Reports & Publications

Esta serie de estudio de caso destaca a tres agricultores Latinos en Nebraska distintos y cómo dirigen sus operaciones, qué producen y las lecciones que han aprendido que podrían ser útiles y educativas para otros aspirantes a agricultores latinos.

This case study series showcases Latino farmers in Nebraska. It highlights three separate farmers and how they run their operations, what they produce, and lessons they have learned that might be helpful and educational to other aspiring Latino farmers. The Center for Rural Affairs is able to assist by providing resources and training opportunities. Visit cfra.org/farmers for more information.

As more communities begin to address energy siting and development, engaging community members in the decision-making process is important. Community engagement is crucial for the successful development of energy regulations and projects that balance community, business, and industry interests...

Editor's note: Hiking in Minnesota is one of my favorite things to do. Its Department of Natural Resources, which runs the state parks and recreation areas, has a fun Hiking Club challenge. Almost all of the state parks have a designated Hiking Club trail, and somewhere along the trail is a sign with a password. I love this idea to scatter folks around to parks, especially lesser known or less popular parks.

Transmission lines are like highways for electricity, moving power from where it is produced to the cities and communities needing it. Upgrading and expanding Minnesota's transmission grid offers many benefits to rural communities. Developing new transmission lines creates jobs in construction, maintenance, and operations, and enables future power-generation projects.

Renewable energy projects offer significant opportunities for rural communities, including the stimulation of economic growth and job creation. In recent years there have been efforts to unlock new possibilities for counties to gain additional financial and non-financial benefits from renewable...

Susan grew up on a small farming acreage that had a variety of animals and crops. She got interested in farming when she was in 4-H and FFA in Minnesota.

Susan creció en una pequeña zona agrícola donde tenía una variedad de animales y cultivos. Se interesó en la agricultura cuando estaba en 4-H y FFA en Minnesota. Se casó con un granjero y se mudaron a Nebraska. Juntos querían continuar con su amor por la agricultura, lo que los llevó a crear Littlefield Family Farm.

John was born into a farming family. He took a break for a few years during his time with the military, but farming has always been an interest. He appreciates farming because it is both challenging and rewarding.

John nació en una familia de agricultores. Se tomó un descanso durante algunos años mientras estuvo en el ejército, pero la agricultura siempre ha sido de su interés. Aprecia la agricultura porque es a la vez desafiante y gratificante.

Wind electricity generation has grown significantly, with total annual U.S. electricity generation from wind energy increasing from about 6 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) in 2000 to about 380 billion kWh in 2021. Decreasing wind turbine installation costs over the past decade have created more...

Solar energy installations are more common than ever before, with the industry continuing to see steady growth nationwide. Across Minnesota, there is considerable potential for residential, community, and utility-scale solar projects.

Las instalaciones de energía solar son más comunes que nunca y la industria continúa experimentando un crecimiento constante en todo el país. En todo Minnesota, existe un potencial considerable para proyectos solares residenciales, comunitarios y de servicios públicos.

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.

The U.S. is in the beginning stages of a major expansion in the solar energy industry. The Department of Energy’s Solar Futures study estimates that to fully decarbonize the energy grid, solar will need to make up 40% to 45% of the energy mix, or about 1,600 gigawatts (GW), of capacity by 2050. That...

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.

Editor's note: Last month, I had the pleasure of interviewing our 2023 Seventh Generation Award winners, Larry Harris and Denise O’Brien. I visited them on their farm north of Atlantic, Iowa, where we talked for two hours at their kitchen table, surrounded by memories. After hearing their story, I told them I was in awe with all that they’ve done.

Solar energy is on the rise, with an estimated 10.3 million acres projected to be used for solar energy production by 2050, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. An expected 90% of solar siting will occur in rural communities. Agrisolar, also referred to as agrivoltaics, is the co-location of...

The Rural Energy for America Program provides loans and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or energy efficiency improvements. Eligible recipients Agricultural producers Small businesses in areas with populations of fewer than 50,000 Private for...

Para la versión en español, por favor oprima aquí . Passing land on to the next generation of farmers and ranchers can be critical to the success of an operation. As the average age of landowners and operators continues to rise, transition planning becomes increasingly important. One mechanism to...