Reports & Publications

A growing demand for electricity has created more opportunities for the development of wind and solar energy projects. These projects are often located in rural areas and can provide numerous benefits to nearby communities, including lease payments to landowners, tax revenue to fund infrastructure and services, and the creation of both permanent and temporary jobs.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to farming and ranching, and the implementation of conservation is no different. What works for one farmer may not work for his or her neighbor five miles down the road. What does work, however, is having someone to talk to who knows the nuances of being an...

Consulte la última edición de Small Business News, repleta de recursos para emprendedores, quienes buscan ser dueños de su propio negocio y gerentes de pequeñas empresas.

Check out the latest edition of our Small Business News packed full of resources for entrepreneurs, those looking to own their own business, and small business managers.

In this edition: ‘We won’t stop’: the Heartland Food Business Coalition carries on when funding falls short: Our momentum was suddenly interrupted in July 2025, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its intent to end funding for this initiative. Fortunately, alongside our partners we are...

While school greenhouses can be utilized in a variety of ways, our goal is the cultivation of nutritious produce that can be returned to the study body, bringing the greenhouse into the cafeteria. Fresh fruits and vegetables served on the lunch trays of our students only adds to our agriculture...

In this online gathering and webinar series, Center staff and others offer knowledge, resources, and insights for managers of farmers markets in rural communities. The YouTube Playlist at the link below has several videos Videos include: Overview of Buy Fresh, Buy Local Nebraska, including a...

In this open forum, we discuss real-world and research-based approaches to integrating solar energy with agriculture. Panelists share insights on cattlevoltaics, specialty crop production, and emerging research in the field of agrivoltaics, followed by an open discussion with participants. Panelists...

This presentation provides an overview of the Center for Rural Affair's Agrivoltaics Toolkit and highlights the different sections and resources available. The toolkit is a compilation of diverse resources for the public and local decision-makers. An interactive discussion with a variety of...

In this recorded session, UNL Extension Educator, John Hay introduces the basics of agrivoltaics and dual-use solar sharing how solar systems can work alongside conservation practices and agricultural production. John discusses the core principles and their practical applications on working lands...

The Center has worked for 52 years to equip rural communities with the support to make the most of their ideas, assets, and strengths.

Con aliados como usted a nuestro lado, el Centro ha trabajado durante 52 años para brindar a las comunidades rurales el apoyo necesario para aprovechar al máximo sus ideas, recursos y fortalezas.

Los sistemas de almacenamiento de energía en baterías (BESS por sus siglas en inglés) están transformando la manera en que se gestiona la electricidad y la red eléctrica.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are transforming the ways in which electricity and the grid are managed. By storing energy for on-demand use, the systems stabilize the grid, maximize renewable energy integration, and offer quick responses to power disruptions.

In this edition: From family to finance: loan program supports community-rooted meat processing business: The third-generation, family-owned-and-operated business specializes in butchering and meat processing services with several locations in eastern Indiana. Co-owned by brothers Mike, Greg, Dan...

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income individuals and families afford nutritious food at authorized retailers. Beyond improving access to food, SNAP stimulates local economies through what is known as the multiplier effect. Economic activity that ripples throughout...

The Nebraska Business Innovation Act (BIA) Microenterprise Assistance Program is a critical tool for fostering small business development across the state, particularly in economically distressed areas. The program encourages the growth of a wide range of industries by providing funding for lending and technical assistance that serves microenterprises, which are businesses with 10 or fewer employees.

A series of towers and poles strung together with wire and connected to electricity-producing resources make up the transmission system, which is the electrical backbone of the U.S. The transmission system is a crucial component of our infrastructure that makes modern life possible, from heating and...

Electricity demand in the U.S. is growing rapidly and is expected to accelerate even more due to industrial activity, electrification of homes and transportation, and the rise of energy-intensive artificial intelligence and data centers. The electrical grid that carries power across the county was...

Americans rely on electricity for everything from electronic devices like cellphones and computers to heating and cooling their homes and businesses to transportation. Energy demand continues to rise, and more renewable energy resources are coming online, putting increased pressure on our electrical...