' UNIVERSAL! lnformat~on Serv~ces, Inc'

(402) 342-31 78 I

TIMES THURSDAY WEEKLY MILFORD, NE Circulation = 1 173

1211 012008

--- 1llllllllll1Hlllllllllllllllllllll~~ Rural A-Grslaunches

- - _L

initiative for health care reform l ' In January of 2009 a new ' presidential iidministration will take Gver in Washington, and health care reform is cer- tain to be on the agenda.

Access to affordable health insurance has become a lead- ing obstacle to rural small business and family farm prosperity.

Therefore, the center for

Rural Affairs has launched a Rural Health Care Reform Initiative.

The center has initiated an online petition to stand up for health care reform that works for everyone - in- cluding rural people, family farmers and small business owners.

The signatures and com- ments collected from the peti- tion will be shared with the next administration early in 2009.

"Rural people are among the most ill-served by the current health care system. Issues of access, affordability, preven- tion and how to deal with chronic diseases are issues that fall disproportionately on rural people and rural com- munities.

Reforming the health care system is also vital for the

munity vitality of rural areas,"

I long-term economic and com- . I said Jon Bailey, Director of the Rural Research and Analysis Program at the Center for Rural Affairs.

As part of the initiative, the Center is also interested in hearing how health care and health insurance issues affect rural families and rural busi- nesses.

Anyone wishing to share their experiences may do by sending them to Kim Preston at kimp@cfra.org or at the Center for Rural Affairs, P.O. I Box 136, Lyons, NE 68038, or 1 '

online at http: / / www.cfra. org / contact.

Participants will remain anonymous. - 1

A f Renvllle County Date: Thursday, December 18,2008

Star Farmer News Location: OLIVIA, MN Circulation (DMA): 1,600 (1 51 Type (Freauenevl NewsDa~er (Wf

b - . . . . ~ke: A6 Keyword: Center Fw Rural Affain -

A reasonable hope for an enforced law

The Racken and Sto@rds Act d 1921 pmhity price discrimha* tibn by meiqxtckers %&tist smafler, family farmers and ranchers. Spc~cally, thc Act makes it vlawful for packets to "..& 8r any undue ar unreawnable preference M advantage to any particular p~rsan or lac&!y hi any msped whatsoever."

But, Ebr &&s, the law ha not been etfeceivelg enforced. %r exam- ple, packers pay fm, & or even 10 cents per pound (or mare) in p p l y Yolume-based premium to the hrgest hog producers just because &ey are hrge. These "sweetheart deals' for large wlume producers have become commonplace, bus tao

less a violation of the Packers and Stockyan& Act.

Six wnts per bund may not J muad like mu& a discaunt, but, forafkdyfarrnerwrth 150 m i n a krrow-to-finish operation it amounts to re&* $56,000 LGss i lnt idy for hogs of the same qua& just became heiaikets Fwer hags.

Howwer, the 22008 farm bill con- Laif~d a provision x~qddfig U%M to defme thc: termauntmnable prefer- ence," dowing for more ip& enSorc:crnart and, ultimately, more campdtiw Ewcock markets, The time has mme to Iml the playing

UBDA bas begun the pmms sf writing the rules that are rquirctd under thia fmm bid prouision. Navl is the time for aU of us who prefer to see liveritock prsdution on G d y farms and m h e s to make sure ESSM gets tfaia fight (www,~ra,org/cornpcti- &n).

UNIVERSAL! Information Services, Inc

MONITOR THURSDAY WEEKLY BLOOMFIELD, NE Circulation = 1405

12/04/2008

' Solution to a S~~ccessiuI 1 Ecsnomic Stimulus 1

Packase i By Chuck Hassebrook,

chuckhgcfra.org, Center for Rural

Small enterprise has a critical role to

i

.

play in America's economic recovery, f especially in rural areas. So when Con- ~

gress takes up legislation to refuel our economy, small entrepreneurship should be the centerpiece.

Microenterprises - owner-operated businesses that provide self employ- ment and perhaps hire a few elnployees, - create most new rural jobs. ~eginningf farmers and value added agriculture; bring additional vitality to rural Amer-': ica. There's no better time than now for federal policy to invest in these proven rural development strategies. Here's how Congress can do it:

Q Provide a direct incentive for ~;u- al enterprise by establishing a Micro- nterprise and Beginning Farmer In- estment Tax Credit of up to $10,000

stimulate small business expansion d new farm and business startups. Q Fund more rural small business

loans, training and technical assistance increasing funding for the Rural

croentrepreneurs Program. An in- ase from $4 million to $25 million

I this new farm bill program would, y long-term dividends. a Add funds to the successhl~

alue Added Producer Grants Pro-, am, which makes grants to family-$

ize farmers and ranchers to launch! ventures to establish local markets; to process and market high valuez s and livestock. An added $24,, Ion Would bring the program to the: million authorized by the farm bill. j hese three provisions would jump

ral economy and plant the seeds -tg* ,rural vitality through en-; urship. Congress should ein:? em as it develops legislation to conomic recovery in America.

For more information visit:!

I COLIRIER

1 THURSDAY WEEKLY ' CALLAWAY, NE Circulation = 580

12/04/2008

Secretary of Ag must be 1 devoted to innovative vision

.- By Chuck Hassebrook , 2.

Center for Rural Affairs .- Barack Obama launched his campaign in Iowa with a promise

create genuine opportunity for rural people and a better filture 1 for their communities. Now President-elect Obama must appoint a Secretary of Agriculture who embraces the change needed to achieve those goals. I

Farm and mral policy illustrate the broken politics ofwashington. The federal government spends billions subsidizing niega fanns to drive smaller farms off the land and largely fails to invest in the future of rural communities.

Barack Obama proposed changing those failed policies. He proposed capping payments to mega farms and enforcing rules against unfair pricing practices by meat packers to strengthen family size farms. To revitalize rural communities, he proposed investing in small business, microenterprise development and value ;: added agriculture.

He proposed increased production of biofuels and wind energy. And he pledged suppost for protecting our land and water through the Conservation Stewardship Program. which rewards farmers ~ for good practices.

These refonns mn head-on into demallds for new spending by big farm and commodity interests. The president's conunitment is most critical to achieving reform, but his Secreta~y ofAgricultiire is almost as important. A secretary committed to the status quo will not help Obama achieve change.

The new president should start with one simple test for those who would be Secretary ofAgriculture. Have they worked for the rural agenda on which he campaigned and are they committed to advancing it when he takes office in January?

1 ~-

STANDARD

OXFORD, Nebraska

Date: Frequency: Circulation: Clip Size: Ad Rate: Pagelsection:

Thursday, December 2 5 , 2 0 0 8

WEEKLY 81 9

25.40 sq. inches

$3.73 6

REAq EDGE programs funded - Nebraska Enterprise Fund (NEE') announced December 18, the award of $597,750 in state funds to ten Nebraska microenterprise pro- grams.

The ten award recipients and contacts are: -Catholic Charities1 Juan Diego Center, Omaha. Karen Mavropolous 402-73 1-54 13; Ce.~ter

Rural Affairs m.. Jeff Rey- nolds 402-656-309 1 ; Community Developrncnt Resources, Lin- coln. Rick Wallace 402-436-2386; GROW Nebraska. Janell Anderson Ehrke 888-476-9632; Ho Chunk Community Development Corpora- tion. Jeremy Staab 402-846-5353: Midland's Latino - Community 1)evelopment Corporation. Marta Sonia 1,ondono 402-952-5909; Midwest Center for Women Entre- preneurs. Janet Phelan 402-55 1 - 2379; Nebraska EDGE-Center for

Applied Rural Innovation. Marilyn Schlakc 800-328-285 1; Northeast Economic Development, lnc. Jeff Christcnsen 402-649-7223; West Central Nebraska Development District. Dave Jibben 308-284- 6077

'I'hese programs provide lend- ing, pre- and post-loan technical assistance, and training to self- employed businesses (five or fewer employees) in urban and rural areas of Nebraska. The Enterprise Fund funding is made possible through the Nebraska Microenterprise De- velopment Act, which was enacted by the State Legislature in 1997.

Micro program fund recipients will provide a minimum of 25% match for the $597,750 from public and private funds (not including other state funds). In addition. NEF provides a 25% match. Because of

this two-tiered matching, the state's investment is being multiplied sev- eral times.

Governor Heineman com- mented, "Entrepreneurship contin- ues to be an important part of our economic development efforts in Nebraska. Micro and small business development is a way for entrepre- neurs to become business owners. These microenterprise programs are important tools that help individu- als develop assets, generate income and support their local economy."

"Micro programs provide ex- cellent services to businesses across the state. These state dollars make this work possible," said Rose Jas- persen, NEF Executive Direc- tor. Businesses in need of loans, training andlor technical assistance are encouraged to contact these programs.

For more information contact Rose Jaspersen at 402-685-5500.

Universal Information Services , Inc. http://news.universaI-info.com Page : 1 1 1 Profile: ill - Center for Rural Affairs Recipient: John Crabtree

I I i UNIVERSAL! Information Services Incl

NEWS-TIMES 1 MORNING DAILY I YORK, NE Circulation = 4196

12/31/2008

Guest Opinion

, [ A wise investment inbusiness -i By Elisha Greeley Smith

Center for Rural Affairs

In 2009, the Nebraska Uni- cameral has an opportunity to continue support for establishing and creating small businesses all across the state.

The Nebraska Microenter- prise Development Act provides funds for small business loans. training and technical assistance. These funds, administered by the Nebraska Enterprise Fund, pro- vide vitally needed money to sup- port Main Street businesses in Nebraska's rural communities and urban neighborhoods.

Since creation of the Nebras- 2

ka Microenterprise Development Act in 1997. over 19.000 busi- nesses and individuals in every Nebraska County have received loans and/or technical assistance as a result of its funding.

Many rural communities have self-employment and small busi- ness ownership rates many times greater than urban areas. Small businesses are also the job cre- ators in much of rural America.

In Nebraska, 86 percent of private, non-farm businesses are small businesses with five or fewel- en~ployees. Nearly one in five private, non-farrn jobs in niral Nebraska are in these small businesses.

Microenterprises and small

businesses are a major part of Nebraska's economy. And in a tinle of economic hardships, it is a wise investment to provide opportunity and economic - E growth to businesses that create ; new jobs and innovation in rural 3 communities.

Investing in the small busi- I C nesses across the state revitalizes - Main Streets and builds commu- I nities.

In the last budget, Nebraska , Senators wisely dedicated $1.5 I million to support the Nebraska. Microenterprise Development I Act. They should maintain the same level of funding for the pro- gram even in these tight econoni- IC times.

' UNIVERSAL! lnformat~on Serv~ces, Inc

CLARION THURSDAY WEEKLY CAMBRIDGE, NE Circulation = 1 124

1211 112008

Ir; - 1 ,yyp==-- ecember REAP Office '- i

I

ours in McCook : 3

for Rural Affairs'

offers technical assistance, edu- cational and networking oppor- tunities, and u lorin program for small businesse:,. REAP is de- signed to assist all types of small businesses, including businesses with 5 or fewer employees, self-

has six regionally based

~ " N ~ V E R S A L ~ lnformatlon Serv~ces Inc

(402) 342-31 78

BREEZE THURSDAY WEEKLY WAUNETA, NE Circulation = 1050

1211 112008

-- __ C -\

December REAP '\I - .mce Hours in McCook

Dena Beck, central and south- west Nebraska Business Specialist With the Center for Rural AfTairs' Rural Enterprise Assistance Proj- ect will hold office hours inMcCook on December 16th. Hours will be 10 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. McCook Eco- nomic Development Corp. ( M E D ~ ) ! will handle the appointments; (308) 345-1200. MEDC office is located at 301 Norris Avenue, Suite 200.

The Center for Rural Affairs' Rural Enterprise Assistance Proj- ect (REAP) and its services are available to rural communities across Nebraska. REAP offers technical assistance, educational and networking opportunities, and a loan program for small businesses. REAP is designed to assist all types of small businesses, including businesses with 5 or fewer employees, self-employed full-time, part-time, home-based, farm-based, start-up, and store- front businesses. REAP has six regionally based Business Special- !

2 ists across Nebraska. These Busi- ! ness Specialists can get involved in 1 assisting entrepreneurs at various stages of their business progress.

MEDC is pleased to partner with REAP in order to offer an expand- ed list of services to businesses of all sizes. -4- I

- JI

- - - -

ea Kyle and Angle

kclasses to be offered li 9 . . . - 2 - . -.._& ̂ . ,.'. ". , ., .: . i ' . -~ ; ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ F ~ o r P l . & ~ ~ m t e r . -gbdiif'&e miy iyf fe<turesfifi& ', i

k r Enterprise at McCook Coh- "allow you to sell items online unity College Hor~nel Tech- using Amazon.com's powerful i

'nology Center for Business and suite of sales, marketing and 1 Industry. (Pre-registration and web development tools. No ex- payment is required for each perience required. class - email cfemccook@mpcc. REVISED: Lunch 'n Learn -

-edu for inforn~ation.) "How to be a Grammar, Punctu- Upcoming evcnts at the ation and Proofreading Pro" will

Hormel Technology Center for be held on Monday, Feb. 2 from -Business & Industry from the noon - 1 p.m. in McMillen Hall, Mid-Plains Center for Enter- Room 201 with, Diane Lyons as prise the instructor. Let us treat you to

"TelephoneTechniquesn will a bite of lunch while you learn be held on Tuesday, Jan. 20 from useful tips and tools for reduc- 6:30 - 9 p.m. MT at the MPCC ing mistakes and proofreading Extended Campus in Imperial time. Pre-registration is manda- with Diane Lyons as the instruc- tory and a minimum enrollment tor. Learn the fundamentals of is required. effective customer telephone in- "BusinessBuyersWorkshop" teractions by raising awareness will be held at a later date to be of the image projected through determined. This workshop is words and tone of voice. designed to help potential busi- 1

"Selling on Amazon.com" ness owners educate themselves - will be held on Thursday, Jan. on the benefits and pitfalls of 22 from 6 - 8 p.m. in McMil- buying an existing business. len Hall, Room 201 with Doug Enjoy refreshments and a work- Joyce as the instructor. Learn ing lunch as you hear presenters ::

,from the accountintr, bankine. 1 ". ".

i-T%--- -

I niiirketing, and retail professions - v- 9 E as well as representatives from

the Rural Enterprise Assistance UNIVERSAL! 9 Project . (REAP) and McCook Information Selvices, inc* iq E,,,,,,,~~ ~~~~l~~~~~~ tor- -1

(402) 342-31 78 I toora t ion (MEDC). Tovics cov- CLARION THURSDAY WEEKLY CAMBRIDGE, NE Circulation = 1 124

kred will 'include' busihess plan writing, valuation. tax benefits, loans, knowing how to market to customers, training-:. and much more.

Upcoming Comnlunity Serv- ice events from McCook Com- 1

munity College "CPRIFir-st Aid" will be held .

Monday and Tuesday, Dec, 15 and 16 from 6 - 10 p.m. in Tip- i ton Hall, Room 114 with Joy $ Molcyk as the instructor. Stu- i

dents taking this class must be prepared to pay tuition and fees on the first night of class or they :

can pre-register at the Business -

Office in McMillen Hall. Com- pletion of this course will enable you to be certified in accordance with American Safety and Health Institute standards in cardio-pul- monary resuscitation and first aid. For additional information, please contact the MCC Health Occupations Department at 345- 8162 or 81 60 or 800-658-4348, ext. 8160 or 8162.

REVISED: "Intermediate Word" will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 8-22 from 6 - 9 p.m. in McMillen Hall, Room 201 with Carrie Johnson as the instructor. Enhance documents and discov- er how to illustrate with graph- ics, create web pages and merge multiple documents into one. Learn how to work with various styles, templates and develop multi-page documents.

"Beginning Crochet" will be held on Tuesdays, Jan. 8-22

6 - 9 p.m. in McMillen Room 201 with Carrie

son as the instructor. En- e documents and discover

ow to illustrate with graphics, create web pages and merge multiple documents into one. Learn how to work with various style and templates and develop multi-page documents.

"Creating Your Personal E-Comic Strips" will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 27 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. in McMillen Hall, Room 201 with Steve Batty as ~nstructor. Have a blast learn- ing to make computer comic strips from digital family pho- tos. Bring your digital photos to class and leave with your first comic strip and the knowledge to make more! You can email or post your comics to the Internet. The software, for both PC and MAC, is inexpensive and easily downloaded from the Internet with a 30-day free trial. To pre- view the instructor's E-Comic, check http://www.mccookdircct. con~/naomi/naonii-fp.htm

"Bob Ross Painting Classes" will be held on Saturday and Sunday. Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Student Union with Michael Lemon as the Certified Instructor. Even if you've nevcr painted before

.z-you'll create a painting -ready zo hang on-your wall , in one

.::day! The painting ori Saturday will be a winter scene and a spring/summer landscape paint- ed on Sunday. You'll be able to utilize one frame for the differ- ent seasons throughout the year!

"STOP Program - Defensive Driving Course" will alternate months between Red Willow and Hitchcock County with Carol Stensvad as the instruc-

held on Saturdays from 5 p.m. with upcoming at MCC-McMillen Hall,

20 I on Dec. 20 and at the

mmunity Room on Jan. 17. r additional information and

ty Plus at (402) 466-0033 (www.trafficsafetyplus.org).

-registration required. "Alive at 25 - Defensive

riving Course" will be held ery odd numbered month on dnesdays from 5 : 3 0 9:30 . in McMillen Hall, Room

01 with Carol Stcnsvad as the or on Jan. 1-1. This young nterventio~l progranl z e ~ ,

oli drivers' between: the 16 and 24 - the group

~kely to be involved ili

eractive four-hour program eaches young drivers how to

ponsibility for their own behavior. For additional tion and registration, ontact the scheduling de-

ment of the Nebraska Safety ouncil at (888) 704-7233, ext. 13. Pre-registration required.

"Attitudinal Dynamics of Driv- - ADD - Defensive Driv- Course" is held quarterly

the second Saturday of the nth. The next session will

e on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 8 .m. - 5 p.m. in Hormel Center

Business and Technology in Millen Hall, Room 201 with

DD impresses the partici- o choose responsibility to ve self-worklself-estcem

- ~~~ - ~

financial power through the use of good choices. For additional information and registration, please contact Nebraska Safety Council at (888) 704-7233. ext. 1 13. Pre-registration required. i EMT Continuing Education / Classes. -- The following pro- i grams are funded in whole or in part with public funds provided through the Nebraska Depart- ment of HHS System-EMS Pro- gram:

"Altercd Mental Status" will be held Saturday, Jan. 10 from 9 a.m.-noon with Marc Harpham as the instructor in Barnett Hall, Room 223 and down-linked to Wauneta-Palisade High School, Hayes Center High School, Southwest Middle School-Bar- tley. " The Highs and Lows of Illic- it Drugs" will bc held Saturday. Jan. 24 from 9 a.m.-noon with Marc Harpharn as the instructor in Barnett Hall, Room 223 and down-linked to Hayes Center 1 High School, Dundy County i High School. Maywood High School. E

"Poisonings and Anaphylac- tic Shock" will be held Satur- ! day. Jan. 3 1 from 9 a.m.-noon I with Bob Allen as the instructor in Barnett Hall. Room 223 and 1 down-linked to Southwest Mid- dle School-Bartley, Hitchcock r County High- School -Trenton, , MedicineValley High School. ' ' ''F "Mass Casualty Incident Skills" "

will be held Saturday, Feb. 7 from 9 a.m.-noon with Marc .i Harpham and Bob Allen as the -4 instructors in McMillen Hall, Room. T

"Medical Emergencies" will i be held Saturday. Fcb. I4 from 9 a.m.-noon with Bob Allen as the instructor in Barnett Hall, Room I 223 and down-linked to Wa~~ne- ,

ta-Palisade High School, Hayes Center High School, Maywood High School.

"Pharmacology" will be held Saturday. Feb. 21 from 9 a.m.-noon with Rob Allen as the instructor in Barnett Hall, Roo111 223 ant1 down-linked to Medicine Valley-Curtis, Chase County High School, Hitchcock County High School -Trenton.

Upcoming Classes: Music Industry 101. Intro to C:umtrrsia Studio. Telephone Techniques. Music Business Management, Selling 011 Amazon.com-the As,suciates Progra~n, Dealing with Difficulti People at Work, MS ' Willdows-Vista :I-Compu-1 " ter Basics. MS Windowns-Vista ? 11-Computer Basics, Freedom from Smoking. Driver Educa- tion-Spring Session, Hunter Safety, Homebuyer Education Workshop, Photoshop, Digital Camera Basics.

Upcoming Ed2Go Online Courses: Management Funda- mentals, Creating Web Pages, Wow! What a Grcat Event! I

Call Doug Joyce, Area Dean I of Economic Development & Training, at (308) 345-8123, email joyced@mpcc.edu; Judy Malone, Program Coordina- tor and Professional Traincr, at (308) 345-8 129,enlail lnalonej@ mpcc.edu with your recommen- dations. suggestions and ideas or call Carol Stensvad at (308) 345-8122 or (800) 658-4348: 1 elnail cfemccook@nipcc.edu or stensvadc@mpcc.edu for regis- tration information or check the I I class schedulcs on our website at (http:l/cfe.mpcc.edu).

Repub liean-Leader ::st... Thutsday, December 25,2008 PRESTON, MN

Circulat~on (DMA) 1,800 (1 53) Type (Frequency) Newspaper (W) Page: 8 Kej&~rd: Center Fw Rural Affairs

Vilsack will be a mixed bag of forward and status quo Hewever, a mail l ike Ran really jumped on the Obarna

Rosman. an m g ~ i c farmer Rear bandwagbn during the general Harlw. Iowa. and closely allied election campaign. Obama lilies with U.S. Sen. Tom Haukin, pow- ethanol, too. it's a witch! &rfuI ehaifmen af the Senate Off the mainstream dial was a Agricuttur~ Committee, said he comment ahout Vilsack's would have ptgfcrrcd appointment from Dave Nomsen. Hossehrook. Hc feels Vil$a(rk vice president of Pheasants doesn't get the connection Fon'ver in St. Paul. between famtly fms and rural Non~sen said Vilsack under- conmuniti~s. stands how to encourage use of

With his backgtound as a plants that can soak up pollution (or more sindl-town mayor, state legisla- and make for good upland bird

lefiist in leanSngs) lo be ~ l e c t & t ~ f and governor, Vilsack does populations. (Toke that, Ann as Sec~tary of Agriculture. seem likeiy t~ have at tearit some Venenian!) He also understands. Prefildent-clccl &rack Qbamai sndernanding of the family Nomsen said, the need for they got, instead, farmer ftmner. thou&. and he gets g d ethanol production to become aov, Tom Vilsack, kinp af theL ~ ~ r a r k s hrfi cl?tn@io&ty and ~ellulo~ic. utilizing switchgrass lftoderates. agribusln~ss leaders orross the at13 other crops to lhakc the al~er-

Ohamo reportedly looked at U~pe~Midw~st- mtiw fuel. severdl fur !he pgst, rifng- While Vilsaiack 3 ~ n s ' t have a Ul~imately, Viisack also under- ing from far-left anti-prduction farming backgmrtnd, which wo stands something ebe -global ag to Mr. Vilsack, who O f the last five slg Sr?ctetaries warming as a cofkCt?pt. mat puts u&rstnnds pn3duciion Ilgricul- have had, h e does see the 'imrc,r- him at Odds with many Conserva- mre, but has :,fi open *mind tance of ,$Oil and w)l;ler c~nserva- tives, but it lines up well with and is quick study, willl ituer- "0" PrOgrNns ahd, us a farnier Obtrma's v k w s on the subject. ests in rcnc\rvablc fItols presidential candidate. he has the Vilsrrsk is expecfect to find ways U S D A * ~ historic hocial role i n breadth to undersiand the farnlew can profit off of being A~l~crican li fc. U$DA's hisloric role as a sacial green - by sinking carbon Into

Despite the fact that Vilsack age"CY with Its WlC. Food their soil 3s they plant. Now, has heen lauded by the Iowa Stamp. and school lunch pro- that's a decidedly un-moderate Farm BuatLu president, is grams, revered all over the fiotikm by ludny'!, standards. considered a moder:lte Democrat nafiofi- Whatever Vilsack brings to the by nost standarda, he shares Additionally. Vilsack was seen job. ht. will J[@ be wbject to the

Obamrr on many aa asone of the first povetQors to viewfi of his president - and the issuds. mogt espcjoJly the need See the future for biotech. And, Office of Management & Budget. for tcnewable fuels and biotech- US gOVernOr. h e was a tireless Stay tuned. wlogy. He wants u e his ctm- erhonol promoter. Whi le he Hgve a wonder-full Holiday giderabte execufjvc ahiJiry to backed Sen. Hillsty cfitY10n 111 SeaWYl. iWd 1'11 .Wt?yil! push these prvgraals along, rhc caucus and primary, Vilsack

1 PHILIP BRASHER 1 pbrasher@dmreg.com

1 Subsidy

! UNIVERSAL! Information Services, Inc/

! REGISTER DAILY

DES MOINES, IA 1 Circulation= 155420

I I guidelines -- - - - -- - -- -- -

to get fast 1 scrutinv

J

New farm policies fail to assess an hourly commitment. Will President-elect Obama go along with that?

ashington, D.C. - If there was one piece of

sidies. The public will find out early in his administration how

rious he was about doing that. The U.S. Agriculture

Department last week published w regulations for subsidy gibility to implement require-

ments of the 2008 farm bill. The rules refine the definition what it means tu be "actively aged" in farming, a require- t for receiving crop subsidies.

required. Subsidy re- ts, for example, will be re- to provide documentation e that they have played a

- study in pledging

m% to "take immediate

, action to close the loophole" with regu- lations that would "limit payments to active farmers who

Grassley work the land." proposes "This is the grand- 1,000 hours daddy of them all or more for when it comes to payments loopholes," and

something that the Obama campaign said "very explicitly would be addressed," said Chuck Hassebrook, execu- tive director of the Nebraska- based Center for Rural Affairs.

Obama's new Agriculture D'e6hrtn?ent, to be headed by

I I - .

former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, must address the issue during the first few days in office. The rules are open for public com-

>i ment until Jan. 28 and can be 1 i modified bel'vre they take effect. -3

So Vilsack, assuming he's con- J firmed by the Senate, can either

.-

change the regulations or allow -. - them to take effect. t He can expect to hear from

a fellow Iowan, Republican i i v Sen. Charles Grassley, who has

BRASHER, PAGE 4D !

- , ~-

BRASHER FROM PAGE I D

proposed a 1,000-hour-a-year minimum time requirement in farm management to qualify as a farmer.

"I'm looking to President- i ! -. elect Obama's platform as 1 evidence that payment-limit

; reform may be tops on his agenda," Grassley said.

He said the Bush administra- tion has effectively left the

IeJgibility rules the way they were.

' Agriculture Department of- -ficials wouldn't comment on 'the rules, citing the comment period.

-. However, the rules will re- :quire some subsidy recipients :to produce more paperwork =to keep getting payments. 'According to a published rules ;explanation, stockholders in ;a farming corporation who iwant to qualify for subsidies would have to show that they

idually take part in the ation's management. r example, a stockholder d give the Agriculture rtment signed copies

uichase orders to prove e or she is individually

ponsible for obtaining and ing seed, fertilizer and the r supplies the farm needs. e farm groups are likely to e that the farm bill's vari- payment limits already go far and may force landown- to change the way they do iness with farmers.

ASSOCIATED PRES5 tILE PHOTO

President-elect Barack Obama looks on at left as Agriculture Secretary-designate, former lowa Gov.Tom Vilsack, speaks at a news conference in Chicago last month.

"I'm looking to President-elect Obama's there for farmers," said Tara Smith, a lobbyist for

platform as evidence that payment-limit reform the American Farm Bureau

may be tops on his agenda." Federation "We don't want to

- put any more on them." - lowa Sen. Charles Grassley -

. Moreove?; Grassley's pro- - .

Landowners who can't qualify for subsidies, or no longer want to fool with the paper- work, can require farmers to start paying them rent rather than continuing to operate under a crop-share agreement, under which the farmer and

landowner split the costs and income, including subsidies, on the operation. A farmel who rents land has more of the financial risk than one where the landowner pays a shaie of the costs and splits the incorne.

"There's enough risk out

posal woulh saddle fanns wit5 more paperwork, she said.

In the end, Smith bets that the Obama administration will r have more to worry about in 2009 than farm eligibility rules.

"I can't imagine that this is I I going to be an enormous prior-

ity for them coming in," she [ said.

UNIVERSAL! Information Services. Inc'

HOLT CO. INDEPENDENT THURSDAY WEEKLY O'NEILL, NE 1 Circulation = 3453 I

Nebraska Communities Tackling I Big Issues In Workshops

. -

ity and county leaders ound Mead, Kearney, Grand

Q'Neill, Beatrice and

tices. The mission of the NSLW aders throughout

ce on Feb. 26-27, and in

among other . - -

invited civic and

us," said Katie Torpy, program manager. "In some cases, we can make accommodation for individuals interested in building sustainability in their communities."

Two workshops in the series already have been held in Omaha and Lincoln in the past two months. City planners, school board members, county commissioners, city council members and mayors engaged in lively examinationof such issues as urban sprawl, job location versus workforce location, nitrates in water, retrofitting older buildings to be more energy efficient, water resources, community gardens, and more. Of particular interest was public policy and how community leaders can enhance their leadership skills to help to build political will among their constituents and colleagues to make necessary changes in sustainable ways. = "These leaders bring to the iorkshops particularhs~esji i theif ;~ommunities,~'said Torpy, "and the ".

NSLW pairs them up with experts in the field to help them find ways to meet to their critical challenges." I Among the rotating panel of experts ) available for the workshops are engineers, attorneys, architects, agronomists, eco-tourism and agri- tourism consultants, hydrologists, and many others. These experts1 consultants are being provided at no charge to the attending civic leaders.

"Our community leaders are the chief designers of our communities and their component parts-central I business districts, subdivisions, 4 schools, industries and highways- 1 and hold significant influence over r

7, 4 current and future public policies, said W. Cecil Steward, the founder = of the NSLW and president of the ' Joslyn Institute for 1 SustainableCommunities. "Civic ;( . leaders hold enormous sway over whether or not a new development is -

a good fit that brings longterm 1 .economic benefits without harming the ecological or cultural fabric of: the community. -

-

B "The NSLW is part of a new

partnership program that is preparing ' Nebraska's communities for today's

~=.- and tomorrow's complex ecological !,

-&illenges," Steward said. - He said that an uncertain energy,

future, growing shortages of water - and other natural resources, and the unfolding consequences of climate change "represent daunting challenges for Nebraska's community leaders." -- "Whether they live and work in sprawling cities or depopulating towns, all are struggling with myriad ' priorities as natural resources become increasingly scarce while demands on resources continue to rise," Steward said.

Among other key components of the workshops will be new ways of looking at and measuring sustainability, and waysof enhancing leadership practices in addressing issues of sustainability in the participants' communities.

The Joslyn Institute for Sustainable Communities, primary g

sponsor of the workshops, has J received funding of $200,000 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund to sumort the creation of this

'1

/unique forum for community leaders to explore solutions to environmental challenges. Initially the program will run for two years under NETF funding, plus matching grants.

More information and u~da tes . - A on-lh_e NSLW can be found bn.

site www:nslworg. .*=--:.. ~ -

L-_ * . .- -L - .-

. , , i. - -

NEBRASKA FARMER MONTHLY

LINCOLN, NE Circulation = 36513

01/00/2009

January '

7: Nebraska Corn Expo, Christensen Field, Dodge County Fairgrounds,

, Fremont. Call 402-727-2775.

7-22: 2009 crop production clinics, conducted by University of Nebraska Extension: 7, Adams County Fairgrounds, Hastings; 8, Sandhills Convention Center, North Platte; 9, Gering Civic Center, Gering; 13, .Eagles Club, Beatrice; 14, Auditorium, York; 15, Holiday Inn, Kearney; 21, Lifelong Learning Center, Norfolk; 22, Midland Lutheran College, Fremont. Call 402-472-1 534 or your county Extension educator.

$ I 12-14: Nebraska Seed Improvement

4 '4 2 1 1

Conference, Ramada lnn,'l<earney. Call 402-472-1 444.

8: Seminar, "Optimizing Your Corn Production Potential," by Bob Nielsen, Purdue University corn management specialist, Dodge County Extension office, Fremont. Call 402-727-2775.

14-21 : No-till crop production meet- ings for the Panhandle: 14, F~rehall, Chappell, and Western Nebraska Community College, Sidney; 15, Fairgrounds, Kimball; 20, Community Center, Paxton, and Big Mac Visitors Center, Ogallala; 21, Annex Building, Oshkosh. Call 308-760-5259. - -

27-28: No-Till on the Plains Winter Conference, Salina, Kan. Call 888-

-

330-51 42 or go to www.notill.org.

28-29: Nebraska Agri-Business Exposition, Qwest Center, Omaha. Call 402-476-1 528.

February 3-4: Mid-America Alfalfa Expo, Buffalo County Fairgrounds, Kearney. Call 800-743-1 649.

I

3-4: Governor's AgrifEco-Tourism Workshop, Sandhills Convention Center, North Platte. Go to www.visit nebraska.gov/industry or call 402-326- 1585 or 308-249-3220.

28-29: Nebraska Agriculture Technology Association conference, Midtown Holiday Inn, Grand Island. Call 402-727-2775.

10: Nebraska No-Till Conference, UNL Agricultural Research and Development Center, Mead. Call 402- 624-8030.

11 : Nebraska No-Till Conference, Ag Center, Holdrege. Call 402-624-8030.

25-26: Nebraska Pork Industry Day, Cornhusker Marriott, Lincoln. Call 888- 627-7675.

",

25: "Marketplace: Opening Doors to Success," sponsored by the Center for Rural Affairs, North Platte. Call 402-

k - 2 1 0 3 .

16-1 8: Nebraska Aviation Trades " ~ s s o c i a t i o n annual convention, Grand

Island. Call 402-475-NATA.

UNIVERSAL! Information Serv~ces, lncl

NEWS WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WEST POINT, NE Circulation = 2990 i

Workshops for area farmers scheduled - 1 li

Dr. Ronald J . Hanson, Neal E. exceeding the response that 1 ever sion Public Policy Specialist with [ arlan Professor of Agribusiness anticipated). the Department of Agricultural the Department of Agricultural "The popularity of this program Ecoliomics at the University of !

Econonlics at UNL, will kick off results from talking about the 'what Nebraska-Lincoln. the first of four farm success work- if family issues' that most families The last workshop iri tllc series shops beginning on Jan. 6. Dr. Han- actually a\;oid discussing or just held on January 27 wili covet High son will present from 6-9 pm on pretend will never happen. These Value Markets. Richard Ncss. UNL intergenerational f a r~n transfer anti are the real life family issues that Extension Niche Pork Coerialist, familj, relationships. everyone encounters when dealing will talk about opponw~itit.: - in al-

Dr. Hanson com~~iented on the with this transfer of farmland own- ternative pork proi!uciion, r~ ic l~e po1)ularity of his presentation. "The ership as well as passing on man- markets and production spienls. response to this proglxm on farm agement control of a family farm Joining h i n ~ will be M ~ I - t i n Kiein- family business ownership succes- (or family business)." schmit, Center f(.)r Rural Affairs siorl has been overwhelming (far Farmers are faced with tough research associate. to talk about

decisions, whether they are just markets for organic crops and live- - getting into farming, in the middle stock, USDA incentive payments

of their career, or considering trans- for transition to organics, ant1 the ferring the farm to the next genera- procedures for organic certifica- tion. tion.

The Center for Rural Affairs, The workshops are free to attend Central Valley Agriculture Coop- and refreshments will be provided. erative and First National Bank Northeast are sponsoring a series of , '- -.- '---.'-"." a workshops designed to inform and I educate as well as improve farm- ' ers' financial future and the future 1 of their businesses.

The workshops will b e held from 6-9 p.m. each Tuesday night in January in the East Hub con- ference room, lower level at the Central Valley Ag Co-op facility, located just west of Highway 77. 3 miles north of Oakland or 4 miles south of I2yons (1007 County Road ~ 0 and Highway 77). ~

Dave Goeller, UNL Extension Transition Specialist, will give a presentation and lead discussion

: on transferring a far111 or ranch, in- ,' cluding financing programs and in- ,

centives for beginning and retiring fal-mess on January 1 3.

The January 20 session will fea- ture a presentation by Cal Rogers of FC Stone on Grain Marketing and the new ACRE option in the farm bill by Brad Lubben, Exten.-

U NIVERSAL I Information Setv~ces, Inc

NEBRASKA FARMER MONTHLY

LINCOLN, NE Circulation = 365 13

01/00/2009

1111111111llll111ll111lllllllllllllll - -- - - - - - - -- - -- - - - - - - - -- - -

/ MX6 / January 2009

he great health care discussion By FRANK HOLDMEYER families devote more income to tions than do urban residents,

health care expenses. He lists notes Bailey: arthritis, asthma,

W ITH health care the the following examples of being heart disease, diabetes, hyper- subject On underinsured from a collection tension and mental disorders.

Americans' minds Rural residents face unique of research studies: "You could add obesity to behind the economy, there's health care issues. . 1 in 4 Wisconsin families that list, as well," he adds. Some likely a big debate coming this have preventive care coverage. blame the rural lifestyle, poor year. And rural America has rn Reform will generate a major 8 10% of rural residents rely health care coverage that costs some distinctive issues when it debate in 2009. on the individual insurance more and the fact that comes to health care reform. market (higher for farmers and

Key findings include: farm families). Rural America's issues 1 in 4 reported health care . On average, individual ,a

"None of the issues facing expenses contributed to finan- plans cover 63% of medical *

health care in rural America are cia1 problems. costs compared earth-shattering, but there are H 1 in 5 had outstanding co unique situations to consider," medical debt. says Jon Bailey, director of the . Those with insurance in plans cover only 30% Rural Research and Analysis the individual market spent of medical costs. Program at the C s e r for Rural $5,204 more on health care than . 35% of rural &fairs in Lyons, Neb. For ex- those with government spon- residentslackdental ample, he lists the following sored insurance and $4,359 with coverage (29% of points. Rural America has: insurance through off-farm em- urban residents).

d Higher mortality rates for ployment. R u r a l resi- most chronic diseases. Source of insurance: gov- dents are 50%

.J Higher rates of disability. ernment programs 9%; off-farm more likely to not d More reliance on private employment 54%; individual see a dentist.

insurance. market 37%. Health care d Less employer-provided . Two-thirds of those in the expenses for rural

insurance. individual market had high pre- residents are 18% d Less access to preventive miumlhigh deductible plans. higher than for

care. . Average family health care urban residents. d Less access to gyms and costs are $7,200 (premiums and . Rural resi-

fitness centers. out of pocket). dents who are pri- d Higher ages. - - vately insurkcf have

Other findings d Lower incomes. 10% higher out-of- - Bailey says good data exist Bailey says the survey shows pocket costs.

on the type of insurance rural financial hardship occurs when Bailey notes there people have, how much they a family spends 10% or more of is no revelation in the spend on it and where they its income on health care; 55% of fact that rural populations buy it. He refers to a 2007 study those who listed farming as their are most at risk of being un- done by The Access Project in principal occupation spend 10% insured when you consider Boston, Mass., which polled or more on health care. farming involves small-busi- 2,000 non-corporate farm More and more rural house- ness owners, small-business and ranch operations. The holds and families are underin- employees, low-income indi- in rural areas are less likely to survey was conducted in Iowa, sured, according to Bailey. He viduals, people who are self- seek care. "There is no easy Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, refers to health insurance that employed and immigrants. answer," notes Bailey. "But a Nebraska, North Dakota and payslessof health careexpenses Rural residents have higher lot is happening almost daily in South Dakota. and cases where individuals and rates of the following condi- Congress."

Fw f ~ e a l t h 2! care reform models being studied kT HE National Academy Bailey. A number of models are low- and moderate-income play"). "In rural areas, there are

of Sciences' Institute beina studied, six of the more people. There is limited evi- a lot of small businesses and gof Medicine Committee ion the Consequences of E Underinsurance recom- :mended the following guiding

for any health care ireform: 1. universal, 2. contin- guous, 3: affordable to families ;and indrv~duals, 4. affordable gand sustainable for society .and 5. should enhance health

$and well-being. j" 'This set of five recom-

endations pretty much sums p what we want out of health are reform," says Jon Bailey f the Center for Rural Affairs

$in Lyons, Neb. "Universal does 7 t

$not mean a huge national pro- "kram," notes Bailey. "It could , hean stringing together other "~ans:

Any reform should result in ?heahhi 2

popGar include: Incremental reforms, pro-

gram expansion, tax credits, Expand Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program to all below a per- centage of the federal poverty level (generally 125% to 200%) and below a certain age (gen- erally 55). Expand Medicaid and SCHlP by allowing some (generally 300% of the federal poverty level) to buy into the program. Provide tax credits for individuals and small busi- nesses to purchase private health insurance.

Voluntary insurance pools. Create more opportunity for voluntary insurance plan pools open to individuals, employer groups and businesses. Most pool proposals also subsidize

dence these work unless you are part of a really large pool of similar employees," notes Bailey. However, he adds that in Wisconsin a co-op of farmers have banded together to pur- chase health insurance.

Pay-or-play employer mandates. "Play" requires em- ployers to provide a minimum standard of coverage for their employees. Maine, California and Massachusetts have en- acted polic~es based on this model. "Pay" refers to employers who don't provide coverage to their employees pay a payroll tax to provide coverage under a new public insurance plan. Other proposals only require employers to offer health insur- ance combined with a subsidy to the employer ("limited pay or

self-employed, so I question if this would work in rural areas," says Bailey.

Individual mandates. This requires all individuals to have some health insurance cov- erage (based on auto insurance model). Public subsidies or tax credits would be available to address cost issues. This con- cept is part of a Massachusetts health care reform plan.

Market-based plan. This involves health savings account or medical savings accounts. This idea is based on limited consumer-choice plans, rather than employer-based com- prehensive plans. "In theory, consumer choice will result in changed behavior and seeking fewer medical services, resulting in decreased costs," explains

Bailey. These plans are gen- erally accompanied by a tax credit to cover premiums and non-insurance methods of re- ducing costs.

Single payer model. This model involves everyone being enrolled in a single comprehensive benefit package. In most U.S. pro- posals, "single payer" refers to the entity that pays for and funds health care services, not who provides them. These plans are generally financed through a new payroll tax of both employers and em- ployees (similar to the current Medicare system). All other industrialized nations have some form of a single payer system, according to Bailey.

By Frank Holdmeyer

U NIVERSAL Information Services, Inc

(402) 342-31 78

NEWS WEDNESDAY l'iTEEKLT CREIGHTON, NE C~rculation = 1310 1

1211 012008 ,

RURAL AFFAIRS

'Solution To A Successful Economic Stimulus Package'

I - - -

By Chuck Hassebrook, churkh@cfra.org, Ceritrr for Rurul Affairs Small enterprise has a critical role to play in America's economic recov-

ery, especially in rural areas. So when Congress takes up legislation to refuel our economy, small entrepreneurship should be the centerpiece.

Microenterprises, owner-operated businesses that provide self employ- ment and perhaps hire a few employees, create most new rural jobs. Begin- ning farmers and value added agriculture bring additional vitality to rural America. Therc's no better time than now for federal policy to invest in these =

proven niral development strategies. Here's how ('ongress can do it: Provide a direct incentive for rural enterprise by establishing a micro-

enterprise and beginning farmer investment tax credit of up to $10,000 to stimulate small business expansion and new farm and business startups.

Fund more rural small business loans, training and technical assistance by increasing funding for the Rural Microentrepreneurs Program. An in- crease from $4 million to $25 million in this new farm bill program would pay long-term dividends.

Add funds to the successful Value Added Producer Grants Program, which makes grants to falllily-si7.e farmers and ranchers to launch new ven- tures to establish local markets and to process and market high value crops and livestock. An additional $24 million \vould bring the program to the $40 million authorized by the farm bill.

These three provisions would jump-start rural economy and plant the seeds of long-term rural vitality through entrepreneurship. Congress should embrace them as i t develops legislation to prompt economic recovery in America.

For more information visit www.cfra.org. ----..--.---- .., - . . -- - . . . . . . . . -

I:-. - -.

1 3

3 UNIVERSAL lnformat~on (402) 342-3178 Serv~ces, Inc I MIRROR-SUN THURSDAY !WEEKLY

Circulation = 735

Informational *area farmers

Dr. Ronald J. Hanson, Neal E. Harlan Professor of Agri- business in the Department of Agricultural Economics at UNL, will kick off the first of four farm success workshops beginning on January 6th. Dr. Hanson will present from 6-9 pm on intergenerational farm transfer and family relation- ships.

Dr. Hanson commented on the popularity of his pre- sentation, "The response to this program on farm family business ownership succession has been overwhelming (far exceeding the response that I ever anticipated).

The popularity of this pro- gram results from talking about the 'what if family issues' that

rTAxn~st .families qtually ayoid discussing or just pretend will

1 never happen.

I * These are the real life family

issues that everyone encounters when dealing with this transfer

of farmland ownership as well as passing on management control of a family farm (or family business).

Whenever I presented this topic at a meeting program, I have to rush at the end to fin- ish the material because of the questions and interaction from the audience.

Your workshop participants will be talking about this pre- sentation for years to come. That is a personal guarantee."

Farmers are faced with tough decisions, whether they are just getting into farming, in the middle of their career, or considering transferring the farm to the next generation.

The Center for Rural Affairs, Central Valley Agriculture

,Cooperative andFirst National BankNortheast are sponsoring a series of workshops designed to inform and educate as well as improve farmers' financial future and the future of their

worksho~s for businesses.

The workshops will be held from 6-9 pm each Tuesday night in January in the East Hub conference room, lower level at the Central Valley Ag Co-op facility, locatedjust west of Highway 77, 3 miles north of Oakland or 4 miles south of Lyons (1007 County Road 0 and Highway 77).

Dave Goeller, UNL Exten- sion Transition Specialist, will give a presentation andlead dis- cussion on transferring a farm or ranch, including financing programs and incentives for beginning and retiring farmers on January 13.

The January 20 session will feature a presentation by Cal Rogers of FC Stone on Grain Marketing and the new ACRE option in the farm bill by Brad Lubben, Extension Public Policy Specialist with the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of

Nebraska-Lincoln. The last workshop in the

series held on January 27 will cover High Value Markets. Richard Ness, UNL Exten- sion Niche Pork Specialist, will talk about opportunities I in alternative pork production, niche markets and production I systems. Joining him will be Martin Kleinschmit, Center for Rural Affairs research associate, to talk about mar- kets for organic crops and livestock, USDA incentive payments for transition to organics, and the procedures for organic certification. € :

The workshops are free to attend and refreshments will be provided.

For further information 1 contact Chuck Hassebrook, I Center for Rural Affairs, Roy :

Miller, First National Bank i

Northeast, Lyons, NE or Tracy Denton, Central Valley Coop- erative, Oakland Nebraska. .

/I I

U NIVERSAL , lnformat~on Services, Inc:

MIRROR-SUN THURSDAY WEEKLY LYONS, NE Circulation = 735

1211 I/ZOOB i

By Elisha Greeley Smith CFRA Media & Outreach Associate

Whether just gctting into farming, in the middle of

I their career, or considering transferring the farm to the next generation, farmers are faced with many tough chal- lenges.

Area farmers have a unique

j ' opportunity to participate in farm success workshops that

?1.

will hit on many of the issues farmers face.

The first workshop will feature intergenerational farm transfer and family relation- ships.

Second in the workshop series will cover transferring a farm or ranch, including financing programs and incen- tives for beginning and rctiring farmers. The third workshop

will feature grain marketing and the new ACRE option in the farm bill. And the final workshop will cover high value markets covering opportunities in alternative pork production, niche market!;, production sys- tems, markets for organic crops and livestock, USDAincentive payments for transition to or- ganics, and the procedures for organic certification.

The free workshops will be held from 6-9 pm eachTuesday night in January in the East Hub conference room, lower level at the Central Valley Ag Co- op facility, located just west of Highway 77, 3 miles north of Oakland or 4 miles south of Lyons (1007 County Road 0 and Highway 77). Refresh- ments will be provided.

Being apart of a farming

and ranching operation myself, and constantly searching for I

ways to improve our business, I know that my family and

! I could greatly benefit from these workshops and will not miss this chance. I strongly encourage others to participate as well!

For further information con- tact the Center for Rural Affairs at (402) 687-2100.

Standard Waukon,lA Circ. 3173

From Page: 40

12/24/2008 44357

Some folks wanted Chuck Hassebrook of the Center for Rural Affairs (or o&ers more leftist in leanings) to be select- ed as Secretary of Agriculture. From President-Elect Barack Obama they got, instead. for- mer Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, king of the moderates.

Obama reportedly looked at several people for the post, ranging from far-left anti- production ag guys to Mr. Vilsack, who understands production agriculture, but also has an open mind and is a quick study, with interests in renewable fuels and the USDA's historic social role in American life.

Despite the fact that Vil- sack has been lauded by the Iowa Farm Bureau president, and is considered a moderate Democrat by most standards, he shares views with Obama on many ag issues, most espe- cially the need for renewable fuels and biotechnology. He. wants to use his considerable executive ability to push these programs along.

However, a man like Ron Rosman, an organic farmer near Harlan, Iowa, and closely allied with U.S. Sen. Tom Har- kin, powerful chairman of the Senate Agriculture Commit-

tee, said he would have pre- ferred Hassebrook. He feels Vilsack does not get the con- nection between family-farms and rural communities.

With his background as a small-town mayor, state leg- islator and governor, Vilsack does seem likely to have at least some understanding of the family farmer, though, and he gets good marks. from commodity and agribusiness leaders across the U per Mid- west. While ~ i l s a c f d o e s not have a farming background, which two of the last five ag secretaries have had, he does see the importance of soil and water conservation programs and, as a former presidential candidate, he has the breadth to understand the USDA's his- toric role as a social agency with its WIC, Food Stamp, and school lunch programs, revered all over the nation.

Additionally, Vilsack was seen as one of the first gover- nors to see the future for bio- tech. And, as governor, he was a tireless ethanol promoter. While he backed Sen. Hillary Clinton in the caucus and pri- mary, Vilsack really jumped on the Obama bandwagon during the general election campaign. Obama likes etha-

nol, too. It's a match! Off the mainstream dial,,.

was a comment about Vil--, sack's appointment from Dave 3

Nomsen, vice president of ' Pheasants Forever in St. Paul, MN. Nomsen said Vi1sack.- understands how to encour-c . age use of plants that can soakf. up pollution and make for L good upland bird populations;, (Take that, Ann Veneman!) He also understands, Nomsen said, the need for ethanol pro-. : duction to become cellulosic,; , utilizing switchgrass and 0th-, . er crops to maker the alterna-, tive fuel.

Ultimately, Vilsack also ' understands something elsq,, - global warming as a con-. cept. That puts him at odds' with many conservatives, but it lines up well with Obama's viewson the subject. Vilsackis expected to find ways farmers can profit off of being green, - by sinking carbon into theif : soil as they plant. Now, that's . a decidedly un-moderate no- tion by today's standards.

Whatever Vilsack brings to the job, he will also be subject to the views of his president- and the Office of Manage- ment & Budget. Stay tuned.

Have a wonder full Holiday Season, and, I'll see ya! -

Des Moines Register

Des Moines,lA Circ. 151448

From Page: 1 D

1 /4/2009 43647

Subsidy guidelines to get fast scrutiny New farm policies fail t o assess an hourly cornmltment. Will President-elect Obd_ma._ - go along with that?

w asMngton, D.C. - If there was one piece of fann policy that Barack

Obama made a priority of, it was to tighten limits on farm sub- sidigs. The public will find out early in hip adnjnbtration how seriou&t was arjbut doing that.

The U.S. Agriculture Deparbnent last wqek published new regulations for subsidy eligibility to implement require- ments of the 2008 farm bill.

The rules refine the definition of what it means to be "actively engagedn in farming, a require- ment for receiving crop subsidies.

The Bush administration's new rules go farther than what has been required. Subidy re- cipients, hr example, will be re-

mum time commitment that crit- ics have long been pushing for. Without a measurable standard like that, it's easy for people to collect subsidies, even if they have only a limited involve- ment in farming, according to a 2004 stCldy by the Government kccotifftability M c e . The Obama campaign cited the

study in pledging tqfJake immediate adion to close the loopholew with regu- lations that would 'limit payments to active farmers who work the land." '

propOKs 'This is the grand- 1,000 hours daddy of them all or more for when it comes to payments loopholes," and

something that the Dbama cprapalgn.said "very explicitly would be addressed," said Chuck Hassebrook, execu- tive director of the Nebraska- based Center for Rural Affairs.

Obama's new Agriculture Department, to be headed by former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack,

change the regulations or allow them to take effect.

He can expect to hear from --a fellow Iowan, Republican ._

Sen. Charles Grassley, who has

B R F PAGE 40

BRASHER FROM PAGE 10 - proposed a 1,000-hour-a-year minimum time requirement in farm management to qualify as a farmer.

"I'm looking to President- elect Obama's platform as evidence that payment-limit reform may be tops on his agenda," Grassley said.

He said the Bush administra- tion has effectively left the eligibility rules the way they were.

Agriculture Department of- ficials wouldn't comment on the rules, citing the comment period.

However, the rules will re- quire some subsidy recipients to produce more paperwork to keep getting payments. According to a published rules explanation, stockholders in a farming corporation who want to qualify for subsidies would have to show that they individually take part in the operation's management.

For example, a stockholder could give the Agriculture Department signed copies , ?

'of purchase orders to prove that he or she is individually responsible for obtaining and buying seed, fertilizer and the other supplies the farm needs. .

- - --- -- -- Some farm groups are likely to argue that the farm bill's vari- ous payment limits already go too far and may force landown ers to change the way they do business with farmers.

Landowners who can't qualify for subsidies, or no longer want to fool with the paper- work, can require farmers to start paying them rent rather than continuing to operate under a crop-share agreement, under w@.oh,.@e f m y f and ,,

'0 *

landowner split the costs and income, including subsidies, on the operation. A farmer who rents land has more of the financial risk than one where the landowner pays a share of the costs and splits the income.

'There's enough risk out there for farmers," said Tara Smith, a lobbyist for the American Farm Bureau Federation. "We don't want to put any more on them."

Moreover, Grassley's pro- ( posal would saddle farms with more paperwork, she said. ,

In the end, Smith bets that the Obama administration will, have more to worry about in 2009 than farm eligibility rules.

!!I can'timagine that this is .. going to be an enormous prior- ity for them coming in," she . said.

I President-elect Barack Obama looks on at left as Agriculture Secretary-designate, former Iowa Gov.Tom Vllsack, speaks at a news conference in Chicago last month. I "I'm looking to Pnsidmt-elect Obama's platform as evidencr that payment-limit reform may be tops on his a y d a . " * , no: '

+*4W -Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley

i UNIVERSAL! 4 2 I Informatron Selvlces, Inc' f , (402) 342-31 78

1

TIMES-REPUBLICAN THURSDAY WEEKLY HA4YES CENTER, NE

' Circulabon = 748

1211 112008

December REAP Office Hours in McCook ( Dena Beck, central and networking opportunities, and

,* southwest Nebraska Business a loan program for small busi- ! - Specialist with the Center for nesses. REAP is designed to= Rural Affairs' Rural Enterprise assist all types of small busi-

,Assistance Project will hold nesses, including businesses office hou r s in McCook on with 5 or fewer employees, December 16th. Hours will be self-employed full-time, part- 10 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. Mc- time, home-based, farm-based, Cook Economic Development start-up, and store-front busi- Corp. (MEDC) will handle the nesses. REAP has six region- appointments; (308) 345-1200. ally based Business Special- MEDC office is located a t 301 ists across Nebraska. These Norris Avenue, Suite 200. Business Specialists can get

The Center for Rural Af- involved in assisting entrepre- fairs' Rural Enterprise As- neurs a t various stages of their sistance Project (REAP) and business progress. its services are available to MEDC is pleased to part- rural coinmunitics across Ne- ner with REAP in order to offer

