Reports & Publications

With more than 600,000 miles of operational transmission lines throughout the U.S., there is a significant opportunity for investments in conservation. By establishing native vegetation in these project corridors, developers and private landowners can add value to the rights of way used by electric...

Los propietarios de microempresas, los propietarios únicos y los agricultores deben asegurarse de estar preparados en caso de que un miembro de su equipo dé positivo para COVID-19. La respuesta rápida a un brote minimiza la propagación y el impacto en los negocios. Tener un plan en marcha podría significar la diferencia entre continuar las operaciones modificadas o cerrar.

Owners of microbusinesses, sole proprietors, and farmers need to make sure they are prepared in the event a member of their business tests positive for COVID-19. Rapid response to an outbreak minimizes spread and the impact on business. Having a plan in place could mean the difference between continuing modified operations or shutting down.

Due to COVID-19, local foods have become a buzzword. More farmers are utilizing direct to consumer marketing strategies to reach customers through online sales, community-supported agriculture (CSAs), and farmers markets. Is there room for schools in these markets? Farm to School can be concentrated...

The first value of the Center for Rural Affairs is “RESPONSIBILITY placed upon each of us to contribute to our community and society.” So, when COVID-19 hit the communities we live and work in, our staff each felt responsible to continue the work we do to support rural America.

More than 1 in 10 school-age children lack any kind of internet at home. In what has come to be known as the “homework gap,” students without internet at home have more difficulty completing school work than their connected peers. Rural areas, which already lag behind in connectivity, face even...

When planning for a solar project site with native vegetation (including naturalized, non-invasive species), there are several variables site managers should consider. While the clearance between the lowest edge of a solar panel and the ground is a primary consideration when crafting a mix of native...

Cover crops are important for building soil health and protecting Iowa’s watersheds. The average cost is $37 per acre to implement cover crops. To assist farmers and landowners interested in implementing cover crops, there are many state and federal programs available that not only provide technical...

Family farms are the backbone of rural communities in the Midwest. Farms rely on sound risk management options and practices, and federal crop insurance is a central tool for many farms to manage risk. However, crop insurance is not available to all farms and ranches. While there is a wide diversity...

The wind energy industry remains one of the fastest growing in the United States. In 2018, U.S. wind capacity increased by 8 percent, bringing total installed capacity to 96,433 megawatts (MW). An additional 35,135 MW of capacity were under development at the end of 2018—including projects that had...

The wind energy industry remains one of the fastest growing in the United States. In 2018, U.S. wind capacity increased by 8 percent, bringing total installed capacity to 96,433 megawatts (MW). An additional 35,135 MW of capacity were under development at the end of 2018—including projects that had...

Every day, rural communities benefit from wind energy. Wind development provides new income for landowners, new tax revenue to fund schools and services, and creates local career and job opportunities. County officials are responsible for enacting siting or zoning standards that help ensure wind...

This webinar, hosted by the Center for Energy & Environmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa and the Center for Rural Affairs covers the key components of strong county-level solar ordinances with examples from Iowa and around the Midwest. Energy program staff from the Iowa...

This webinar, hosted by the Center for Energy & Environmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa and the Center for Rural Affairs covers the key components of strong county-level solar ordinances with examples from Iowa and around the Midwest. Energy program staff from the Iowa...

The growth of the solar industry has brought a wave of new projects. As prices decline, developments are becoming larger and bringing with them new economic opportunity. Nebraska has substantial potential to reap the benefits of solar expansion at the residential, community, or utility scale. While...

The electric grid in the United States was created to provide reliable electricity to consumers. In the past, most U.S. consumers relied on centrally-located fossil fuel-powered plants to provide for their electricity needs, with power carried from these stations by electric transmission...

The Center for Rural Affairs is committed to continuing our work for opportunity and justice for everyone in rural America during the rapidly evolving response to the coronavirus. COVID-19 and the ripple effects will create new challenges for rural people and rural places. Our work may look different in the days ahead, but we will continue to serve our mission in all ways possible.

Solar energy installations are more common today than ever before. The industry continues to see steady growth nationwide. Despite considerable potential, South Dakota has been slower to adopt this technology. Nationally, the solar industry grew by 23.5 percent between 2019 and 2020. In South Dakota...

Cody Smith, policy associate at the Center for Rural Affairs, hosts this webinar on best management practices for implementing native vegetation on solar project sites in the region with Rob Davis, director of the Center for Pollinators in Energy at Fresh Energy. “Solar energy is growing at a rapid...

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law on March 27, 2020, to support small businesses economically impacted by COVID-19. Note: The Small Business Administration will resume accepting PPP loan applications on...