What's happening with the Center for Rural Affairs? Find the latest on rural America and our work here.
When Ernesto Estrada Marquez came to the U.S. in 2001, he didn’t plan on eventually owning a restaurant. But he took jobs in the food industry after arriving in Chicago, and he discovered he enjoyed it immensely.
- Lending
The 2025 Iowa legislative session will begin Monday, Jan. 13. This year’s session is anticipated to last 110 calendar days, ending in early May. Throughout the session, Center for Rural Affairs staff...
- Policy
The 100th South Dakota legislative session will open on Jan. 14 and will run for 38 legislative days. The Center for Rural Affairs will track policies that affect the rural quality of life and...
- Policy
A new funding opportunity offers rural communities in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and adjoining Indigenous Nations a chance to access funding to address local health and environmental priorities...
- Small Towns
Dale Tuttle is honoring his passion for conservation while helping a young, beginning farmer near Winterset, Iowa. As one of the first in his neighborhood to implement cover crops and no-till narrow...
- Farm and Food
- Policy
Elected representatives in Nebraska and Iowa will debate a host of issues during the 2025 legislative session, including rural food access, budget and taxes, agriculture and conservation, energy and environment, and community well-being.
- Policy
The last day of 2024 is here. We present our most viewed blog post of the year, where we highlight Greg Birkhofer, an Iowan with a passion for conservation. He has figured out a way to recycle wind...
- Farm and Food
- Policy
In our second highest viewed post of 2024, we feature a story from northeast Nebraska. Throughout this year, we have highlighted business owners across the state who have worked with our lending staff...
- Lending
- Small Towns
Today, we share number three in our top five blog posts countdown, tips from our Small Business Series. Each month, our staff share their knowledge with small business owners and community leaders...
- Lending
Top 5 of 2024: #4 Center for Rural Affairs awarded $62 million to transform solar energy in Nebraska
The year in review countdown continues with a blog announcing our biggest project yet. Coming in at number four is a blog by Brian Depew, our executive director, on our $62 million grant under the...
- Lending
Welcome to the end-of-year countdown. To celebrate the end of 2024 and the new year, we are taking a look at the top blogs of the year. Starting today through Dec. 31, we'll review the five best...
- Lending
On Friday, Congress passed a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown. The legislation also included a second extension of the farm bill, in addition to financial aid for producers impacted by natural disasters and economic hardship over the past year.
- Farm and Food
- Policy
If dedicated volunteers and generous donations from the community are the key to running a successful small-town food pantry, the people of Shenandoah, Iowa, have it figured out. Since 1984, the...
- Small Towns
After helping tend his family’s garden for many years, Riley Reinke decided to start farming for himself in 2016. His goal was to provide fresh, nutritious food to consumers in local communities...
- Farm and Food
Rural grocery stores are more than places to shop, they are the heart of their communities. Unfortunately, when there isn’t a transition plan in place, many rural grocers simply close their doors...
- Small Towns
While focusing on inclusion in her work, Audrey Lutz Musilek was introduced to the Center for Rural Affairs and saw firsthand the benefit of and need for the Center’s programs. She met like-minded...
- Small Towns
Denise O’Brien and Larry Harris have strived to create a brighter future. For almost 50 years, they have worked to preserve and improve the soil health on their farm and fight for thriving rural life...
- Farm and Food
I want to thank you for all you’ve done to support rural communities this year. Your engagement with our work, your involvement locally, and your financial contributions to the Center strengthen rural America in integral ways.
- Small Towns
Mike Witulski may not be a farmer, but he has found creative ways to maintain the legacy of his family’s farm through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) as well as the CRP–Transition Incentives...
- Farm and Food
- Policy
Five farmers markets will be chosen to receive resources and assistance through a project called 2025 Rural Farmers Markets and Local Food Access in Nebraska and Iowa, presented by the Center for...
- Small Towns
- Farm and Food
