Blog Posts & Stories

For the past decade, the media has been obsessed with the idea of a growing divide between rural and urban areas, often portraying it as a deep chasm separating the nation's citizens. The Center's Executive Director, Brian Depew takes a look at the rural-urban divide.

While there is debate about when the next farm bill will be finalized, one thing is certain—farm bill discussions are in full swing in Washington, D.C. Earlier this month, lawmakers reached an agreement to suspend the debt ceiling, allowing them to refocus their efforts on writing the next farm bill.

Many people would agree with Candi Benge that there’s just something better about fresh foods when people can buy them locally, straight from the farmer. Candi also firmly believes everyone should...

Wind, solar, and other renewable energy projects offer a significant opportunity to revitalize rural communities and diversify the local economy. Increased tax revenue from renewable energy projects enables school districts, cities, and other entities to address local emergency services and infrastructure improvement needs while reducing the local tax burden.

In 2013, Iowa leaders, experts, and stakeholders came together to create a plan to prioritize water quality with the goal of reducing harmful nutrients in water from various sources. A decade later, we can celebrate the work that has been accomplished with the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS) but also acknowledge there is more work to do.

As a child, I wanted to be a veterinarian or zoologist when I grew up. However, after taking a few particularly complex science and math courses, I realized it would be difficult to make that happen...

Tyler Bartley and his business partner, Jeremy Davis, began their farming journey with the simple idea of bringing the best food they could to the people they love most: their families, friends, and local community.

Nadie parte con el objetivo de quedarse pequeño cuando inicia su negocio. De hecho, el crecimiento es la motivación impulsora detrás de la mayoría de las decisiones que se toman en un negocio. Es fácil pensar en ideas sobre cómo crecer, pero ¿qué debe hacer una vez que sus esfuerzos comienzan a dar sus frutos?

Nobody sets out with the goal of staying small when they start their business. In fact, growth is the driving motivation behind most of the decisions that are made in a business. It’s easy to come up with ideas about how to grow, but what should you do once your efforts begin to pay off?

From a college internship to a full-time career, Garrett Seagren has become very familiar with the Center for Rural Affairs. Although he had a variety of options to fulfill his internship requirement...

After serving and commanding at a variety of levels during his Army career, Martin was ready for a new adventure for him and his family. In 2020, he started Neal Family Farms, farming 130 acres—95 of those in corn/soybean rotation and 20 acres is pasture.

Froylan C. Roustand encontró su pasión instalando de encimeras de granito. Se mudo a Nebraska para perseguir su sueño de abrir su propio negocio.

Froylan C. Roustand found his passion installing granite countertops. He move to Nebraska to pursue his dream of opening his own business.

The Nebraska Legislature adjourned its 2023 session on Thursday, June 1. Although a session-long filibuster severely limited the number of bills debated, the Center for Rural Affairs’ priority legislation was passed and signed into law after being amended onto other related bills.

In Minnesota and our neighboring states, planting season is upon us. Whether you are a farmer, live in a rural area, or are otherwise connected to the industry, this time of year is exciting. Yet, organic farmers like me are burdened by dates set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as we make our planting decisions each spring.

Rural Nebraska could lose on two fronts if two of Gov. Jim Pillen's budget vetoes are allowed to stand. Pillen struck down a second year of increases in Medicaid reimbursement rates and millions of dollars for Rural Workforce Housing.

My memories of the first days of the Center for Rural Affairs are less detailed than they should be. I am over 90 years old. In 1973, I knew nothing of the Goldenrod Hills Community Action Agency, Marty Strange, or Don Ralston.

Danelle Myer's curiosity about getting into the world of retail and knowledge from attending a small business workshop combined to help her form the idea of opening a seasonal pop-up market, which later became a year-round local foods store.

Lori Bergman, owner of Double Dips Ice Creamery, in North Platte, was recently recognized in her community with the 2023 Women of Achievement in Business. She was among six area women who were honored...

Nicci Chitwood’s experience in the business world, is helping people energize small towns all across the Nebraska Panhandle.