Niobrara Nebraska from nearby hill

Blog Posts & Stories

What's happening with the Center for Rural Affairs? Find the latest on rural America and our work here.

Woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a blue T-shirt and blue jeans, has one hand on a fluffy white dog with dark coloring on the face. She's standing in a yard with a barn and grain bins in the background. Photo is from the 1980s.
Erin Schoenberg
On the road with Erin in Pennsylvania
You likely saw our 2024 donor list in the last issue, if you’re a regular newsletter reader. Did you notice the U.S. map we printed alongside the list? This map indicates that we have donors from 42 states, plus Washington, D.C. This is quite the spread! We don’t take for granted that people from around the country want to be part of our grassroots movement to build a just and prosperous rural future.
  • Small Towns
  • Farm and Food
A man and woman stand in front of empty shelves in a wooden lean-to. The woman is holding a small boy sitting on one of the shelves. A sign that says "Perennial Homestead" is behind them.
Liz Stewart
Honor-system farm stand sells locally sourced products, provides community gathering space
Ali and Scotty Yahnke have been farming together for the past decade, and although each season has been different from the last, they wouldn’t change a thing. The couple began their agricultural...
  • Small Towns
  • Farm and Food
A beat-up gray mailbox on a weathered post. The mailbox says "U.S. Mail" on the front. In the background is a ditch with short green grass and a lot of dandelions and a harvested field with a clear blue sky.
Center for Rural Affairs
USPS privatization would jeopardize access and affordability
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is currently facing threats of privatization, which would jeopardize mail service to the 51 million people living in rural areas who might otherwise not have mail access.
  • Policy
Brown graphic that says "Field Notes 04.29.2025" "Budget negotiations, rural grocery, and local foods bill passed House" with an image of an envelope and a photo of a large building that's Iowa's statehouse
Cynthia Farmer
Field Notes – Budget negotiations, rural grocery, and local foods bill passed Iowa House
Legislators will receive their final per diem stipends for their time spent in Des Moines this Friday, May 2. However, it is unlikely they will adjourn for the final time this week because they have...
  • Policy
The U.S. Capitol building - you can see the top 1/3 of it, in the foreground is a wide sidewalk, a row of cars, and green/yellow trees lining the sidewalk
Val Ankeny
From your hometown to Capitol Hill: Your voice matters
Recent federal funding cuts and freezes are harming small businesses, farmers, individuals, and communities nationwide. Programs that have been instrumental in supporting economic development, job...
  • Policy
Grey graphic that says "Nebraska Legislative Update" and "04.25.2025" on the top, then "Budget remains highest priority this session" with a photo of the Nebraska State Capitol building in the lower right hand corner, and an image of an envelope and a megaphone in the lower lefthand corner
Audra Espinoza
Prairie Beacon – Budget remains highest priority this session
The remaining days of the current Nebraska legislative session, tentatively scheduled to adjourn on June 9, will be dedicated to closing the outstanding $289 million budget shortfall. The...
  • Policy
Blue graphic that says "Minnesota Memo" and "04.25.2025" on the top, then "Key climate legislation targeted in Senate omnibus bill" with a photo of the Minnesota statehouse in the lower right hand corner, and an image of an envelope and a megaphone in the lower lefthand corner
Cora Hoffer
Minnesota Memo – Key climate legislation targeted in Senate omnibus bill
Today ends Week 15 of Minnesota’s legislative session. Legislators are back from break and have less than a month to put together a biennial state budget by the constitutional deadline of May 19. This...
  • Policy
A USDA Service Center - the photo is of a top half of a sign with the green logo and white background. A one-story building with brown siding is behind the sign, with the branches of a tree with spring buds reaching toward the building and blue sky with wispy clouds.
Brian Depew
Center calls on lawmakers to uphold federal obligations
Actions by the new administration in Washington are creating far-reaching consequences for rural people and rural places. For instance, within days of taking office, the new administration froze a...
  • Small Towns
  • Farm and Food
  • Policy
A man and a woman stand in front of a metal building and smile at the camera. She stands on the left in a navy blue hooded sweatshirt, wearing a red, white, and maroon stocking cap and holding garlic and a carton of eggs. He stands on the right in a tan vest over the top of a faded hooded sweatshirt and a baseball cap.
Cora Hoffer
Organic farm in northern Minnesota faces uncertainty with USDA funds
Disruptions in federal funding are causing uncertainty and frustration for one small farm near Duluth, Minnesota. Food Farm, a second generation certified organic farm near Wrenshall, Minnesota, is...
  • Policy
A woman with brown hair pulled back into a pony tail smiles as she looks at the camera. She wears a black t-shirt that says "Elkhorn River Coffee Co." and glasses as stands in the kitchen of her coffee shop with brightly colored coffee mugs behind her.
Liz Stewart
Passion percolates into profession for Scribner business owner
Lisa Lawton’s love of coffee knows no bounds. She was born and raised in Scribner, Nebraska, but for many years, she lived in Washington state, the birthplace of Starbucks. There, she was surrounded by coffee shops, but when she moved back home, she had to drive 12 miles to get a latte.
  • Lending
A woman with brown hair pulled back into a pony tail smiles as she looks at the camera. She wears a black t-shirt that says "Elkhorn River Coffee Co." and glasses as stands in the kitchen of her coffee shop with brightly colored coffee mugs behind her.
