Despite our displeasure with the passage of a farm bill that lacks real payment limitations and other crucial reforms, there is a clear victory in gaining passage and dedicated funding for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program in the 2008 farm bill.

The Center for Rural Affairs is planning an Energy Fair at the Hartington, Nebraska, Fairgrounds. Workshops and demonstrations are planned for a wide range of topics including energy conservation, small-scale wind turbines, Nebraska’s C-BED Project (community-owned wind energy), solar collectors, photo voltaics, bio-fuels, methane, composting, grass-fed beef and hogs, crop rotations, and the farm bill’s energy title.

Norma Hall of Elmwood, Neb. and Tony Vrana of Seward, Neb. – with combined service totaling more than three decades – have retired from the Center Board.