Blog Posts & Stories

Last winter as ranchers were keeping water tanks thawed for livestock and farmers were organizing for the upcoming planting season, a different type of planning was underway. A group of conservation...

When Tony Vargas, who served in the Nebraska legislature from 2017 to 2025, talks about public service, his approach to lawmaking and governance comes through clearly. “It doesn’t matter what your...

Lainey Johnson didn’t grow up farming, but she spent her childhood watching her mom bring plants to life in their family's garden. That inspired Lainey to test out her own skills, and she and her...

As the government shutdown continues, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November are being withheld. One in eight Americans rely on SNAP for their food. Nationwide, 42...

This blog is part of our “Farm Bill Bulletin” series, which provides intermittent updates on the development and status of our nation’s next farm bill. On Sept. 30, the 2018 farm bill expired for a...

Nebraska native Lisa Anderson spent much of her adult life living in Arizona before returning to her home state. Unfortunate circumstances brought her back, but fondness and familiarity of home, plus...

What began as a passion for making food for friends and neighbors has led to Maria and Sabino Hernandez operating their own successful business. When Maria started making and selling tamales from home, the couple was able to save money to buy their food truck in June 2014. Maria’s experience working in the restaurant industry blossomed into a full-time labor of love for the owners of Corn Taco Mexican Food LLC, in Schuyler, Nebraska.

Lo que comenzó como una pasión por preparar comida para amigos y vecinos ha llevado a María y Sabino Hernández a operar su propio negocio exitoso. Cuando María comenzó a hacer y vender tamales desde casa, la pareja logró ahorrar el suficiente dinero para comprar su camión de comida en junio de 2014. La experiencia de María trabajando en la industria restaurantera se transformó en una labor de amor a tiempo completo para los dueños de Corn Taco Mexican Food LLC, en Schuyler, Nebraska.

Dixie Nelson believes the more we help each other, the better off we’ll all be. Her altruistic nature has influenced much of what she’s done in her life, as well as how she treats those around her...

Efficiency upgrades to insulation, windows, doors, and air conditioners help homeowners save energy and reduce monthly bills. Millions of Americans across all 50 states have offset some of those costs...

Para muchos propietarios de pequeños negocios, el crédito personal y las finanzas del negocio están estrechamente vinculados, especialmente en los primeros años. Desafortunadamente, esto significa que un mal historial crediticio personal puede tener un efecto negativo en su negocio.

For many small business owners, personal credit and business finances are closely linked, especially in the early years. Unfortunately, that means poor personal credit can have a negative effect on your business. The good news? Bad credit doesn’t have to be permanent. Financial recovery is possible, even after hardships.

For Kyle and Morgan Lammers of Hartington, Nebraska, the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program has become an important asset to growing their direct-to-consumer beef business, KL Beef Co...

As a beginning farmer in Fayette County, Iowa, Trent Woltzen farms alongside his dad, raising cattle, goats, corn, soybeans, and hay. However, even with the support of family, opportunities to rent or...

Solar energy projects are becoming increasingly more common in rural areas. The Center for Rural Affairs endeavors to serve as a resource for communities and decision makers who are navigating such...

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides reliable access to food for millions of people. However, the integrity of the program is at risk after substantial cuts were made to it...

I grew up 15 minutes from the Santee Sioux reservation, but, culturally, I couldn’t have been further from it. My grandparents were among the thousands of Native Americans who as children were forced to attend boarding schools designed by the U.S. government to crush our culture. And although my sanpa hunkake survived, the pain and cultural loss cut deep. Our Native culture was discussed very little at home.

Crecí a 15 minutos de la reserva Santee Sioux, pero culturalmente, no podría haber estado más lejos. Mis abuelos fueron parte de los miles de nativos americanos que, siendo niños, fueron obligados a asistir a internados diseñados por el gobierno estadounidense para destruir nuestra cultura. Y aunque mi sanpa hunkake sobrevivió, el dolor y la pérdida cultural dejaron una herida muy profunda. En casa, se hablaba muy poco de nuestra cultura nativa.

Grants can be a lifeline for nonprofits, community groups, and small organizations—helping fund projects that make a real difference. But getting grants can feel confusing, time-consuming, and full of...

Nearly eight months after Congress passed a second extension of the 2018 farm bill as part of the American Relief Act, lawmakers are once again facing a tight timeline to pass a new farm bill or another extension before Sept. 30.