By Steph Larsen
Cuts in public spending lead to loss of services, especially for rural communities. While there’s little a community can do after it loses its school or post office to make up for that lost infrastructure, an NPR story set in Appleton, England tells of one town’s commitment to keep their “community shop”....
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Keeping Appleton Alive
Hand in Hand
By Lance Evans
(Editor's note: We'd like to thank Lance for his hard work with us this spring and summer! Good luck, Lance!)
Recently I was lucky to attended the Midwest Rural Assembly in South Sioux City, Nebraska. The Midwest Rural Assembly was a tw...
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Did You Sell Corn To Verasun, Just Before Its Bankruptcy Filing
Verasun was one of the larger US producers of ethanol until late in October of 2008, when the financial collapse of the company threw it into bankruptcy court and it sought protection from its creditors. But instead of just playing defense with creditors,...
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Exports: More Corn, Wheat, and Livestock Headed Abroad
Thanks to Cornbelt farmers the US balance of trade is improving. Agricultural exports typically outpace exports, and the difference will be widening both for the balance of the...
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Reding Update: Feast or Famine
I’ve decided rain is either a stranger or an uninvited, intrusive guest. It’s been feast or famine this year – with a few exceptions. A couple weeks...
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Buy Local Means More Than Food
By Lance Evans
A few weeks ago I attended the Nebraska Energy Fair. It was a fantastic event! There were presentations on everything from helpful household tips to conserve energy...
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Why Did Farmers Not Sign Up For ACRE?
It is time to fess up. The secret is out. The jig is up. We now know why you did not sign up for the Average...
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Cattle Markets: Packer Concentration, GIPSA, And How We Got Here.
Since the late 1800’s cowboys have complained that stockyards and packers were taking advantage of them. When Congress looked into the allegations periodically new regulations were imposed on...
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Will Farmers Increase Commodity Production Over The Next Five Years?
From day to day, different dynamics yank and tug on commodity markets, but in a larger perspective, many will have a positive push as others will have a negative...
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Will Farmers Increase Commodity Production Over The Next Five Years?
From day to day, different dynamics yank and tug on commodity markets, but in a larger perspective, many will have a positive push as others will have a negative...
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The Scale of Our Daily Lives
By Aubrey Streit Krug
(Editor's Note: We'd like to thank Aubrey for her work with us this summer! Her contributions to our blog have been much appreciated.)
The sheer size of...
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If A Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Were Built Nearby, What Would It Bid For Your Cornstalks?
Federal energy policy calls for it. Farmers are ready to haul corn stover and switchgrass into plants to make it. So when will cellulosic ethanol come about?...
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