Blog Posts & Stories

Rural advocacy groups in Iowa have released their priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill, which is already being discussed in Washington, D.C. The Center for Rural Affairs has spent months gathering input from Iowa farmers, which the group wants lawmakers to consider.

Kelly has worked as a gardener and garden educator from west coast to the east coast and her passion for conservation continues.

Transitioning from military to civilian life can be challenging for veterans. As they contemplate what’s next on their career path, the answer may lie in a rural community. Returning veterans are a perfect fit for the next generation of rural small business owners, farmers or ranchers. Some, however, face challenges, including difficulty accessing capital and acquiring training.

For the English version, click here. Navegar por el camino para convertirse en agricultor es un desafío. Esto es cierto para cualquier principiante, sin embargo, comenzar un negocio agrícola exitoso...

Navigating the path to becoming a farmer is challenging. This is true for any beginner, however, starting a successful agricultural business is especially difficult for historically underserved producers, who often face additional barriers to resources.

Justin Carter contributed to this story. The American Southwest has been home to the Zuni people for more than a thousand years. The culture is deeply rooted in tradition, and Zuni art has become a...

Cada vez más mujeres abren camino en sus comunidades al asumir roles de liderazgo. Kat López, de Columbus, Nebraska, asume roles de liderazgo en su ciudad natal.

More and more women are paving the way forward in their communities by taking on leadership roles. Kat Lopez, of Columbus, Nebraska, takes on leadership roles in her hometown.

For her work to advance water quality and conservation goals, Kayla Bergman has received the New Voices in Water Quality in Iowa award. The Center for Rural Affairs Policy Manager was 1 of 15 Iowans...

Aunque no estaban seguras en qué se convertiría, estas dos buenas amigas soñaban con hacer algo único juntas—algo en lo que pudieran invertir su creatividad, ese deseo se hizo realidad cuando Heather y Rachael abrieron River Mill Coffee Co., en Neligh, Nebraska.

Two good friends dreamed of doing something unique together—something they could pour their creativity into, that desire became reality when Heather and Rachael opened River Mill Coffee Co., in Neligh, Nebraska.

On Oct. 21, the Lincoln Electric System (LES) Administrative Board approved its new Integrated Resources Plan (IRP). An IRP is a blueprint used by utilities to plan out energy generation. It is an...

Networking and connecting with other farmers not only gave Kelsey support, it led her to discover conservation practices and the potential benefits of implementing them on her plot of land.

In recent months, encouraging changes have been made to two crop insurance programs, Whole Farm Revenue Protection and Micro Farm. The improvements will increase accessibility to risk management for thousands of producers nationwide.

Corn is key to connecting Oneida Nation families to their ancestors. Fifteen families have come together to form the Ohe∙láku Cooperative, in Wisconsin, in an effort and desire to become more self-sufficient. As they’ve grown their cooperative, the members have learned a lot.

Given this year’s spike in corn and soybean prices, commodity crop producers may be tempted to break ground on land not previously used for cash crop production. Before doing so, however, producers need to make sure they are following conservation compliance regulations to ensure important federal benefits are not at risk.

Last night, I made lamb burgers, seasoned with garlic and topped with tomatoes from my garden. In my basement, across from canned peaches, I have a freezer filled with a whole lamb and part of a grass...

En el mes de la Mujer Empresaria, honramos los logros históricos de las empresas propiedad de las mujeres en la actualidad y ofrecemos servicios y recursos para seguir logrando sus metas.

During Women's Business Month, we honor the milestones women-owned businesses have accomplished throughout the years. We continue to assist women through resources and training.

Drive around Iowa these days, and you're likely to see more evidence of solar power. Policy analysts say it gives the state's clean energy portfolio more strength. But along with the benefits comes a need for long-term planning.