Blog Posts & Stories

The Nebraska Legislature will be wrapping up committee hearings by March 24. The past two weeks, the Center for Rural Affairs provided in-person testimony during committee hearings on Legislative Bills (LB) 62, 84, and 566.

Travis Scheffler, a beginning farmer in Lonsdale, Minnesota, routinely finds himself in a quandary. He has to choose between planting in the way he knows is best for his operation and his crop...

For her contributions to the betterment of West Point, Nebraska, through service in a variety of capacities—giving her time, talent, and resources to the community—Kylie Kai has received the 2023 West...

Community leaders come in all forms—from young go-getters to seasoned professionals, and everything in between. The one thing they all have in common is their dedication and passion for making their...

This is the third installment in a series on carbon pipelines with the purpose of providing neutral-fact-based information. Carbon pipelines have become a contentious issue in the Midwest in recent...

A study released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates close to 120,000 households in Nebraska faced food insecurity between 2018 and 2020. The agency defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active and healthy life.

El Programa de Asociación de Negocios y Cuidado Infantil está abierto a nuevos y existentes proveedores de cuidado infantil quienes desean expandir la capacidad de su licencia para abrir más espacios en su negocio.

The Business and Childcare Partnership Program is open to new and existing child care providers who will expand their licensing capacity to open more spots in their business.

The time is now for farmers and ranchers to apply for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) working lands conservation programs. Additional funding for programs—including the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)—has been made available from the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Approximately every five years, the federal government passes a package of legislation that impacts all rural Americans: the farm bill. The current farm bill is set to expire on Sept. 30, indicating...

The Iowa Legislature is considering a bill to maximize protecting the state's water. Senate File 311 would allow the state Department of Agriculture to use urban water project funding for agricultural projects at its discretion, in what's known as the Water Quality Initiative - a strategy for protecting Iowa's watersheds.

It has been a busy few weeks at the Capitol. Yesterday was Crossover Day, which is the last date for bills to be passed through their house of origin. All bills must pass both houses by March 6,with...

During the summer of 1973, a group of rural Nebraskans saw how their communities were changing. They were concerned about the future of the places they called home, about access to economic...

Last week, a hearing for Legislative Bill (LB) 740 was held before the Agriculture Committee. This Center for Rural Affairs legislation, introduced by Sen. Tony Vargas, would streamline the permitting process for food truck operators as well as create an online registry of local food truck ordinances with the Department of Agriculture.

We’re in the seventh week of the 2023 Iowa legislative session. The first funnel deadline is quickly approaching on March 3. To remain viable, bills must pass through committees in their own chambers by this date (with some exceptions).

Carbon pipelines are a contentious issue in the Midwest’s western region, where several pipeline routes are being proposed. A pivotal point in that discussion centers on which level of government—federal, state, or local—has jurisdiction over certain developmental regulations.

The use of telehealth services has improved health care access in rural communities across Nebraska. Residents having limited or no access to a clinic or hospital have used the technology to get treatment for issues not requiring immediate medical attention, meet with their provider between visits, and consult with a specialist not otherwise available in their area.

Renewable energy has been powering South Dakota for more than a century. Hydroelectric generation was introduced to the state in 1912 and has been vital in the state’s energy landscape since, powering three of the state’s four largest power plants by capacity.

De niño en El Salvador, Wilmer Linares vio a su familia hornear pan y aprendió las recetas y los métodos que se habían utilizado durante generaciones. Estas habilidades, heredadas de su querida abuela y madre trabajadora, son las que Wilmer ahora usa para mantener a su familia.

As a child in El Salvador, Wilmer Linares watched his family bake bread and learned the recipes and methods that had been used for generations. Passed down from his beloved grandmother and hardworking mother, those skills are what Wilmer now uses to provide for his family.