Liz Stewart
La pasión se convierte en profesión para una empresaria de Scribner
El amor de Lisa Lawton por el café no tiene límites. Nació y creció en Scribner, Nebraska, pero durante muchos años vivió en el estado de Washington, cuna de Starbucks. Allí estaba rodeada de cafeterías, pero cuando regresó a su ciudad natal, tenía que conducir 12 millas para conseguir un latte.
  • Lending
A woman with shoulder-length, light brown hair stands behind a folding table at what appears to be a farmers market. The table is covered with a blue and white checkered table cloth and holds wicker baskets of vegetables including asparagus, lettuce, green onions, and turnips.
Val Ankeny
Local farms, local losses: how USDA cuts are hurting communities
The recent termination of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS) Cooperative Agreement Programs by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has significantly...
  • Policy
Brown graphic that says "Field Notes 04.15.2025" "Rural grocery, local foods bill needs appropriated funds" with an image of an envelope and a photo of a large building that's Iowa's statehouse
Cynthia Farmer
Field Notes – Rural grocery, local foods bill needs appropriated funds
We are on the downhill slide toward the end of the Iowa legislative session, as Week 14 is underway. Legislators are working to wrap up by Friday, May 2, the date they receive their last stipend of...
  • Policy
Blue graphic that says "Minnesota Memo" and "0.11.2025" on the top, then "House and Senate budget targets released" with a photo of the Minnesota statehouse in the lower right hand corner, and an image of an envelope and a megaphone in the lower lefthand corner
Cora Hoffer
Minnesota Memo – House and Senate budget targets released
Today ends Week 13 of Minnesota’s legislative session, marking the third and final deadline for committees to take action on bills. Both chambers will recess for the Easter/Passover break, returning...
  • Policy
Grey graphic that says "Nebraska Legislative Update" and "04.11.2025" on the top, then "SNAP legislation advances" with a photo of the Nebraska State Capitol building in the lower right hand corner, and an image of an envelope and a megaphone in the lower lefthand corner
Audra Espinoza
Prairie Beacon – SNAP legislation advanced
Last week, Legislative Bill (LB) 192, introduced by Sen. Dan Quick, advanced past the first round of debate with 33 votes. LB 192 maintains the current income eligibility for the Supplemental...
  • Policy
View of McCook, Nebraska Main Street buildings. On the far left, there is a large light-colored brick building, next to it is a dark brick two-story building, and then another two-story brick building with an orange awning. To the right, there are two more two-story dark brick buildings, each with dark brown awnings. To the right of those buildings is a three-story dark brick building with a dark green awning. Vehicles line the street in front of these buildings.
Andi McClintic
LB 840: Powering economic growth with local tax revenue in Nebraska
Economic development lays the foundation for strong towns, but it takes more than good intentions to make it happen. Communities have to be intentional about planning, finding resources, and investing strategically to attract and retain businesses.
  • Small Towns
View of McCook, Nebraska Main Street buildings. On the far left, there is a large light-colored brick building, next to it is a dark brick two-story building, and then another two-story brick building with an orange awning. To the right, there are two more two-story dark brick buildings, each with dark brown awnings. To the right of those buildings is a three-story dark brick building with a dark green awning. Vehicles line the street in front of these buildings.
Andi McClintic
LB 840: Impulsando el crecimiento económico con ingresos fiscales locales en Nebraska
El desarrollo económico es la base para comunidades sólidas, pero se necesita más que buenas intenciones para lograrlo. Las comunidades deben planificar, buscar recursos e invertir estratégicamente para atraer y retener empresas.
  • Small Towns
View of Columbus Main Street. There is a light green building that says "Platte Valley Printing," to it's right there is a red brick building with a sign that says "12-12", and a lighter tan brick building with a dark brown awning next to it. Continuing to the right is a building with a yellow painted brick second story and what looks like windows across the front of the first story. Vehicles line the street in front of the stores.
Val Ankeny
Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program lowers barriers with easier grant application, but its future remains uncertain
A grant program to empower underserved communities is offering a unique opportunity to fund local environmental and public health initiatives. “Communities throughout Nebraska are considering this...
  • Small Towns
Brown graphic that says "Field Notes 04.01.2025" "Rural grocery and local foods bill further considered by Iowa House subcommittee" with an image of an envelope and a photo of a large building that's Iowa's statehouse
Cynthia Farmer
Field Notes – Rural grocery and local foods bill further considered by Iowa House subcommittee
We are already in Week 12 of the Iowa legislative session, and legislators have spent hours debating bills in recent weeks. The second funnel deadline is this Friday, April 4, when bills focused...
  • Policy
Grey graphic that says "Nebraska Legislative Update" and "03.28.2025" on the top, then "Public hearings conclude, full- day debate to begin " with a photo of the Nebraska State Capitol building in the lower right hand corner, and an image of an envelope and a megaphone in the lower lefthand corner
Audra Espinoza
Prairie Beacon – Public hearings conclude, full-day debate to begin
Business in the legislature has been progressing steadily, with mostly noncontroversial bills advancing. Today marked the end of public hearings for this year’s introduced legislation, with full-day...
  • Policy