Campaigning for a Better Farm Bill
As the farm bill debate moves forward, we are keeping up the pressure for meaningful reform that benefits family farmers and ranchers, small rural businesses and rural communities. Passed only once every five years, the farm bill is the single most important piece of legislation for rural America, with a reach that extends to the entire country. The Center for Rural Affairs is working hard to fight for a 2007 Farm Bill that truly supports all of America.
We cannot win a farm bill that truly supports all of rural America without your help. Please take a moment to support rural America - click below to see our ongoing grassroots campaigns and action alerts targeted at creating a farm bill that strengthens rural communities, rural businesses, and family farms and ranches.
Read our statement on the Senate's rejection of the Dorgan-Grassley payment limits amendment: Farm State Senators Vote Against Family Farmers, and see how your Senators voted. Follow more reaction to the ongoing farm bill debate on the Blog for Rural America.
By joining the Rural Action Network you will help increase our collective power to stand up for a just and sustainable future for our rural communities. This is an important Farm Bill year, so sign up today.
Read the Center's Most Recent Newsletter
Restriction on Corporate Farming Rejected in Nebraska Legislature
On a vote of 27 opposed to 20 in support the legislature rejected LB 1174, the legislative replacement for Initiative 300
Who Will Sit Up With The Corporate Sow?
The prophetic, 1975 report from the Center is now online as a pdf.
Value-Added Producer Grants Deadline
The March 31st deadline is approaching.
Center for Rural Affairs Joins “Opportunity@Work” Initiative
A new Nebraska initiative to create opportunity for working families.
New Report: False Reform
An analysis of Congressional payment limits proposals in the 2007 Farm Bill
Center Newsletter
Center for Rural Affairs February 2008 Newsletter
Nebraska REAP Survey
Complete the survey to help REAP better serve Nebraska's small rural businesses.
New Report
Promising Opportunities: A Fresh Look at Opportunities for Rural Communities
MarketPlace
The 2008 MarketPlace in Columbus, Nebraska
On Farm Energy
Small Farm Energy Primer
New Report
Economic Outcomes of Rural Microenterprise Development in the 2007 Farm Bill
Report on House Bill
Loosening the Limits and Tightening the Noose
New Rural Brief
Analysis of Rural Development in the House Farm Bill
Oversubsidizing and Underinvesting
A New Report on Commodity Subsidies and Rural Development
House Ag Committee Payment Limits Proposal
Center Statement
Farm Subsidy Database
Statement on the release of the Environmental Working Group's new farm subsidy database.
Ag Library Brief
Wind Turbine Considerations: Energy Conservation, Profitability and Ownership
Issue Briefs
Health Care in Rural America
Health Care Challenges for Small and Micro Businesses
Read the Blog for Rural America
Read our weekly columns
Center for Rural Affairs Weekly Column
Community Development Discussion Guides
The discussion guides consist of two parts. One is a list of questions on such subjects as volunteer recruitment, leadership, agricultural involvement, beautification, history, rural culture, schools, churches, hospitals, youth, and others. The other part is a facilitator’s manual to empower community leaders to help with the discussions.
Read the first two guides in the series.
Rural Development Library Continues to Grow
Be sure to check out our Rural Development and Rural Asset-Building Virtual Library. There are now over 15 individual reports in the library.
The latest edition is The Impact and Benefits of USDA Research and Grant Programs to Enhance Mid-Size Farm Profitability and Rural Community Success.
With this study, we sought to better understand how key USDA grant and research programs are serving beginning and small and mid-size farms and ranches, and what steps might be taken to improve these programs or develop new solutions to enhance farm profitability and rural community success.
