Center for Rural Affairs

Center for Rural Affairs Your Rural News for 39 Years | Lyons, NE | Population 851 | July 2013

Community Inclusion: What’s the Point?

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By Kathie Starkweather, [email protected]

he national conversation is focused on immigration reform. Couple that with the significant demographic shift we have experienced in Nebraska and elsewhere, and it seems like a great time to talk about the value of inclusion in our towns. With an influx of New Americans, we have a real opportunity to embrace not only the changes that new folks create, but also the knowledge that an inclusive community is stronger economically and socially. An inclusive community tends to attract new people to your town. Research shows one of the reasons youth leave and never return is a lack of diversity. So many folks tell me their grandparents were immigrants. My grandparents were farmers who wanted to make a better life here. My grandfather was foreign born, and while he spoke some English, he was never comfortable with the language. He didn’t speak English very often. But people knew of his kindness, generosity, and that he was a very good farmer. He raised a large family, loved them dearly, went to church, and contributed to the community. That’s no different from immigrants today. If you look around you will see strong people with strong family values and commitment to family. You will see people who work hard, start new small businesses, go to church, bring a fresh perspective and new ideas, and are trying to make a better life for their children. If you look a little harder you will learn their stories and hear immigrant youth say they plan on

Photo by Wyatt Fraas A local gardener stands with Sioux City Community Garden Manager Cristina Perez and her son, Mario. They show the proud day’s harvest, bound for the community food bank. Cristina originally hails from Mexico. She is the type of strong community leader rural communities need most.

going to college to start a career that will help their community when they go back to live and raise a family. These young folks want to and plan to return to their community. The economic contribution made by New Americans is sig —See Inclusion on page 7.

Inside This Issue 2 Senate Farm Bill Passes 2 Land Link Sneak Peek 3 Alternatives to Eminent Domain Small Renewable 3 Connecting Generators to the Grid 4 Rockin’ Rural and Spreading the Word

5 Nebraska Wind Bill Passes 5 Center Plans Leadership Transition 6 More than a Farm Wife 6 Center’s Board Calls for

Action on Immigration 7 Corporate Farming Notes 8 Polling Rural Voters

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Rural Leaders, Read Up! Center for Rural Affairs

July 2013

Farm Bill Update

Senate Passes Version of Farm Bill with Many Positives By Traci Bruckner, [email protected]

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he US Senate passed their version of the 2013 Farm Bill by a vote of 66 to 27. As of this writing, the House of Representatives was going to take up the Farm Bill the week of June 17. A number of provisions are worthy of note in the Senate Farm Bill. However, the bill continues to provide unlimited crop insurance premium subsidies to mega farmers, while cutting funding for conservation, rural development, and renewable energy. That is not good public policy. We’re pleased to see – for the first time in a generation – closing of the gaping loopholes that made a mockery of farm program payment limitations. We thank Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tim Johnson (D-SD) for their tireless advocacy to reduce subsidies mega farms have used to drive family farmers out of business. The bill provides funding for beginning farmer and rancher training, rural small business loans and assistance, grants and loans for small town water and sewer

Paper & E-News This newsletter is available both electronically and in print. To receive it online, sign up at the Center’s website, cfra.org, or email us at [email protected]. You may also correct your mailing address and fax the back page to 402.687.2200, or call Kim Kaup at the Center for Rural Affairs, 402.687.2100. Editor: Marie Powell Layout: Casey Francis Printed at West Point News, West Point, NE. The Center for Rural Affairs was incorporated as a private nonprofit organization on Sep. 5, 1973.

systems, renewable energy grants and loans for farms and small business, and value-added enterprise grants for family farmers and ranchers. These investments are vitally important steps forward for rural America. Due to the efforts of Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who led a bipartisan group of senators to secure a Sodsaver provision, the Senate Farm Bill

tion compliance as a requirement to receive federal crop insurance premium subsidies. As noted above, the full House is set to debate their Farm Bill the week of June 17. The bill that came out of the House Agriculture Committee includes funding for beginning farmer and rancher training, as well as for value-added enterprise grants for family farmers and ranch-

We’re pleased to see the Senate version of the Farm Bill closes the gaping loopholes that made a mockery of farm program payment limitations. prohibits federal commodity payments on newly broken native sod. It reduces the federal subsidy for crop and revenue insurance by 50 percent on native grass and prairie lands. Newly broken sod must be isolated from other crop acres when calculating insurable yields. This is common-sense legislation that will preserve grazing lands, protect hunting opportunities, and conserve vital soil resources. The bill also includes conserva-

ers. However, the House Farm Bill fails to make any reform on farm programs, nor does it include a Sodsaver provision or conservation compliance. We’re hopeful there will be opportunities to add those measures during debate with the full House.

Land Link Sneak Peek By Virginia Meyer, [email protected]

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mall Acreage in Western Washington Seeks Growers We have a great opportunity for you in western Washington! The owner of a small, certified organic, established mixed vegetable/herb farm seeks a new grower(s) to continue the direct sales

operation. The 4.7 acre farm includes two houses (where the grower(s) could live), three greenhouses, a barn, and miscellaneous sheds. The owner would lease to the right beginners for several years. Interested in the Center for Rural Affairs Land Link program or this opportunity? Contact me, Virginia Meyer, at 402.687.2103 ext. 1014 or [email protected].

Rural Leaders, Read Up!

July 2013

Center for Rural Affairs

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Energy Fellow Works on Issues of New Transmission Line Development, Alternatives to Eminent Domain

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y name is Brandon Gerstle, and I’m the new summer energy fellow at the Center. As an environmental law student at the University of Oregon, I was drawn to the Center because of their drive to find practical solutions to our nation’s environmental challenges. I’ve been in Lyons for 3 weeks, and, while it’s different from my hometown of Los Angeles, I feel like I’m living the good life: buying locally produced food, attending a rodeo, and even making my own butter. My big summer project is to investigate alternatives to eminent domain for development of new transmission lines. This is a really interesting and important project. Development of new transmission lines will: • Increase competition in the energy market, reducing consumers’ energy bills. • Reduce greenhouse emissions by connecting renewable energy resources (i.e. wind) to the grid and linking surplus generation capacity to areas of need. • Generate good paying jobs for hardworking Americans. You might be thinking why not

Photo by Casey Francis

use eminent domain? The simple answer is many states deny eminent domain authority for siting interstate transmission lines. Some critics also dislike eminent domain because it under-compensates landowners and causes economic waste through excessive administrative and legal costs. From the landowner’s perspective, I’m considering land acquisition approaches that result in more equitable outcomes. These include public and private arrangements that allow landowners to accept cash buyouts or share in the profits of the transmission project.

From the developer’s perspective, I’m considering factors to assist developers in assembling land without the use of eminent domain. These include using government land, public financing, tax incentives, and wise strategies to build landowner consensus. Ultimately, the goal is to inspire projects that benefit the public at large, landowners, and developers. I’m here in Lyons all summer, and encourage you to contact me with your thoughts on the development of new transmission lines. My number is 402.687.2103, ext 1021, or email [email protected]. Talk to you soon!

Connecting Small Renewable Generators to the Grid By Brian Depew, [email protected]

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he Center recently joined with 24 other organizations to support changes to federal regulations that will make it easier for small and midsize solar and wind systems to connect to the electric grid. Proposed changes will increase transparency and reduce wait time when generation systems produc-

ing 20 megawatts or less seek to connect to the grid. Falling capital costs and public policy changes are already leading to a boom in grid-connected distributed generation. A large share of this is from home and farm based solar. The proposed regulatory changes supported by the Center will further support small grid connected systems.

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Photo contributed by Elisha Smith My sisters and I reunited at Nebraska’s Biggest county fair - the Chase County Fair in Imperial, NE. Nicknamed “Western Nebraska’s State Fair” the week-long event is filled with activity and brings thousands of people from several states to the community. Find out more at ChaseCounty.com.

Rockin’ Rural and Spreading the Word By Elisha Greeley Smith, [email protected]

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hen you know something is great – whether a product or a place – you tell people about it. Likewise when you are trying to sell a product, you usually do some advertising. The average person is exposed to as many as 5,000 advertisements a day (according to Yankelovich Consumer Research).

