-year estimate of the number of Nebraskans falling into the coverage gap, as well as...
- Policy
The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey estimates about 141,000 Nebraskans are without health insurance, and about 97,000 of them are employed. This map includes American Community Survey’s five-year estimate of the number of Nebraskans falling into the coverage gap, as well as...
- Policy
When are local foods available to add to school menus? Center for Rural Affairs partnered with Nebraska Department of Education - Nutrition Services, Nebraska Dry Bean Commission, Midwest Dairy, and Nebraska Beef Council to create a year-round Farm to School program, Nebraska Thursdays. This Produce...
- Farm and Food
- Small Towns
In this edition, you will read about Joan Burhmann, a 93-year-old working to make sure the next generation has a fair chance at rural life.
- Small Towns
Ryan Pekarek, of Pekarek’s Produce, near Dwight, Nebraska, sells vegetables to area schools. Who we sell to “We sell to Lone Tree Foods, a local distributor, and various schools. We also sell our produce at the Seward and Lincoln Haymarket farmers markets.” Ideal way to sell to schools “I would love...
- Small Towns
