Kids and Carrots
By John Crabtree, Center for Rural Affairs
Nothing says happy and healthy like an image of children gardening, harvesting, and eating carrots, beets, cabbages, cucumbers, etc. The Summer “Out of School” Program students in Fremont, Nebraska got to do just that when they helped create an After School Garden at Linden Elementary in Fremont.
With the support of the school district and the Linden administration, and the help of local volunteers, two raised bed gardens were constructed. The students took ownership over the work of caring for the garden. In July, the students set up a produce stand to market their harvest. Word is they are still deciding whether to funnel the money back into the garden or donate it to a worthy local cause. I’ll be honest; I sort of hope they put it back into the garden.
These activities involved significant educational opportunities. Students learned about teamwork and shared decision-making as they negotiated what would be planted where. They learned about plant science, math skills and measurements in the garden, as well as learning math skills while handling money and making change at the produce stand, where each of the students took a half hour “shift” at the table. And they continue to learn about nutrition and healthy food choices.
Personally, I think growing a cabbage is one of the great educational opportunities available to anyone. And I hope children in after school and summer “out of school” programs everywhere get a chance to garden like the kids in Fremont have.
Zoned Out
By Lu Nelsen, Center for Rural Affairs
Over the past few years we have seen tremendous growth in the efficiency, effectiveness, and use of wind power. In our report Zoned Out, we analyzed different approaches to zoning commercial wind energy systems. The report (http://www.cfra.org/zoned-out-wind-energy-analysis) also broke down the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches, and what makes for effective zoning standards.
Wind energy zoning remains generally uncoordinated and subject to state and local regulations, resulting in a piecemeal approach where zoning standards vary between states and within states. In order for wind energy development to continue increasing, there must be an effective approach to wind energy zoning implemented that reduces inconsistency and unpredictability.
Zoning authorities must aim for efficient and effective standards, incorporating considerations from the local areas where wind development would take place. The key to effective wind siting and zoning regulation, however, is to strike the right balance between local and state control. Authorities at the state and local level must consider the pros and cons that can result from difference ordinances.
As wind power continues to play a bigger role in meeting our energy demands, controversies and questions from local communities have arisen. How will this affect my community? What are the rules for wind energy development? These questions, and others, make it vitally important that we craft regulations that incorporate local preferences and address local concerns, while also providing clear and consistent standards for developers.
Clean Power Plan Finalized
Center for Rural Affairs applauds White House announcement
Recently, President Barack Obama and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Gina McCarthy announced EPA’s release of the final version of the Clean Power Plan, establishing the first U.S. limits on carbon pollution.
“We applaud the Administration for taking this step. The Clean Power Plan will provide Nebraska with a significant opportunity to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and protect our communities by stepping up our commitment to renewable energy and greater energy efficiency,” said Lauren Kolojejchick-Kotch, Energy and Climate Program Associate at the Center for Rural Affairs. “We know these industries have room for significant growth here in Nebraska, which is a win for Nebraska’s rural communities and low-income households.”
According to Kolojejchick-Kotch, the Clean Power Plan requires the nation’s existing power plants to reduce carbon pollution by an average of 32 percent by 2030, an increase from the target of 30 percent proposed in the draft rule. States must submit implementation plan drafts by 2016, with final versions coming due in 2018. The final rule also includes incentives for states that invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency prior to 2022.
Nebraska ranks 7th highest among the states for per capita energy consumption, while it consistently ranks in the bottom third for its efforts to use energy more efficiently, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.
“Investments in energy efficiency can provide a significant benefit to ratepayers, especially in low income households and rural communities,” added Kolojejchick-Kotch. “And renewable energy keeps money closer to home. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory forecasted that an 80 megawatt wind farm, the size of just one farm in Broken Bow, Nebraska, can generate nearly 400 jobs, $4.8 million in land lease payments, and $6.3 million in new tax revenues for schools and services like local fire and police forces. That spending translates into $50.14 million in local economic benefits.”