But how often do we hear or see advertisements for small towns and rural communities? These places have great things to offer including jobs, natural amenities, and the ideal atmosphere to raise a family. Yet many of these communities are suffering from a decrease in population (the 2012 census estimates that 1 in 3 US counties are dying off) and are desperate to attract new residents. Aging and dwindling populations are synonymous with rural areas. These areas need skilled

July 2013 labor and educated people. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, and people to take over small businesses are needed as older generations retire. Yet many college grads bypass rural areas and flock to cities to pursue work. We assume they are drawn by the allure of a big city lifestyle. But maybe they would be drawn to the charming lifestyle/ way of life rural America has to offer, especially if they knew what they were missing. My hometown recently launched a contest to promote the community on one of the most popular online sites – YouTube. Contestants will create videos promoting the positives of the small town and what life is like in the community. Videos will showcase the town’s attributes, activities that are unique in and around the area, and the good life the town has to offer. The video with the most “hits” or views during a specific time period will win a cash prize. If the “hits” reach a million or more, the prize money will double. The prize money will come from city sales tax dollars. Is promoting your town on YouTube a magic bullet for the “brain drain” so many of our towns experience? Probably not, but it could be an important piece. A concentrated ad campaign that entices college grads and other potential residents to rural areas is a great antidote to the rural exodus. Why not shine a bright light on all that is good in rural America?

Poll, continued from page 8. sibility to help the working poor advance economically (versus a little or none). Eight in 10 support job training to improve earnings, Medicaid for health coverage, and helping the working poor afford the necessities of life through payroll tax refunds like the Earned Income Tax Credit. Eighty-five percent favor preschool programs to prepare lower-income children to succeed in school. To pay for such measures, rural

voters support cutting farm subsidies to big mega farms, while opposing general cuts in farm subsidies. They oppose across the board tax increases, but favor repealing the Bush tax cuts for those earning over $250,000. The poll also asked voters to identify the most convincing of several statements that might be made by a candidate for office. They chose: “Making rural America stronger is good both short term

and long term. It will offer our children and grandchildren the opportunity to stay here, maintaining our way of life and protecting our values. By creating a stronger economy, investing in small businesses and schools, we can help working and middle class families get ahead. We can create stronger communities so young people can choose to stay and make a life in rural and small-town America.”

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Waiting for Wind

Nebraska Passes Bill with Wind Developer Incentives, Lacks Ties to Encourage Local Investment By Johnathan Hladik, [email protected]

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he long wait is finally over. After years of research, debate, and political bickering, the Nebraska Unicameral recently passed a bill that offers wind developers incentives for building in Nebraska. Unfortunately, however, it fails to provide an incentive for developing wind right – in a manner that maximizes Nebraska ownership, wealth, and business opportunities. Legislative Bill 104 provides a sales tax exemption for new renewable electric generation projects. The Center for Rural Affairs worked to tie the sales tax exemption to purchases from Nebraska businesses, employment of local workers, and creation of employee stock ownership arrangements. Simply put the bill as passed hands over incentives just for showing up. We and most other Nebraska organizations that support wind development argued unsuccessfully to require that you invest in Nebraska before the state invests in you.

While neighboring states have benefited from the economic development wind energy offers, many rural leaders will tell you that requiring investment in local communities is a requirement worth making. LB 104 is a step in the right direction. By encouraging wind developers to build in Nebraska, this bill helps grow the rural economy. New jobs will be created, schools and roads will improve, and communities will experience an influx of activity. The state is better for it. But it’s important to remember just how much was left on the table. While neighboring states have benefited from the economic development wind energy offers, many rural leaders will tell you that requiring investment in local communities is a requirement worth making. Instead of flowing to out-of-state contractors, accountants, and engineers, money would instead be used to bolster existing businesses and help fund new en-

