Fifty years ago, founders of the Center for Rural Affairs knew that if they wanted policy to work for rural Americans, they had to raise their voices and grow a grassroots community. Today, policy remains a big part of the Center’s work. And, our work, as well as the rural communities we ...

I’m “pro-life,” you could say. I was reared in a strictly Catholic household at 216 Geneseo St., and sent to St. Mary’s School in Storm Lake where that regimen was reinforced. I matriculated to an all-men’s college run by priests in the Twin Cities, where I was fully schooled in ...

In the years ahead, U.S. agriculture as we know it will be shaped by transitions. Recent figures show that 34% of our nation's farmers and ranchers are above the age of 65, and only 8% are younger than 35. Supporting the next generation of agricultural producers will be crucial to keeping ...

The United States’ founders firmly rejected King George III and the entire idea of monarchy 247 years ago, on July 4, 1776. Political power does not come from some absolute authority of a king over people, the founders argued. Rather, political power comes from the people themselves. And ...

With all the important national news stories in recent weeks – the debt ceiling showdown, the Trump indictments – an unhealthy trend has developed in local media. Iowa Democrats, as well as local news outlets, need to address it. The problem is the nearly complete lock that Iowa ...

For the past decade, the media has been obsessed with the idea of a growing divide between rural and urban areas, often portraying it as a deep chasm separating the nation's citizens. I've come to see this narrative as more about entertainment than a serious attempt to understand or address ...

Changing precipitation patterns, rising temperatures, and more extreme weather events will negatively impact the world’s ability to produce food. At the same time, demand for food will grow due to an increasing world population and rising incomes in the developing world. Meeting this ...

Greetings! It’s been great to be back at home and engaged in community activities since the legislative session ended early last month. Over the last several weeks, I visited the Traer Historical Museum and Hansen’s Dairy in Hudson with Iowa Economic Development Authority Director ...

Q: What is Proposition 12? A: In May the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to a California law known as Proposition 12 that dictates how farmers raise their livestock to gain market access to consumers in the most populous state in the country. The ruling upheld the state ballot ...

The newest occupant making its home on Main Street in a former car dealership is the Global Methodist Church. No doubt you read or heard the recent news about the schism afflicting the United Methodist Church. It came to a head in 2016, with the crux of the conflict being the issue of ...