In a reversal of the President’s central campaign pledge on rural policy, the administration has refused to close the biggest loophole in the federal farm payment limitation. In Iowa, candidate Obama pledged to take immediate action to close loopholes by limiting payments to active farmers who work the land and their landlords.

It has become a tradition to include the Center for Rural Affairs annual report in our March newsletter. Like many of you, we had both wins and losses last year, but because of your support, we are heading into the new decade with our finances in order and our will as strong and determined as ever.

The Center for Rural Affairs makes one promise – we will persevere as a committed force improving life in rural America and a steadfast voice for the values that reflect the best in rural people. This is our report to you on what we’ve done, so you can judge whether we’ve lived up to our commitment and earned your support.

Health care reform roared onto the national agenda in 2009. Concerned about the affordability and access to health care for small businesses, farmers and ranchers and rural people, the Center advocated ensuring that any health care reform passed by Congress addressed rural issues. Through analysis, media and grassroots organizing, we quickly became the leading rural voice in the health care debate.

Our newest health reform report – Why Health Care Reform Can’t Wait – shows the consequences of health reform inaction by Congress. The consequences of inaction are severe and substantial for many rural people.

Since 1990, REAP has provided business development services to over 10,000 micro businesses. Loans totaling $5,215,746 have been placed due to REAP assistance. While traditional lenders pulled back in 2009, we placed more micro loans than ever before.

 

The success of small rural entrepreneurs depends on access to loan capital, business management training, networking and one-on-one business counseling. The Center’s Rural Enterprise Assistance Program, better known as REAP, works with Nebraska startup and existing small businesses with five or fewer employees on a statewide rural basis. Since 1990, REAP has offered training, networking, one-on-one technical assistance, and small loans to businesses.

USDA is seeking 2010 applications for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. This competitive grant program supports organizations conducting community-based beginning farmer and rancher training, education and mentoring.

A public meeting on sustainable local community development is coming to Sioux City, Iowa, on March 26, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Dr. John Ikerd, a national authority on local sustainable development, will be featured.

In the last year we secured new funding for rural small business development, helped beginning and family farmers and ranchers access new programs, secured and promoted new conservation initiatives, continued our efforts to reform farm programs to support family farms, and ramped up our work on energy policy.

In the last year we worked hand-in-hand with rural people and communities, serving rural Nebraska with our sustainable agriculture, beginning farmers and ranchers and community development work.

In three different programs, funds are now available for new and existing cooperatively owned businesses, for rural libraries and for community facilities that might fit USDA's new Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative.