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Greetings,

Before you get to the regular Center newsletter below, we have a quick request. Will you take our newsletter survey to help us make this newsletter better? The survey is short and you can answer as many or as few of the question as you like. And if you fill out the survey this week you will be eligible to win a new Center for Rural Affairs t-shirt. Fill out the survey online here.

We appreciate all your feedback. Thanks!

Also, as our fiscal year draws to a close we encourage our supporters who have not been able to contribute yet this year to do so now. Visit this page to give today -- and help us reach our $35,000 goal.

POLICY
Harnessing the Wind, Powering the 21st Century
Renewable energy is the source of much controversy and media coverage in rural America and all of America today. Right now, most of the controversy surrounds biofuels. But another form of renewable energy enjoys near-universal support in rural America - wind power. Continue.

Corporate Farming Notes: JBS Deal Scrutinized
The Department of Justice is looking more closely at the anti-competitive impact of JBS S.A.'s acquisition of Smithfield Beef's Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, according to our investigations and several reports in financial trade publications. JBS announced in March their intention to acquire Smithfield Beef Group and National Beef Packing, purchases that would make JBS both the largest beef packer and cattle feeder in the U.S. Continue reading.

Beginning Farmer Advisory Committee Makes Recommendations to Secretary of Agriculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers held their annual meeting July 9-10 in Washington, DC. The Committee discussed and passed 5 recommendations for implementing the new farm bill. Continue reading.

COMMUNITY
Leadership in Rural America Needs Diverse Skill Set
Michael Scott Karpovich, a certified professional speaker from Michigan, sums up clearly what it takes to be a leader in rural America. We need diversity of strengths and skills and teamwork to be effective decision makers. He uses the characters in the Wizard of Oz to demonstrate what is needed for an effective leadership team. Continue reading.

An Intern Bids Good-Bye
As a child, summers were magnificent. It was a time with no worries whatsoever. My only responsibility was to check the mail after I woke up. The best part, I usually woke up at noon. Read more.

HEALTH CARE
Fixing the Broken Health Care System
Health insurance has become a leading obstacle to small business and family farm prosperity. Small business and family farm entrepreneurship are the most promising approaches for creating an economic future in rural communities. But we must overcome the health insurance obstacle. Continue.

Child Health Care Rankings in Rural States
By some reckoning, rural children are the Americans most in need of health care system reform. Nearly half of children in rural areas live in low-income families (again, a higher rate than non-rural children), and 44 of the 50 counties with the highest percentage of uninsured children are rural counties. Continue.

AGRICULTURE
Wheels of Fortune Report Drew National Attention
The Center for Rural Affairs' 1976 report Wheels of Fortune was written five years before I was born and 31 years before I came to work at the Center. And before I sat down to write this newsletter article I had heard of the report, but had not read it. Continue reading.

Help us raise $35,000!
Help us raise $35,000 for our 35th year!



Act: Meet the Challenge
Will you help us raise $35,000 in honor of our 35th anniversary? We've crossed $11,850. Give online today!

Act: Stop the Meat Merger
Yet another merger looms in the livestock industry. Speak out about it. Send a message to the Justice Department!

Blog for Rural America
Too Big to Fail: We're approaching the point the "too big to fail" conundrum will apply to large parts of the agriculture sector.  Meatpacking is the most obvious industry. Almost certainly, three companies will soon control over 70% of the beef processing capacity in the U.S. Smithfield is an enormous hog producer that owns 1.1 million sows or so.  Smithfield buys somewhere in the neighborhood of 90% of the hogs produced in North Carolina. What do you think would happen if Smithfield were to threaten bankruptcy and liquidation? Read the full post.

Development Matters
If you avoided destructive summer storms and are looking at a big boost in your farming income, a gift to a charitable endowment can leave a legacy while saving much more in taxes than you might think possible. Read more here.

Across the Nation
Colorado: The Colorado Health Foundation is now offering a new repayment program for medical students who agree to practice in rural areas. (more)

Kentucky: To address a shortage of rural doctors, UK has set up a new Rural Physician Leadership Track with 10 students set to participate this fall. (more)

Nationwide: The Pew Internet and American Life Project reports that the share of rural American homes with high-speed Internet service grew 23 percent last year. Despite this growth, rural America's broadband Internet access is still well behind urban parts of the nation. (more)

North Dakota : Gov. John Hoeven will host the Governor's Rural Community Summit "Ac-celerate Your Impact on Rural North Dakota" on Aug. 26-27 in Bismarck. (more)

Oklahoma: A researcher has found that the success of rural schools is dependent on the positive attitude of both those running the school and the community at large. (more)




Climate Change to Bring More Frequent Extreme Weather Conditions
New analysis from the National Climatic Data Center predicts that climate change will bring more extreme weather and more problems for those who rely on Mother Nature for their livelihood. Continue.
The Center for Rural Affairs was formed in 1973 by rural Nebraskans concerned about family farms and rural communities. We work to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities across all of rural America. On our website, you can contact us, read our Blog for Rural America, and support our work with a contribution.

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