“Nebraska’s wind resources have the potential to meet more than 118 times the state’s current energy needs, and large-scale solar energy could provide over three hundred times our needs,” Kolojejchick-Kotch continued. “With new incentives under the Clean Power Plan, pairing our incredible renewable resources with energy efficiency measures is an opportunity that Nebraska can’t ignore. These energy options can create good-paying jobs and keep money closer to home in the communities and households that need them the most.”
“During the open comment period for the Clean Power Plan proposal, the Center for Rural Affairs helped nearly 1100 rural residents submit comments in support of a strong carbon rule, emphasizing the need to invest in long-term solutions that benefit and protect current and future generations,” Kolojejchick-Kotch continued.
“We need to take steps to limit carbon that pollutes our air and drives climate change,” concluded Kolojejchick-Kotch. “As we review the Clean Power Plan in the coming months, we should emphasize energy options that help dramatically reduce emissions and protect our health, while benefiting rural communities and keeping our hard-earned dollars closer to home. We should champion an implementation plan that is more than just a temporary fix, but favors solutions that are widely beneficial in the long term.”
Federal Crop Insurance Gets Failing Grade
Center for Rural Affairs report card evaluates federally subsidized crop insurance
Recently, the Center for Rural Affairs releases a report card and white paper evaluating the performance of federally subsidized crop insurance programs.
“The time has come for crop insurance reforms that emphasize conserving soil and water, put real limits on subsidies to the nation’s largest farms, and ensures these subsidies are transparent to taxpayers.”
Traci Bruckner, Center for Rural Affairs
On June 3, 2015, the Center for Rural Affairs launched their Crop Insurance Reform Initiative (www.cfra.org/crop-insurance-reform) to address long-standing concerns about federal farm programs and crop insurance subsidies. According to Traci Bruckner, Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for Rural Affairs, evaluating the current state of and functionality of federally subsidized crop insurance programs has been a first-order priority since the very beginning.
“We’ve heard from farmers across the Midwest and Great Plains about the negative impacts of federally subsidized crop insurance for over a decade,” said Bruckner. “A farm safety net is important to help family farmers mitigate risks, but there are real concerns with the current crop insurance program. The best way to begin addressing those concerns is through honest and forthright assessment of the crop insurance system.”
“This report card is our earnest effort to get that assessment started,” added Bruckner. “And this is just the beginning, we will have more analysis, and more recommendations for reform coming out in the coming weeks and months.”
The report card evaluates six categories of performance: reliability, transparency, support it gives to beginning farmers, emphasis on crop diversity, efficient use of taxes, and conservation of soil and water. Along with the report card, the Center for Rural Affairs is also releasing a policy brief, which more fully explains each letter grade provided in the report card.
To view or download the Crop Insurance Report Card and Policy Brief go to:
http://www.cfra.org/crop-insurance-report-card
“By displaying this assessment of crop insurance in a format that everyone is familiar with, we hope to simplify a set of complicated issues and attract the general public to join us in pushing for reforms,” Bruckner explained.
Bruckner also pointed out that while most of the grades we awarded are not what parents would hope to see on their own child’s school report, grades did range from a B to several grades of F. And the accompanying Policy Brief offers further analysis and what reforms could be enacted to improve the performance of the crop insurance system. In overall performance, crop insurance received a failing grade.
“A student who fails overall is usually not allowed to progress to the next grade,” offered Bruckner. “We want to stress that the crop insurance system needs some serious reforms before we can honestly say this is a real safety net that deserves to advance, as is, in the next farm bill debate. The impact crop insurance will have on future years of farming practices is significant, making reform of the federally subsidized crop insurance system vitally important to the future of rural and small town America.”
“Subsidizing the nation’s largest and wealthiest farms on every acre, every year, regardless of crop prices, production or farm profitability, puts America’s natural resources at risk,” concluded Bruckner. “And, absent reform, crop insurance gives mega-farms an advantage in bidding up land costs, driving their smaller neighbors out of business, and preventing the next generation of farmers from ever getting started.”