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Stay informed with our enewsletter. For 51 years, we've been standing up for the family farmer and rancher, small business owner, and rural communities. As long as rural advocates are needed, we'll be in the front lines, building a bright rural future.

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Cattle voltaics—a dual-use solar approach—integrates cattle grazing with solar panels. This approach boosts land productivity, improves soil health, and provides farmers with new income streams—all while supporting solar energy generation. Learn more in our new fact sheet.

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Communities in select areas of the U.S. have an opportunity to apply for the Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program, designed to fund local environmental and public health initiatives.

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We are already in Week 12 of the Iowa legislative session, and legislators have spent hours debating bills in recent weeks. The second funnel deadline is this Friday, when bills focused solely on policy must pass through one chamber and out of a committee in the opposite chamber to remain alive.

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Business in the legislature has been progressing steadily, with mostly noncontroversial bills advancing. Today marked the end of public hearings for this year’s introduced legislation, with full-day debates beginning next Monday.

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Today ends week eleven of Minnesota’s legislative session. Passing a state budget is the top priority for the remainder of the session, which is set to end on May 19. The deadline to pass a budget is July 1, or government services are at risk of being shut down.

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Rural communities across the U.S. are facing major disruptions due to recent federal actions impacting USDA county offices. Staffing cuts and funding uncertainties have put vital programs at risk, impacting farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and homeowners.

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Nebraskans spend more than $5 billion per year on food sourced from outside the state. This loss of economic potential is driving a growing interest in locally produced food. Our updated Nebraska Farm & Food Economy report highlights opportunities and challenges facing farmers.

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The Lower Platte North NRD protects Nebraska’s land & water through flood control, water quality, & conservation. Federal funding makes major projects possible, from restoring Wahoo Creek to improving Shell Creek.

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What if cattle and solar panels could work together? Huwa Enterprises is proving it’s possible with cattle voltaics: a new approach that combines cattle grazing with solar energy generation. Learn more about this innovative approach to dual-use solar in our blog.

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When the only grocery store in Gowrie, Iowa, was about to close, the community took action, raising the funds to save it in only 10 days! Five years later, Market on Market is still serving its neighbors despite the challenges that come with running a rural grocery store.

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Following the first funnel of the 2025 Iowa legislative session, much of the work last week included floor debate of bills in both the House and Senate. This week appears to be on a similar path. Get the details in our update.

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South Dakota’s legislative session has wrapped, with the final day of the 38-day session taking place on March 31, which is designated for gubernatorial vetoes. Read our full update for information on the bills we are following.

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Howard County, IA, hosts 147 wind turbines, generating nearly $3M/year. In "Direct Impact of Wind Energy Development in Howard County," we take a look at the financial benefits to public services, insights from local officials and leaders, and farmers’ experiences.

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Last week, the Center for Rural Affairs testified before the Appropriations Committee to defend the Business Innovation Act (BIA) against proposed budget cuts totaling $5 million, approximately one-third of its budget.

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Today ends week nine of Minnesota’s legislative session. Since the last update, Minnesota’s budget agency has released the budget forecast showing the projected general fund deficit for July 1, 2028, to June 30, 2029, has increased to nearly $6 billion, up from the $5.1 billion forecast in Nov.

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As the demand for solar energy continues, marginal agricultural land—land with little to no agricultural value—can host solar projects without impacting conventional crop production. A new fact sheet released today explores the benefits of these projects.

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From driving to towing to selling vehicles, Faustino Lopez Barcenas has dedicated most of his life to the automobile industry. In 2022, he secured a loan with help from Center staff and became owner of 90th St. Auto Center in Omaha. Check out our blog for more on Faustino’s story.

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“Our work today is guided by the same grassroots principle on which we were founded more than 50 years ago. We can build a brighter, more resilient, and welcoming rural future when we come together to advance our shared values.” –Brian Depew, executive director

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Across Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota, the impacts are being felt as projects relying on federal funds are stalled.

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Seven weeks of the 2025 Iowa legislative session are behind us, and this week brings the first of two funnel deadlines. The funnels set limitations and narrow the focus as the legislative session progresses. Read about the bills we are following in our latest update.

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Today is Day 31 of South Dakota’s 38-day legislative session. Legislators must now sprint to hear all remaining viable bills. March 10 is the last day for a bill or joint resolution to pass both houses. Legislative session will adjourn on March 13 with March 31 designated for gubernatorial vetoes.

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Last week, the Health and Human Services Committee voted to move LB 192 to general file. LB 192 maintains the current income eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at 165% of the federal poverty level, or $42,603 annual gross income for a family of three.

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Today marks the end of week seven of Minnesota’s legislative session. The Senate has wasted no time, with more than 2,000 bills introduced already. The House also continues to move along, with more than 1,600 bills introduced so far. Read all about it in our update.

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Being laid off or terminated can be overwhelming and a little scary. The challenges of unemployment in rural areas are often amplified by a smaller job market and fewer support services. If you’ve been laid off or terminated, you can get through this. Here are seven immediate steps you can take.

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Are you interested in adding value to the products sold from your farm or ranch? If you maintain ownership of your product from the raw commodity stage through the value-added process, you could be eligible for the USDA’s Value-Added Producer Grant Program. Find the details in our blog.

submitted 48 days ago • 0 comments

Solar energy is putting sheep to work in Minnesota, providing new opportunities to local graziers. Cannon Valley Graziers started with 20 sheep & now manage 2,200+, grazing nearly 2,000 acres of solar sites. This approach supports renewable energy and strengthens the sheep industry.

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A recent surge in pharmacy closures across Iowa is raising concerns about medication access, particularly in rural areas. A key issue? PBMs and their impact on drug pricing. HSB 99 aims to increase transparency and protect local pharmacies. The bill passed committee and is moving forward.

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We’re in the sixth week of the 2025 Iowa legislative session. Last Friday was the final day individual senators and representatives were able to file draft legislation. Moving forward, only bills with an appropriation or sponsored by a committee will be eligible for introduction.

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Today is Day 22 of South Dakota’s 38-day legislative session. Bill introduction ended on Feb. 6. Legislators must now work to move nearly 500 bills out of their house of origin by Feb. 25, which is known as Crossover Day.

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Mornings in the Nebraska legislature have been dedicated to full-floor debate on bills that have advanced out of committees, while hearings have been scheduled in the afternoons. Legislative hearings will continue through the end of March, with full-day debates beginning on March 31.

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Week five of Minnesota’s legislative session has come to an end. The three-week House Democrat boycott ended Feb. 5, and members returned Feb. 6 after a co-governing agreement was reached by the two House parties. Now that the House can begin their work, they have a lot to accomplish.

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A farmer’s work is never done. Farmers are already planning for the next planting season, and for many that includes signing up for federal crop insurance. The deadline to sign up for most federal crop insurance is March 15. Learn about coverage options in our blog.

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The Common Ground Program, part of Conservation Nebraska, is empowering communities to take action on local conservation challenges. From clean energy to water quality, soil health, and land stewardship, this program turns education into action. Learn more on our blog.

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When most people think of sushi, it’s the traditional Japanese dish. When Wendy Urquidez mentions it, she means Mexican sushi. For the past few years, she has been working to introduce people to this food through her home-based business, Sushis Wendy. See how the Center helped her get started.

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Our Women’s Business Center Director Jessica Campos completed the Association of Women’s Business Centers WBC of Excellence Program, earning a National Women’s Business Center of Excellence designation. Jessica developed a two-year improvement plan to enhance resources and impact.

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Eric Williams started his solar journey 10 years ago. Today, his home is an electrified “nano grid,” seamlessly switching to battery power during outages and optimizing energy use. As an OPPD Board member, he advocates for policies that help more homeowners embrace solar, especially in rural areas.

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Angela Mueller’s passion for growing local food was inspired by her grandfather’s innovative approach to gardening. Today, she’s continuing his legacy and learning everything she can along the way, partly through our Beginning Farmers Conservation Fellowship.

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Alongside lawmakers, we continue to comb through bill introductions as week four of the legislative session commences. Also on the docket are numerous subcommittee and committee meetings scheduled to consider and discuss bills.

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Today is Day 14 of South Dakota’s 38-day legislative session. With a new governor in place, and over 400 bills introduced so far, the session is off to a busy start. More bills are expected in the run up to the last day for bill introduction, which is Feb. 6. Learn more in our latest update.

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Tina Biteghe Bi Ndong started at the West Point Chamber of Commerce in 2006, quickly became familiar with the Center, and was asked to join the Advisory Committee. Since, Tina and Center staff collaborated on projects like growing the West Point Farmers Market to make it more diverse and inclusive.

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Bill introduction concluded last Wednesday with a total of 715 bills introduced. One bill that aligns with rural interests is Legislative Bill 375, introduced by Sen. Teresa Ibach. LB 375 would create a grant program to help small rural grocers address their long-term business sustainability.

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Week three of Minnesota’s legislative session wraps up today. The session got off to an interesting start. While the Senate is operating under a power-sharing agreement, a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling is forcing the House of Representatives to hit the reset button.

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The Business Builder Grant application window has been pushed back to spring 2025. Grants of up to $50K are open to small food/farm businesses (<50 employees, <$3M in revenue) and nonprofits in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and northwest Arkansas.

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Minnesota is making history with the nation’s first Tribal advocacy council on energy. Leaders like Bob Blake and Michael Childs, Jr. are ensuring Tribal voices shape the state’s clean energy future and drive energy sovereignty.

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You can influence the policies that matter most to you. Former Iowa State Sen. Tod Bowman shares how to connect with legislators, ask impactful questions, and make a difference in your community. Check out the blog for actionable tips.

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The targeted investments of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have real-world impacts that are hard to ignore. Since its passage, the #IRA has been quietly bringing tangible benefits to Nebraska’s farms, public schools, small businesses, and families.

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Iowa kicked off its general assembly last week. Without delay, we had priority legislation introduced. House File 59 would create the Grocer Reinvestment Program and Local Food Processing Program and appropriate $2 million for grants in both program areas.

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The 109th Nebraska Legislature convened on Jan. 8, and is tentatively scheduled to adjourn on June 9. The first days of the session saw 17 new senators sworn in, committee assignments finalized, and bill introductions underway.

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Minnesota’s 94th legislative session officially kicked off on Jan. 14 and will run through May 19. We are tracking policies that affect the rural quality of life, with a focus on energy and environment as well as economic and community development.

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