Center Plans Leadership Transition By Jim Knopik

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wanted you –our grassroots supporters and donors– to be among the first to know that the Center’s Board of Directors is working to implement our leadership succession plan. Long-time Executive Director Chuck Hassebrook has announced his intentions to leave the Center later this year to campaign for public office. Chuck has served nearly 36 years on the Center’s staff, including 17 years as director. He has guided us through thick and thin, working tirelessly to improve the lives of rural Americans. I hope

you will join us in thanking Chuck for his great service. The board will spend the coming months undertaking a careful process to select and transition to a new Executive Director. We will

terprises. And extending the opportunity to own a piece of wind farms to the rural Nebraskans who climb the turbines to keep them running would have been s good for the entire community. It builds local wealth and the economic resilience of residents. Encouraging local ownership and supporting local businesses helps build the Nebraska economy, not just a project. That’s important to the future of Nebraska, rural and urban alike. The Center for Rural Affairs supported passage of LB 104, but we know that Nebraska can do better. With your help we’ll work hard during the next legislative session to make sure our elected officials get it right.

keep you informed as we work on this important job. As board president, I have great confidence in you and in our staff. I know that together we will keep the Center and our work for rural America moving forward. I’ve seen many changes at the Center since I first became a supporter 15 years ago. And thanks to your support, the Center continues to be in a strong position – now as much as ever. Jim Knopik is the President of the Center for Rural Affairs Board. He farms near Fullerton, Nebraska. The Center for Rural Affairs is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and does not support or oppose any candidate for public office.

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July 2013

More Than a Farm Wife By Virginia Meyer, [email protected]

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arm Wife. That’s what we call women who drive tractors, haul grain, gather cattle, run to town for parts, and cook supper, all with kiddos in tow. Often “farm wives” downplay their contributions to their farming operations, dismissing their involvement in the day-to-day operations including marketing and accounting. A new Center for Rural Affairs project with the Women Food and Agriculture Network in Iowa aims to empower women as knowledgeable, business-savvy, focused owners and operators of farms and ranches. More than farm wives. Women are responding - telling us they need training and access to financial resources to get started in agriculture. Our Farm Dreams workshop in Syrcause, Nebraska, last month did just that. The training helped aspiring women farmers and ranchers focus their farm dream to an achievable goal, identify financial resources, and get started developing a business plan.

Photo by Kathie Starkweather The Farms Dreams workshop in Syrcause, Nebraska, attracted many aspiring women farmers and ranchers. One participant is working toward the innovative dream of establishing her own medicinal herb farm.

The women in attendance brought innovative ideas and narrowed them down to mission statements. They integrated the most important aspects on their operations, including healthy soil and water, community involvement, and social responsibility. I was especially inspired by a young woman dreaming of starting her

own medicinal herb farm. More than a farm wife, for sure. The Center for Rural Affairs supports women at all stages of their operations. Please call or email me, Virginia Meyer ([email protected]) or 402.687.2103 ext. 1014 for more information on our work with women farmers and ranchers.

Center’s Board Calls for Action on Immigration By Brian Depew, [email protected]

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t our June meeting, the Center’s Board of Directors backed a proposal to fix the broken immigration system. Board president and Fullerton, Nebraska, farmer Jim Knopik noted that immigration reform is at the top of the national agenda. Given that, it is important to emphasize that rural communities have much to gain from fixing current immigration policy. The Center’s policy calls for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who fulfill the

requirements. Noting that it is important to resolve the current challenge of undocumented immigrants already here and provide for a more robust system of legal immigration in the future, the board’s proposal calls for an independent commission to set practical and appropriate limits for future legal immigration. The board’s policy also called for stricter enforcement of existing labor laws and of the prohibition on hiring undocumented immigrants and falsely classifying them as independent contractors. Under current law, the United States admits only 10,000 manually skilled workers on work visas each year. That is only about 1 for

every 100 immigrants who enter without a visa and find work. The door to legal, documented immigration used by earlier generations is today largely closed for all but the wealthy and well-educated. Reforming this system and more fully engaging immigrants in rural communities and American democracy through support for minority business development, voter registration, leadership development, and other means will bring people together and build community. The Center’s statement on immigration can be found here: www. cfra.org/node/4634.