; is- brnska. REAP offers technical a n expanded list of services to ( [ assistance, educational and businesses of all sizes.

%; I

u NIVERSAL Information Services, Inc

DAILY NEWS EVENING DAIL 1- 1 NORFOLK, NE Circulation = 17282

01/06/2009

- , ,." . .+ - - -,... . ,...-*..- -

A good choice LYONS - l'resident-elect Obarn;,'~ choice of rornler Iowa Gov. Tot11

Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture h;is gotten as much 01- more atten- tion as any cabinet appoint~nent.

'I'Fere have been Vilsack dct ractors, the most vigorww from anlong tile foes of agric~il!ural biotechnology. And sonlc f%m organizations exibresse~l concern, behind t l i ~ scenes, ahuut Vilsack's tlesirc to reform farm programs.

I think Vi1s;lclc is a good clloice. fic and I ilo11't always agree. hut he's smart and hi: listens. He shitrzs Baracli 0h;rrna's views on reforming farm progranqs, investing the savings i l l consc1'\7:ttion and rural devel- opment, and on the need for livestock market ~*eforrns, such as banning packer ownership of livestock and onding volurnc-I~tsed price discrimi- nation.

Vilsack's higgest ch;i~le~~ge will hr: l~ringing his sitills nntl intel- ligcncc to Ihc tasli ot' supporting thc pt~esicicnl ;rnii i~ur~)lcrncrlti~lg their shar~.! \~-isio~i.

JOIIN ( 'KA 131'KE1< Center Tor Rural Affairs

- T n 7 Date. Thursdav. December 25 2008

Page: 8 Keyword: Center For Rural Affa~rs

Vilsack will be a mixed bug of forward and status quo puch thee prgratln ;iloty. the caucus and prialary. Vilwck

Farming Hlbrrser, n man like Ron really jumped on the Qhama Ht,an.r;lrl, an organic farater near hnndwq* during the general I,urlikn, lfiwa. and dqgely allied rtecticpn ~~rhpnign. Ohmu likes

Freedom \tirh U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin. pow- ethanol, too. h's ;I ~notcli! erfu] chairman ~f the Senate Off the l'nain~t~~anI dial Was ,\priccllture committee, said he cbnlmenl ahrrut Vilsack'e

auld preferreif nppointtnent D i ~ e No~wlr. ~ ~ : 1 4 , 1 . ~ f l ~ t l ~ . He feels Vilsscl; ice president of Pheasonth &rc.cti't get the connection f%~ver in St. P.;lul. lyci\vr.en fafiily f;lms and mrd Nom~rn said Vilslck undcr-

Some l'oiks wanted Cliuck cr )~li8)utlities. stands hn\v to rncourltge use of Hossuhrook ul the ('en~cr for:

Willl his background as a ~tlullt~ tlutt Gill soilk Up polhiion U i w , tor others nlorrl Icl'tis~ it1 luaninys) ttr hc. s~.lwfcxl ~m;~Il-rown m@r, g ~ i t t ~ legisla- a ~ l d n14c far glmd upland bird

lor ;,nd ~ ~ ~ ~ r y r o ~ . Vpsack does p"pulatifirr\. (Tnkc that. Ann us Secniry of Agrieulwrr.. Fruai

hcc.,,l likely 10 hakf least mllle 'Vmanan!) He also understands. President-rlec f Bilr;\cC 0hi1111il nndrrktanding of the family Nuinsen stlid. the need for they got, instead, l'orntcr Ica \$ :~ Iin~ic.r. though. hc gets g ~ d rtbatrol praduction to become OW. r a m Vilsach. hing ol' 111e {ailrkt frilrn commodity and c d h b s i ~ . utilizing switchgwss moderates. ic~*rihusincas lenders across the and other cmps to lnukc the olter-

Obarna reportedly Icwkcd ; ~ t $mt Midw&i, native Fuel. SL'VCNI people li)r Ll1c ~ S X I . ru11g- While Vilsack Jor?fiu't lravc e Ultimmtdy, Vilutck alw under- ine fronl far-kf( anli-prt,duclitwl farming background, wliidt two mnds lon~ething else --global a$ guyr Mr. V i l s a c h . wllt' of the last five ag secrc~aries ~ d n n i ~ g as a cttncrpt. fini puts under'tundh I ' ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ " ~ clgricul- hatee had, ht? doi.s set Ihc i~npor- [ljm &is with many c~bserva- lure* hut 'Iti "l"li l"ll't' tanCC 0f soil and ivatsr conscrvo- t i v o ~ bul i t line* up well with und is a quick 'ludy. wi'l' tion programs and, us a farrncr Ohrnta4s s\srws 011 the subject. estv In rcrncwahlc. 'I''" It'' pwsidmtid wndidilte. he has the Vitsael; is expected ro find ways USDA's hihtoric sr'sicll rl'lc in brcpdrh to understand the Fartlret~ esn prafij aff of hclng A~trrriualt lili.. USDA's historic rcrle as s ~mial $teen - by sinking carhorr into

Uespi'c lhc I"'" Vi'*:rch agency with ils WIG Food their suil as (hey p lu~ l , Now, has hcrlt lauded It~'\.61 Statnp, and school lunrlt pro- thut'n 1 decidedly un-mdcratc brnj hrrau ~ * ~ c $ ~ ~ ~ ~ * i41r1i I' grams, revered aft over the notion by tcday'sstatdards. c~nrcilfcrCJ zl ~iitdcratc I>cnlt~t;tt Whi~tcvrr Vilwcli hrinp to the by most staudardu, he sh:~re\ Additionally. Vilsack wlas *en juh, lie will i11sc1 he qubject to the vrcws (')I' J1liL1') ilg 9~ ant of the first govrtnors IV ~"Iesvs of hir pwsidcnr - ond the i ~ f i ~ e e . *M'L 'Iik' see the future for hioterh. And. Dficr tlf Ma~~agc.rr~ertt & Budget. fiir retrcWahlc frtel\ anti hio~t'cl~- as governor. he was 3 tirelehs Stay toned. nulijgy. tlc wash to LISC liic ctru- wxle he Wave o wurrder-full Holiday sidcruhlc execurislc irhili~}' l o backed sen- ~ l i ~ ~ ~ ~ i n seLsim, l*ll srr yo!

- - ---- --,.----- ------..- - 7. - .- - .(

M F R I D Q Y , J 4 Y L ' i R Y 9. ? O n 9 - =AI# N E W S O M A H A W O R L D - H E R A L D ,

In the Cabinet Room, each member IS ass~gned a chair positioned at the table according to the date the de~anlnent was established.

WORLD-HEIULD 1 MORNING DAILY OMAHA, NE Circulation = 192075

I 01/09/2009 I

I

The president occuples the taller chair at the center of the table's east side, next to the flag. The vice president sits opposite. The secretary of state, ranking first among the de~a~ tment heads, sits on the president's right. The secretary of the Tieasury. ranking second. sits to the vice president's right. The secretary of defense (third) sits to the president's left. and the attorney general (fourth) sits to the vice president's left.

The pragmatist -hra\ql

Cabinet pleases inanv opposing camps, hut

can it bring about The Cabinet Room was Included in the 1902 West Wing aclditiorl to the White House. Theodore Roosevelt's Cabinet met

big change? +he,e for the first time Nov. E, l9C2. BY ALEC MACGILLIS

T H E \V.-1SH1KGTOAV POS?' The oval mahogany table, a gift from President Richard Nixon in 1970, dominates the room.

In choosing his Cabinet, Earack OSama has assembleda team f u l l o f outsize personalities w i t h overlapping jurisdictions and people knownmore fo r pragmatism than fo r st1 ong leanings on the issues,

Many of Obama's picks re f iec t his seeming preference for practical-minded centrists ra ther than strident, would-bereformers. Their moderate reputations have drawn praise even f r o m someRepublicans B u t the choices, which must be conf irmed by the Sen- ate, o f fe r few clues to Obama's plans j n key areas.

"He's clearlybeen under great pressure to satisfy any number o f ~ o n s t i t u e n c i e ~ , anti t o a certain extent, theseappointments ':re pr isms through which you can see vr!!at ycm want," saidPaul C. L igh t o f S e n Yui-k l:nivi'r- sity. "But at some point there w i l i be tough decisions tomake, and some o f these Czbinet members are going to have to choc\se. We'll. see hour that plays out."

Peter Wehner,a fo rmer adviser toPresi- dent GeorgeTTr. Bush, cautioned that placing too much emphasis ol i prag i r~at ism might leave the Obama tea1.1 rudderless, without in- tellectual cohesion.

"Pragmatism has i ts place, bu t there are l im i t s as ~vell," said li'dhner, now a senior :'el- l o w a t the Ethics and Public Policy Center. "If you aren't anchored to apol i t ical philosophy, you get b lown about, and government be- comes ad hoc and you make it up as you go. And i f you're not careful, you begin to go in circles."

Fo r example, Obama's choice fo r LOUCR. - ' t ion secretary, Chicago schools chief Arne Duncan, has kept a foot i n opposing camp:. I .i the education debate.

The p ick for in ter ior Fecretary. Sen. Ken Salazar. D-Cola.. was welcomed el-en b y ~ n - dustry groups reassured by his support for more offshore dr i l l ing.

The selection fo r agricul ture secretary. former Iowa Go\,. T o m i'ilsack, is arlother case in point

H e has been hailed b y b i g agriculrul ai in- terests. which like his supporl. of biotechno- logyand subsidies fo r c 71 ll-hasedethancl. "He understands the rr j l i t ! - of prgducinr f o o d Q d . . ~ h : , k ~ & q . , " s a d Cra ig JL."ri;;.

Some history made in the Cabinet Room: April 12,1945: Harry Truman is sworn in as 33rd presiderlt in a one-minute ceremony after the death of Franklin Roosevelt. RII 11962: Pres~dent John F. Kennedy holds intense discussions about nuclear war's brink during the Cuban lnissile crisis. Sept. 12, 2001: President George W. Bush meets with h ~ s ~at ional security ream, declaring that "freedom and derrlocracy were under attack" on S/ 11. 3 . Z C c <.:vv. .-~:trc.~se g c ~

mt, . . .* A Secretary of Stgte: iiillafy Roahanl ?linton: Born Oct. 26. 194i', and raised in Park Ridge. 111. Graduated from LVellesley and Yale University law school. 4s ?,:st. lady, she traveled the r~or :? for e~ght years, vis~ting more tban 50 coun:r~es. She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 20C0, reelected in 2006 and ?.as Elarack Obama's strongest opponent for the 2008 Eemocratic president~al n?!~!inat!On.

Secretary of the Treasury: T~mothy Geithner: Born Aug. 18. 1961, in New York and raised in the Llnited States, Asia and Africa. Graauated from Dartrnouth College and Johns Hop~ins University. He joined the Treasury Department as a career staff official in 1988. As president of the Yew York Federal Reserve since 2003. Geithner has been a central player trylng to resolve the most significar?? financial cr~sis in more than 60 years.

Secretary of Health and Human Services: Tom Daschle: Born Dec. 9.1947. in Aberdeen. S.D. Graduate of South Dakota State University. Congressional aide and Air Force officer. Daschle was elected to the House in 1978 and to the Senate in 1986, serv!ng 10 years as Democratic leader. Defeated for reelect~on in 2004. he has worked since then as a public policy advlser for a Washington law f~rm.

Attorney General: Eric Holder: Born Jan. 21. 1951. and raised in Piew Yor4 C ty. Graduateof Col;~n?b~a bn:versity and Collinib~a law schcol. Depu?j; attornei; ger~eral in the Clinton administration. Had been U.S. attorney for tne District of Columbia: a 'ederal judge on the suoerior court rellch in Washington: and a orcsecutor Ir t!?e !i!stice Depa-trient. In racsnt years. IHcldei was a pac;net at the iah t:rm Covirlgton & B~lrling.

Secretary of the Interior: Ken Salazar: Born March 2, 1955. in Alamosa. Colo. Graduate of Colorado of Michigan College law school. and Un~versity Was an

environmental and water lawyer %r 11 years. Salazar served as chief counsel for Colorado Gov. Roy Romer and also as executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. He was Colorado attorney general from 1999 to 2004 before being elected to !he Senate.

Secretary of Agriculture: Tom Vi,sack: Born Dec. 13,10K. i:? Pittsbiiigh. Pa.. nioving to r?e Iowa r~ometown of his v/i?o. Christ~e. Gracuate of Har?iltor: College and .Albany Lzr. Schooi. Vilsack served 35 gcvel TlOi of Iowa +om 1998 :o 2CC,6, a state senator: m r o r of Mount Pleasart. Iowa iie also was a fellow at ti;? Vtc,,nedy Sch0c.I of Go\~t.:n,meni at qar;,ard, a !av?,:er ,n 32s Moires and an , .,..&,. I L.c:s?r a1 DraKe b-iversity iaw school. He brieflv sought The 2008 Democ,atic cresiden'ia! r~c!nm;qation.

Secretary of Labor: H~lcla Solis: Born Oct. 20, 1957, in i os Angeles. Graduate of California State Polytechnic University and the University of Soutbern California. Assistant in the White House Office of His2anic Affairs under President Jimmy Carter and then budge? ar,alysi for the federal Office of Personne: and Management. Served In tlie Californ~a State Asserribly kor? I992 to 1994. Became the first tiispanic wonla> nleaec! ro the Califorqia %ate Senate, serving f1.0~' 1994 ro 2000. She was elected to the U.S. House in 2350,

Secretary of Defense: Robert Gates, Born Sept. 25. 1943. and raised in Wlchita, Kan. Graduate of the College of William and Mary. Ind~arla Universitv and Georgetown Universrty. joined the CIA in 1966 and spenr nearly 27 years as an intelligence professional. including nine years at the National Secur~ty Council. He was deputy CIA d~rector from 1986 to 19ti9, deputy national security adv~ser from 1989 to 1991 and CIA director born 1991 to 1993. Gates became president of Texas A&M iq 2002. In 2006. President Bush namec h111l secretary of detense.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Shaun Donovan: Born .!an. 24 1966, rn New Y34 ii;). Graduate of tiarvard !Jniiiersit,. S~nce 2004 Donovan 'ia: heaaed New Yorh's De~artmenr of Houslng ?reservation and Develooment. Has focused on building more io~hj- and nodera:e-iPconle hous~ng in tile citj.. He served as HUG dep~ty assist3ni ~ e c ~ t a l - ! t ~ ; mu!ti-al:~:?y i70,ising iq C In;,jp ad;:i:?,sr-a;;on. managlng a rnblt!rj!il!onoollar :,(,~~,:-,& ~ L Z L , : ~ , g:.C!@T:' t52f

server, 1.7 mil:lon ceci3ie annuail?.

1 nformation Services, 1 ncl (402) 342-31 78 I

I Yet Vilsackalso receivedpraise f rom ~ O R L D - H E R ~ L D 1 groups suchas the Center,for Rura l Affairs, MORNING DAILY , basedinLyons,Neb.,which wants to shifr "@- " '$ 9 '"

federal support away fromcornorat ions and -. t .

OMAHA, NE a "2 Circulation = 192075 1 . b i g farms to smaller, family-owlled opera- w-w '

0110912009 I tions. "He has demonstratedanunders~and-

i n g . . . that agriculture pol icy isn't work:ng, .- -- that i t 's devastat i~ ig fami ly farms and failing

i to invest in cur communities,~~ said the ten- Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Secretary of Education: Arne Secretary of Energy: Steven Secretary of Homeland Secretary of Transportation:

ter's director, Chuck Hassebrook. t r ic bnlrseki: Sorn Nov. 25, Duncan: Born Nov. 6.1964, Chu: Born Feb. 28,1948, in Security: Janet Napolitano: Ray LaHood: Born Dec. 6,1945. "1943, in iihue. Hawa!i. Graduate raissc! in Chicago. Graduate of St. Louis and raised in Garden Sorn Nov. 29.1957. it; New Graduate of Bradley University.

<e On the other hand, to those most aggres- . -. . . of the C.S. %i!iltary Academy at Harvard University. The 6-foot-5 City, N.y Graduate of the York City b ~ t , 'eared ;!I LaHood, a Republican, was

11 sive about t r y ing to change governmenl. Oba- ,,,,,lest point and ~~k~ university, Duncan played professional University of Rochester and Albu,queryi?e, N.M. Graduate elected to the U.S. House in

1 ma's preference fo r centrists i s a discuurag- Sbinsel\i capped a 3svear basketball in Australia from the University of California at of Sants Clara University and 1994. In the House, he secured i n g sign that the status quo w i l l prevail. military career as Arnv chief of 1987 to 1991; directed the Berkeley. Chairman of the the Uni~.ersity of Virginia law money for major highway

. .> ;;. . 1 "His appointments indicate small change," staff. More than a nionrh before Education a physlcs department at school. Was i1.S. aZorneyfrom construction and airport

said Ronnie Cummins, director of the Or- the 21303 U.S. invasioi: of Iraq, philanthropic with a small Stanford University and head 1994 to 1998, and Arizona expansion in Illinois. He also effort I ganic Consumers Association. "The latest t-e told the Senate Arrnea of the electronics research

staff that seeksto create better laboratory at Labs, in attorney general ?o:n 1998 to served on the House

polls show that 60percent of Americans say Ser::ices Committee that 20rJ2. Electeu 4rizona governor Transportat~on and Infrastructure schooling opportunit~es for poor 1997 he shared the Nobel we're i n serious straits andneec? somemajor occupying that country would !n 2002, she has been vocal Committee. Early in his career,

take '"something on the order children on the South Side of Prize in physics, Since 2004, changes. . .but he's going to have to be abou: the neerj to revamn he was chief planner for a pushedif we're going to see anything other Several hundred Chicago, 1991 to 1998; director he has been &rector of the !;nmigrati@q laws. regionai agency that dealt with

soldieis." That testimony of magnet schools and deputy E~~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ t ~ ~ ~ t ' ~ than small change." transit and housing issues for effectively ended his career, with chief of staff to the Chicago Lawrence Berkeley National Secretary of Commerce: a fivecounty area along the

everythillgisthe questionof Depdty Defense Secretary Paul schools chief, 1998 to 2001. Laboratory. He has been a Vacant after Gov. Bill Illinois-Iowa border. how much authority Obama's economic team vdolfowitz that ne For the last seven years he has vocal proponent of vigorous Richardson witndrew his name I

wi l lexert, especially h is strong-willedchief had been the marK,u been chief executive of the steps to control greenhouse from consideration. economicadviser,fornlerTreasu~~ Secre- Shinseki is the recipient of the Chicago Public Schools, the gas emissions. ta ry Lawrence Summers, and former Fed- Distinguisned Service Medal. nation's third-largest school era1 Reserve chief Paul Volcker, who wil! the Leg~on of Merit. the Bronze district. ' lead anew economic advisory board. Star and the Purple c lea t SOURCES: The New York Times and the De~ar tment of Defense

:*$;qi;g,.i?. , ? . I .;:. #p'f ? - *- .. ' , %,,&:? , . , .

9 . **..:*.~ .,jgJ,Ff::?~ .<,I h$, ; -<! ' .., ..::. ,;,! , ' % , ~ >.; ..;, ;, .,f@;11p ; .i:, ;# .!;w y+.,. ; ;{:&;+zTk#E& . . , 3 . < . I:.. . , . r . ... , t

STANDARD

OXFORD, Nebraska

c Copyn&l2008 1 All Right. Resaved

-, . . . . . . . . . . -- Date: Thursday, December 25,2008 -- Frequency: WEEKLY

[;a a w w a o d . r d ~ J

Circulation: 81 9 Clip Size: 15.51 sq. inches Ad Rate: $3.73 Pagelsection: 1

Inventor & Entrepreneurial Club meeting set for Minden, January 19

The PK Partnership (Phelps and Kearney counties) will kick off the first Inventors/Innovators/Investors and Entrepreneurs Club (I & E Club) meeting at the Minden Eire H a l on Friday, Jan. 19, followed by additional monthly meetings thereafter.

Lisa Stadler, Keamcy County Economic Development Director, called the I & E Club, "A certain destination for aspiring entrepreneurs who are facing strategic issues in their functioning. The club can provide insight to the typical business experiences (good and bad), networking opportunities, anticipated risks and the market practicalities that are not offered by books or degree programs."

The inaugural meeting will begin at 6 p.m. with social time, hors d'oeuvres and networking, followed by a "Marketing on a Shoestring" presentation at 6:30. The evening will conclude with participant's shar- ing their interests and needs and more networking. Resource providers and professionals will introduce themselves after the participants introduc- tions - which will allow providers to tell what they offer in direct response to the needs voiced.

"The recently conducted 'Small Business Needs Assessment' sur- vey administered by the ~ a l A f X r s showed that Nebraska's small businesses want and need network and mentoring oppomnities.

Universal Information Services , Inc. http://news.universal-info.com Profile: 111 - Center for Rural Affairs Recipient: John Crabtree

Page: 1 1 1

NIVERSAL 1 U- Informatron Servrces Inc

3 (402) 342-31 78

I DAILY PRESS & DAKOTAN S A T L J A Y LYEEKL Y

"ANKTON, SD Clrculahon = 82 12

MY VIEW OF VllSACK F

President-elect Obama's - choice of former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture has gotten as much or more attention as any cabinet appointment.

There have been Vilsack detractors, the most vigorous from among the foes of agricul- tural biotechnology. And some farm organizations expressed concern, behind the scenes, about Vilsack's desire to reform farm programs.

Last month I stuck my neck out and said that I think Vilsack is a good choice (www.cfra.org/blog). He and I don't always agree, but he's smart and he listens. He shares Obama's views on reforming farm programs, investing the savings in conservation and rural development, and on the

-.- --..

' - YOUR VIEWS -~ . ~- - ~-

need for livestock market -opportunity to all who live there. reforms, such as banning packer We will fight alongside Obama ownership of livestock and end- and Vilsack when we can, but ing volume-based price discrimi- we'll also take them on when we nation. have to. We've done it before.

Vilsack's biggest challenge will be bringing his skills and intelli- By John Crabtree gence to the task of supporting Center for Rural Affairs the President and implementing -

. - F - - -- - their shared vision. Toward that end, the Center

recently launched a grassroots letter to Secretary Vilsack (www.cfra.org/08/grassroots-let- ter). We will deliver the letter, with signatures and comments, to : . Secretary Vilsack personally. Over 1,100 have signed and many have added their thoughts on needed reforms.

At the Center, we will continue 1 working to ensure that President Obama and Secretary Vilsack live 1 up to their potential and their j promises to rural America. We ? will keep fighting for a rural 1 America that offers genuine 4

. 6

UNIVERSAL! Information Services, Inc'

MIRROR-SUN THURSDAY WEEKLY LYONS, NE Circulation = 735

I

1211 112008 i 1

' Hinsseblrook goes to Washington I

_by D a r i ~ ~ i Bridges - tgim form an outGok, a bnef- Hassebrook that dur- Editor

Pre\ideni elect Barack Obama has been quoted as saying that "Today we begin in earnest the work of mak- ing sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one vile inhahit today." This past Friday. Chuck Hasscbtook, Executive Director for the

< I l l \ Was Center for Rural Aff ' -. , called upon to try to help the Ohama tra~isition team do just thal

While his time was brief, Hassebrook returned to Ly- ons late Monday night after being in Washington D.C to be a part oi' a "think tank like discussion group concerning rural development."

"The idea behind these groups", says Hassebrook, "is to help the tr;insition

ing book, for the incoming Secretary of Agriculture.

That way, from day one, he or she will have in their hands an understanding as to what they need to act upon to bet- ter serve rural America."

While there were other na- tional groups that represented all fifty states, Hassebrook was unique in that he was the sole Nebraskan invited by the transition team as part of this mini summit.

Some of the things Hasse- brook was able to talk to the trailsition team about were Payment Limitation Reform for Farmers, the Rural Micro- entrepreneur Assistance Pro- gram, unreasonable prefer- ence rule making with regards to the packers and stockyards act and Rural Development in the stimulus package.

ing his thirty years at the Center for Rural Affairs, he has never felt that there was a time during those years that the "government has been more important to rural America as it is right now.

"The audience," he says, " of the transition team, which included Bart Chilton who is currently a Commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Carole Jett who up until re- cently served as the Farm Bill Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are truly concerned with the development of rural America. I'm glad that I was able to go and talk about our concerns here in rural Ne- braska."

To find out more, please visit www. change.gov.

Wednesday, December 17,2008 BAGLEY, MAI FARMS INDEPENDENT ik ,,,,. ,,, (, , ,,

Type (Frequency): Newspaper (W) Page: 3 Keyword: Center For Rural Affairs

Apply pressure now for fair livestock market

By John Grabtree

The Backers a d Stockyards Act of 1921 prohibits price discrimination by meatpaaers against smaller, family farmers and ranchers. Specifically, the Get makes it unlawful for packers to "...make or give any undue or unreasonable preference of adwtrtge to m y particular person or locality in any respec1 whatsoever."

But, for decades, the law has not been effectively enforcrfk-tl. For example, packers pay 5,6 ar even 10 cents per pound (or more) in purely volume-based

premiums to the largest hog producers just bemuse they are large. These "swecthearf deals" for large mlum~; prudclcers have become i~ommonplace, but no lcss ddation of thc Packers and Stockyards Act.

Six Cents pu pound may not sound like much of a discount, but, E i a f i d i y famcr with 150 s o w i-n r fanow-& finish opergtion it amoum to reeeivia~$S6,000 lessdanlrttlly for hogs of tk same quality, just because he markets few@ hop-

Howoves, the 2008 Farm Bill contained a provision requiring USDA to define the tern 'Wunreasonable preference,"

all~wing for more aggressive enfixcement snd, ultimately, mare competitive livestock markets. The h e has come to levd thcplayingfield for famify farmers icnJ ranchers a d for h e . industrial livsstock prodwe&' %weetheart deals'" to end.

USDA has begun the process of writing the "rules that are ?qu$fd w&r th$ Farm Bill prmfron. Now Is the time for all of us who prefa to see Siv(tst0ck pradueti~n on family f m s end ranches to make m e IJSDA gets this ri t (www. c h o r g / c m p t i tie$

THE Wednesday, Deoember 24,2008 CALEDONIA, MN

Csculation (DMA) 3,400 (1 27) Type (Frequency) Newspaper (W) CALEDONIA AR G U S Paae,

14 ~ehoord. Center For Rural Affairs

Somc lid k+ watlteJ Chwk Has- ebrottk of the (:mtec fot &q (nr crrlrrrs trmre leftist In leanings) to kc selected as Secre- tary ( t i Agriatlturt.. Front Presi- dent-1:lcct 1lar.1c.k Oboma they got, insteat!, lhrtnt'r lc)ts% Gov. 'Sam Vil- sack, king cd'rhr tnoderates.

Obrrlna reportedly locrked at s e v e ~ ~ l pei~l'ic k r r the post, ratlq- ing fmm far-left anti-pmduaiun ag guys to hfr. Vil~ack, who under- stand* production agriculture, but alw has an o~wi m i d and is quick study. tsit h intere~rs tn wneteahle fuels iuttt rkc. USIIA's historic social role i11 Xmcrican life.

Dcspite tlw fact that Vilsack has bccn latlJrJ by the Iowa Parry Bureait psiJcnt, attd is considered a mocletatr: I~rr~lck-rat by moor stan- dards, he S I ~ J I C ~ views with Obama on m.kny af: issues, most especially she nwd tor rc.new;rhfe fuels and bioteclint>lr~gy. fie watlts to use his consklcrahlc rxecutivr: ability to push ~hckc protgrgnls alorig.

Ho~wer , J 111an like Ron Rou- man, a11 c*rg,\nii tarmors near Flar- fan, 1ow.a and closely allied with US. ,CIC~I. 'lib111 Ifstrkin, puwerful chairman trt' the Senate Agriculture Coni~ni~tct, $did he would have

preferred Has~ebrwk He feels Vil- wck does ~ o t get the c snn~ t ion between family farms and rural communities.

With his background as a small- town mayor, state legislator and Qovtmr, Vilsack does seem likely to have at least some understanding of the famlly farmer, though, and i$e gets $04 marks from coanmod- ity and agribusiness leaders across the Upper Midwest.

While Vilsack does not have a farming background, which two of the last live ag secretaries have had, he does gee the importance of soil and vvater conservation programs a n d as a former prttsidentiid candi- date, he h a the breadth to under- stand the USWs historic role iu a bocial agency with its WIC, F w d Bamp, and s(;h401 lunch prspams, revered all over the nation.

~dditionlmliy, Vilack was seen as one of the first governors to see the future for biotech. And, as governor, he was a tirelesr ethanol pro~noter. While he backed Sen. W a r y dinton in the caucus and primary, Vilsack really jumped on thc Obama bandwa$ofi dudng the general election canrpaign. Obama likes ethanol, too. I ~ S a match!

Off the mainstream dial was a mmment a b u t Wlsack's appoint- ment from Dave Nomsen. vice president of Pheasants Forever in Sf. Paul, Mian,

Nomsen said Vilsack under- stands how to encourage use of plants that can soak up p~llution and make for goad upland bird populations. (T& that, Ann Vme- man!) We also understands, Nom- sen mtd* the need for ethanol pro- duction to become cctIuloslr, uti- lizing s~itchgrass and ather cmps ta maker the dternarive fi~el.

Wltimatdy, Viisack also under- stands something else-global warm- in as a concept. 'hat puts him a% o de ds with mahy tanservativa, bur It lines up well with Obama's views on the subject. 'Vjilsack b expected to find ways farmers can pmfiz ooff of being green-by sinking carbon into their soil as they plant. Now, that's a decidedly un-moderate notion by todafs standards.

Whatever Viisack brings to the job, he will also be subject to the views of his presidmt-and the O&ce of Managemrn~ h Budget. Stay tuncd,

Have a wonder full Holiday Sea- son, a d I'll see ya!

B i~ i ; ~ "g R Circulation "ilon: (DMA) Wednesday, KERKHOVEN, 1,473 (1 5) December MN 17,2008 I

Type (Frequency) Newspaper (W) Page, 10 Keyword Center For Rural Affa~rs

A reasonable hope by John Crabtrce

% The Packers and Stockyards Act of 192 1 prohibits price discril~~ir~atioli by meatpnckers against smaller, fam- ily farmers and ranchers. Specifically, the Act makes it u~ilawful for packers to "...make or give any undue or un- reasoliable preference or advantage to any particular person or locality in any respect whatsoever."

But for decades tlie law has not been effectively enforced. For exam- ple. packers p y 5 , 6 or eveti 10 cents per pound (or more) in purely volume- based premiums to the largest hog producers just because they are large. 'These "sweetheart deals" for large volume producers have become com- monplace, but no less a violation of the Packers atid Stockyyds Act.

Six cents pcr p u ~ i d may not sound like much of a discount. but. for fam- ily farmer with 150 sows in a farrow- to-finish operation it aniounts to re- ceiving $56.000 less annually for hogs of the same qlrality. just because he markets fewer hogs.

Howver, the 2008 farm bil l con- tained a provision requiring USDA to defir~e tlie term "u~ireasonable prefer- ence". nllowing for more aggressive

)\ el~forcelnent and. ultimately. more conipetitive livestock markets. The time has come to level the playing field for family farmers and ranchers and for large. industrial livestock producers' "sweetheart deals" to end.

USDA has begun the process of writing the rules that are required un- der this farm bill provision. Now is the tinie for al l of 11s who prefer to see Iive- stock production oil family farms and ra~iclies to make sure USDA pets this right (www.cfra.org/co~iipetition).

UNIVERSAL[ Information Services. InC

(402) 342-31 78 I 1

MIRROR-SUN THURSDAY WEEKLY LYONS, NE Circulation = 735

12/04/2008

lllllllllllMMlllllllllllHII i_ f b e r . - - - - - -G,,.,wLLuu -=* - m c - a i i - a ~ u ;

111 Innovative vision1

. Barack Obama launched :his campaign in Iowa with a promise to create genuine opportunity for rural people and a better future for their communities.

Now President-elect Obarna must appoint a Secretary of Agriculture who embraces the change needed to achieve those goals.

Farm and rural policy il-

I added agriculture.

He proposed increased production of biofuels and wind energy.

And he pledged support for protecting our land and water through the Conserva- tion Stewardship Program, which rewards farmers for good practices.

These reforms run head-on into demands for new spend-

Center for Rural Guest Opinion

Washington. The federal gov-

ernment spends billions subsidiz- ing mega farms to drive smaller farms off the land and largely fails to invest in the future of rural cornrnuni- ties.

Barack Obama proposed chang- ing those failed policies. He pro-

1 ! lustrate the broken politics of ing bv big farm and cornmod- I

By Chuck Hassebrook Executive Director

'

hosed capping payments to mega farms and enforcing rules against unfair pricing practices by meat packers to strengthen family size farms.

To revitalize rural commu- nities, he proposed investing in small business, microenter- prise development aria value

ity interests. The president's

commitment is most critical to achieving re- form, but his Sec- retary of Agricul- ture is almost as important.

A secretary committed to the status quo will not help Obama achieve change.

The new presi- dent should start

with one simple test for those who would be Secretary of Agriculture.

Have they worked for the rural agenda on which he campaigned and are they committed to advancing it when he takes office in January?

S Dysart Reporter

i Dysart, IA Circ. 703

2

From Page: -

r- i I b73 -Center for Rural Affairs- I I Vdues. Worth. Action.

A Reasonable Hope By John Crabtree, Center for Rural

Affairs The Packers and Stock-

yards Act of 1921 pro- hibits price discrimination by meatpackers against smaller, family farmers and ranchers. Specifical- ly, the Act makes it unlawful for packers to "...make or give any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any particular person or locality in any respect whatsoever."

But, for decades, the law has not been effec- tively enforced. For example, packers pay 5, 6 or even 10 cents per pound (or more) in vurelv

volume-based premiums more aggressive enforce- to the largest hog produc- ment and, ultimately, ers just because they are more competitive live-

'large. These "sweethear! stock markets. The time deals" for,large volume has come to leye!, the producers have become playing field for.farnily commonplace, but no less farmers and ranchers and a violation of the Packers for large, industrial live- and Stockyards Act. stock producers' "sweet-

Six cents er pound heart deals" to end. may not soun ! like much USDA has begun the of a discount, but, for a process of writing the family farmer with 150 rules that are required sows in a farrow-to-finish under this farm bill provi- operation it amounts to sion. Now is the time for receiving $56,000 less all of us who prefer to see annually for hogs of the livestock production on same quality, just because family farms and ranches he markets fewer hogs. to make sure USDA gets

However, the 2008 farm this right bill contained a provision (www.cfra.org/competi- requiring USDA to define tion). the term "unreasonable vreference". allowing for

--- _I

U N IVERSAL Informatiol? Services, I nc

TIMES-HERALD EVENING DAILY ALLIANCE, NE Circulation= 31 25

12131 12008

My View Of Vilsack j By JOHN CRABTREE 0~ r l ~ - f o r R~uul AlpQirs

R~sitlcnt-elcu't Ot~ama's choice of formcr Iowa Cfivemor 1 Tom Vi1s;ic.k as ,Cccrct;~ry of Agriculture has gotten as much or mow atte~itioli a s any cabinet appointment.

Thcl-c~ have k e n Vilmck detractors, the most vigol-011s ko~ri , anlong the foes of ag~icultural biotech-lology. ~ n d some far111 or , , ;~nk~t ions cxl,res.scd concern, behind the scenes, about -

Vilsick's desire to refbrni t : d ~ ~ i i progcmis. List rnol~th I stuck n ~ y nwk out and =id t11;it I thinkvilsack

is a good choice (ww.cfi-a.org/blo@. Hc and I don't always afi'(u,, h11t he's snlart :u ltl hc listcns. t Ie sh;ircs Ol~ama's views on reforming lal-111 [)rog~~rns, investing the sa\rirlgs in conser- vati:)~~ and h~ni l dc\~clop~rient, and on the need for livestock market rcti)rnis, s11ch as banning packer ownership of live- stock ant1 crltlirig vo111mr.-l~ascrl dixriniination.

Vi1s;tc.k'~ 1)iggcst chall?nge will be bringing his skills and intrlligcmcc. to Ulr task ofsupprti~lg the kksidcnt and imple- menting t11c.il- s1l:ircul vision.

Towi11-cl that end, the Center rc'cvntly launchtd a grassroots 1ettc.r- to L%ret;iry Vilszck (wu~v.cfra.org/08/~~ssrmts-letter]. Wt, bill t1clivt.r tllc lcitc~; wit11 sigrl;itl~res and conln~ents, to Sec.rc:tiiry Vils~ck prson:dly. Over 1,170 have sicgnd and many 11;ivc: ud(led tlieir thoughts 011 ncrdcul reforms.

N Ulc Ontcl; wc will continue working to cnsLue that F'residcr~t Ol~a~i ia and Secretary Vilsack live GI) to their poten- tial and tlirir promiscs to rural hlerica. We will keep fighting for a n~r,il America tliat offkl-s genuine opportuu7ity to a11 who live there. We will fight alorigside Obana and Vilsack when we ~ I I , but we'll al,w take thcrn on when we have to. Webe done it kcfor-e.

I(aracl, (Ibarna Iaur~chedT~s cxm- paign irl Iowa wjrll a promise to crcatc perllllne opportunity for rural people and :I hcttcr future li7r their con~muni- tics. Now President-elect Obamii must appGint a Secretary of Agriculture who embraces the change needed io achieve those goals.

Farm and rural policy illustrate the broker1 politics of Washington. The federal govemmcrlt spends -billions subsidizing mega farms to drive smaller farms off' the land and largely hils to invest in the future of ri~ral con?munities.

Ilarack, Obama proposed changing those failed policies. flc proposed cap- ping piiyments to mega farnis and eri- fhscing nrles against unfair pricing practices by meat packers tostrengthen farnil!. s i ~ e farms. '1.0 revitalize rurai corrllnunities, he proposed illvesting i n small husiriess, microcnterprise devel. opmcnt and value added agriculture.

I lc proposcd increased production of biofucls and wind energy. And he pledged support for protecting our land and water through the (:onservatiori Stewardship Program,, which rewards, farmers for good practices.

Ilccemhcr 4, 2008 Greetings and a wish for (iod's

blessings to ctrch o f you from the reside~its. and stall' of (iood Samaritan Sociev-13loo1nlield. We pray that each of you has had a great 'l'hanksgiving with time with family. And, as always, l'rn sure yoti criloyetl a feast - it seems \+c 'can't hardly get togethcr without food of sornc sort; and we are blessed enough to have the bounty to enjoy. 'Thanks.hc to God.

We have. much to he thitr~kful for including having the opportunity to join together with Family, friends. and othcr residents in a variety of activities. Activities that filled our tirnc this wcck included making chocolate dipped cracker cookies during cooking with Valerie Frevert, sing-along with Marian Schroeder. and bingo with assistance by Joyce McFarlane and Erma Krir. Thank you so much to these ladies and others who joined us for these events. We also 'enjoyed horse raccs, weekend tri i i i i . and::&iiibling. Ofir" movie .th& wtck d a s 'Th'e ChtiStbi~13ox'. an8't??t1' resident review stated "very good, but sad". And on the 30th, we held a memorial scrvice in honor of I.loyd 1:endcr and Virginia Dennis who passed away during the past month. This is just our opportunity to once again remember our brothers and sistcrs in Christ who came to mean so much to us whether their stay was lengthy or for just a short tirne. We remember them fondly and with joy in their reward with God in heaven.

I guess Thanksgiving was the big day here. Allho~tgh we did not have any formal activities on that day, many of the resider~ts either had company or were able to go out fur the day with fhmily. I'm sure they would agree that being remembered and included in fhrnily cvents this day is one of the many things they were thankful for this vear.

Spiritual ministering was offered this week through Bible study with (ilynnic Eriikson on Wednesday, Sunday Worship and Hymn Sirig ~ i t h I'astor Michelle Oetken of 'l'habor Lutheran Church in Wausa. ar~d

, through communion offered by ['astor 'l'imothy Pratt of' the llnitcd Methodist Church of Bloomfield. 'Thanks be to God for sending these messengers to share llis Word and promises of forgiveness and grace with us.

Since we last visited, Neva 1,ovcjoy of Bloomfield has ,ioincd our Good Samaritan Fardmily. We arc honored to have hcr here, and wclcorrie l'i~lnily and fricnds to.. visit any time. 'l'hcy say thcrc arc only 24 hours i l l ariyorrc's day; but whcrl you arc alone, those hours can sccm cridlcss. I t is not the place. 11 is who you spcnd time with. 'I'hat makcs a builtling tkcl like home.

And that is ahout it in a nutshell for now. We arc keeping busy at this time with last minutc preparalioris for our annul11 Rer~lcmhcr Me Day to be held this Si~trirday aliernoon. f:veryone is

U NIVERSAL lnformat~on Services, Inc

. .. honor and recognition Of Our loved

senetam of Rblricullure ones wllo are not here to celcbiac

Must be Bevoted 10 [:hristmas with us this YCar. espcci*\ly ,will bc remembering

~nnouaUwe Uislon of brothers and sistcrs in

BY chuck ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ b ~ ~ o k , Christ WII;

have passed aw?Y in lhis

chuckh~cfra.orp centsr for Rural pzst year. Please feii free toloin us On

this day. 11nti1 Next .Time. In Affairs (:hristls 1,ove. I'rom Our tlouse to

Yours!

invited to join u s o n this atiemoon in

U NIVERSAL lnformat~on Servlces lnc

MIRROR-SUN THLXSDAI' IVEEKLY L Y C j N S , NE Ciredatmn = 735

1211 112008

] ~nitiative launched for Health Care Reform d In January of 2009 a new small business Owners- said Jon Bailey, Director of the

presidential administration The signatures and com- Rural Research and Analysis 4 ,ill take over in washington, ments collected from the Program at the Center for

and health care refom is cer- petition will be shared with Rural Affairs. :5 tain to be on the agenda. the next administration early As part of the initiative, the

Access to affordable health in 2009. Center is also interested in ld insurance has become a lead- "Rural people are among the hearing how health care and

ing obstacle to rural small most ill-served by the current health insurance issues affect 14 business and family farm health care system. Issues of rural families and rural busi- >5 prosperity. access, affordability, preven- nesses.

Therefore the Center for tion and how to deal with These experiences will help

!5 Rural Affairs has launched chronic diseases are issues the Center better understand a Rural Health Care Reform that fall disproportionately On the issues people are

:e Initiative. rural people and rural com- facing and allow the Center ?d The Center has initiated a; to explain the issues to those

online petition to stand up for Reforming the health care in Washington. Anyone wish- health care refom7 that works system is ah0 vital for the ing to share their experiences for everyone -- including rural long-term economic and com- may do by sending them to people, family farmers and munity vitality of rural areas," Kim Preston at kimp@cfra.

org or at the Center for Ru- ral Affairs, P.O. Box. 136, Lyons, NE 68038, or online at http://www.cfra.org/con- tact. Participants will remain anonymous, and your name will not be used in any way. "Rural people have much to

offer to the health care debate, and much to add to reform proposals. We are hoping our initiative

gets rural people involved in a debate that will affect the future of all of us and our com- munities," added Bailey:

To join and sign the peti- tion visit: http:l/www.cfra. org/08/health