The inclusion of a public health insurance plan in health care reform legislation as an option for individuals, families, and businesses promises to be one of the most controversial and crucial decisions made by Congress. With the myriad health care challenges facing rural people and rural communities, the decision on whether to include a public health insurance plan option has significant consequences for rural America. In fact, rural America has much to gain or lose from the public health insurance plan decision.

Health Care for America NOW (HCAN) 2009 rally and lobby day was held in Upper Senate Park, Washington D.C. (HCAN Photo)

On June 25, 2009, delegations of community leaders from 40 states, over 10,000 people in all, gathered in Upper Senate Park, Washington D.C. as part of the Health Care For America Now (HCAN) 2009 rally and lobby day. Rally goers filled nearly every inch of the park, which sits just across the street from the Capitol. It was a culmination of months of grassroots efforts to reform our nation’s health care system.

The Nebraska delegation was made up of nine individuals passionate about making high quality, affordable health care a reality for all our residents. I was honored to be a part of this group. Health care reform is of personal and professional importance to me. We own/operate a family farm (which requires us to attempt to find high quality insurance on the private market), and I work part-time as a registered nurse where I see patients on a daily basis struggle to access adequate, affordable health care.

They came from Carrington, Hillsboro, McClusky and Mayville, North Dakota. From Halstad, Oslo and Parker’s Prairie, Minnesota. And from Havre, Wolf Point and Miles City, Montana – each with somethin’ to say about health care reform.

Are you an entrepreneur and can’t seem to find financing for your business? Maybe you’re in the startup phase and have been informed by a bank that they don’t loan to startups. Possibly you’re an existing small business in need of financing to stabilize or expand your venture but just can’t seem to find any takers in the lending area.

Arizona: A group of physicians in rural communities have volunteered for 13 years to mentor medical students from the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. The goal is to help increase the number of doctors practicing in rural Arizona.

Beginning this summer, the Obama Administration is venturing out of the Capitol and embarking on an aptly named Rural Tour. (Wish you could be a Rural Tour Roadie? Do the next best thing. Follow our coverage at the Blog for Rural America, www.cfra.org/blog.)

The Center for Rural Affairs’ annual small business conference, MarketPlace: Opening Doors to Success is expanding. The first annual Kansas MarketPlace will be held at the Ramada Convention Center in Hays, Kansas, on November 9 and 10, 2009. The fourth annual Nebraska Marketplace is coming to the Ramada Inn Convention Center in Kearney, Nebraska, on February 23 and 24, 2010.

Concentrated economic power is as great a threat to the common good as concentrated political power is to democracy. In practice, the two go hand in hand. When a big company gains the power to dominate markets and dictate the terms of trade, political muscle almost always comes with it. Very often, political muscle helps create the economic advantage through favorable public policies.

In a complex case dealing with nonprofit ownership of farm and ranch land for the purpose of wildlife and habitat conservation, Judge James Bekken of North Dakota’s Southeast Judicial District found in favor of the state in their efforts to force Crosslands, Inc. to divest ownership of farmland in Griggs and Cavalier Counties. Judge Bekken also held that North Dakota’s corporate farming law does not violate the so-called “dormant” commerce clause.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) set aside $50 million nationally for a new organic initiative. Despite the short three week sign up, all set aside money will be obligated to fund the use of conservation crop rotations, cover crops, integrated pest management, nutrient management, rotational grazing and forage harvest management.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed historic legislation to address climate change and create new opportunities for agriculture and rural communities.

It takes a lot to keep the Center for Rural Affairs operating. When you look at the scope of work we do, you know that is true. Many of our funding sources are grants from foundations and from federal and state programs.