Blog Posts & Stories

Rocio Esparza knows firsthand that success begins with mindset. As a real estate agent at Summit Real Estate, managing partner at Esparza & Associates, small business contractor with the Center for Rural Affairs, and business tax specialist and advisor at Phillips I Cruise Tax and Business Services, Rocio has built a thriving career supporting and empowering the Latino community. She spends her days teaching financial literacy to business owners and providing one-on-one coaching to guide her clients as they navigate the complexities of tax planning. But the road to her current reality wasn’t an easy one.

Being laid off or terminated can be overwhelming and a little scary. The challenges of unemployment in rural areas are often amplified by a smaller job market and fewer support services, including...

Accessing fresh, healthy food is essential for all, but every county in Nebraska has an increasing number of people who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. During the first week of...

Agricultural producers looking to expand their operations through value-added products are encouraged to apply for a Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG). Applications will be accepted through April 17...

Using livestock such as goats and sheep to graze under solar arrays is quickly becoming a popular vegetation management practice at solar sites. In Minnesota, it provides opportunities for local...

A recent surge in pharmacy closures across Iowa, with 29 pharmacies shutting their doors in 2024, is contributing to the rise of rural "pharmacy deserts," areas with limited access to essential...

We’re in the sixth week of the 2025 Iowa legislative session. Last Friday was the final day individual senators and representatives were able to file draft legislation. Moving forward, only bills with...

Today is Day 22 of South Dakota’s 38-day legislative session. Bill introduction ended on Feb. 6. Legislators must now work to move nearly 500 bills out of their house of origin by Feb. 25, which is...

Mornings in the Nebraska legislature have been dedicated to full-floor debate on bills that have advanced out of committees, while hearings have been scheduled in the afternoons. Legislative hearings...

Today marks the end of week five of Minnesota’s legislative session. The three-week House Democrat boycott to deny quorum that halted House business came to an end on Feb. 5. House Democrat members...

A farmer’s work is never done. Even in winter, farmers are planning for the next planting season. For many operations, planning ahead includes signing up for federal crop insurance.

Each day, communities across Nebraska are faced with conservation issues. In 2016, Conservation Nebraska launched a program to help inform people about ways they can improve their local environment...

When most people think about sushi, they picture the traditional Japanese dish made with rice and raw seafood, wrapped in seaweed. When Wendy Urquidez mentions it, she means Mexican sushi.

Cuando la mayoría de las personas piensan en sushi, se imaginan el platillo tradicional japonés elaborado con arroz y mariscos crudos, envueltos en alga nori. Pero cuando Wendy Urquidez habla de sushi, se refiere al sushi mexicano.

Coordinating a successful farmers market is a rewarding experience that comes with opportunities for growth and learning. We’ve gathered advice from five farmers market managers to help you plan for your upcoming market season. From marketing strategies to vendor relationships, these managers are spilling the beans on how they’ve built, sustained, or improved their local farmers markets.

Coordinar un mercado de agricultores exitoso es una experiencia gratificante que conlleva oportunidades de crecimiento y aprendizaje. Hemos recopilado consejos de cinco gerentes de mercados agrícolas para ayudarlo a planificar su próxima temporada de mercado. Desde estrategias de marketing hasta relaciones con los proveedores, estos gerentes revelan cómo han creado, mantenido o mejorado sus mercados agrícolas locales.

Whether through training, networking, or coaching, the Center for Rural Affairs Women’s Business Center (WBC) provides services at no cost to all Nebraska entrepreneurs and small business owners to...

Ten years ago, Omaha Public Power District Board member Eric Williams took the leap to power his home with solar energy. He has since significantly upgraded his setup with a Sol-Ark 15 kilowatt (kW) inverter and 9.6 kWh of Lithion HomeGrid batteries.

Angela Mueller credits her grandfather for nurturing her passion for growing local food. Raised in south central Nebraska, she was inspired by his innovative approach to gardening, which was rooted in traditional methods.

Today is Day 14 of South Dakota’s 38-day legislative session. With a new governor in place, and over 400 bills introduced so far, the session is off to a busy start. More bills are expected in the run...