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Corporate Farming Notes

Shelved Genetically Modified Wheat Discovered in Oregon By John Crabtree, [email protected]

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ast month, an unapproved variety of genetically engineered wheat was discovered growing in an Oregon field, creating a cascade of disconcerting, if not unforeseeable, consequences of Monsanto’s previous efforts to develop a Roundup resistant strain of wheat. Tests confirmed the wheat growing in the Oregon field was a genetically modified strain developed by Monsanto to resist Roundup herbicide (glyphosate) tested by Monsanto between 1998 and 2005. According to the US Department of Agriculture, Monsanto field tests were conducted in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming. Monsanto shelved their genetically engineered wheat in large part because of stiff resistance from farmers and their customers. Our good friends at Dakota Resource Council in North Dakota led that state in providing some of the most effective resistance in the nation. Those North Dakota voices predicted what would happen if such an uncontrolled, unapproved release of genetically modified wheat occurred, all too prophetically.

Japan quickly suspended some imports of US wheat, while the European Union and several Asian nations announced US wheat imports would undergo more rigorous testing. On May 31, South Korean millers announced that imports of

US wheat were on hold. While biotechnology has undeniably become a part of American agriculture, those farmers from North Dakota, Montana, Oregon, and other wheat producing states also raised the undeniable fact that wheat is, in many fundamental ways, a different crop than corn and soybeans. American wheat is far more likely to be used as a primary ingredient in human food and is far more likely than other crops to be exported to countries that have different attitudes than many Americans about the use of genetically modified crops in food. Lawsuits in Kansas and Idaho and outspoken farmers are lighting a fire under Monsanto to put the genetically engineered wheat genie back in the bottle. We sincerely hope they can.

Inclusion, continued from page 1. nificant. A University of Nebraska Omaha study found immigrant spending in Nebraska resulted in $1.6 billion of production to our economy, generating approximately 12,448 jobs. Take immigrant employment away, and state production would fall by $13.5 billion, or about 78,071 jobs.

So, what’s the point to inclusion? A stronger community economically and socially. Diversity of thought and experiences, innovative ideas, new small businesses, full schools, youth who want to return and contribute to their community, and great new neighbors!

And we think listening to farmers just makes sense. I remember when Todd Leake, a wheat farmer and Dakota Resource Council member from Grand Forks County, North Dakota, told me, “We have no business commercializing or developing genetically modified wheat until our customers tell us that’s what they want.” I’ve always tried to avoid disagreeing with Todd, especially when he’s right.

Center for Rural Affairs 145 Main Street, PO Box 136 • Lyons, NE 68038-0136 cfra.org | [email protected] 07/13 Address Service Requested

From the Desk of the Executive Director

—See Poll on page 4.

• Over half said that “owning my own business or farm is a big part of the American dream for me,” and most agreed with helping small business through less government (cutting taxes, spending, and regulation) and strengthened government (loans, tax credits, training, and antitrust enforcement). • Three-fourths support tax credits and investment in new transmission lines for development of wind, solar, and other renewable electric generation in rural areas. • Eight in 10 support grants and loans to revitalize small towns through critical upgrades to water and sewer systems and roads and bridges. • Six in 10 say government has some or a lot of respon

Photo by Jamie Horte r

Poll Finds Rural Voters Support Investment in Small Business, Education By Chuck Hassebrook, [email protected]

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ost Rural Americans strongly believe the rural and small-town way of life is worth fighting for and support government action to strengthen the rural economy and communities. Those findings come from a poll of rural voters in the Great Plains, Midwest, and Southeastern US by the nationally respected bipartisan polling team of Celinda Lake and Ed Goeas. Rural voters think for themselves and don’t neatly fit an ideological stereotype. Most agree that America’s future is weakened by a widening gap between the rich and families struggling to make ends meet. And nearly half say it’s time for government to play a stronger role in strengthening rural communities and making the economy work for the average person in rural and small-town America. But almost as many worry that “turning to big government to solve our problems will do more harm than good.” Rural voters support several specific measures to strengthen rural opportunities and communities: