The State of North Dakota is roughly 70,000 square miles. Agricultural land occupied by family farms and ranches accounts for about 60,000 of those square miles. With the sheer number of acres dedicated to growing and raising our country’s food supply, it comes as no surprise that, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota’s largest industry ranks first in the nation in its production of 11 different crops and second in an additional 6, mainly a variety of small grains and beans, oats, durum, and rye.

Driving south bound with the Organ Mountains to my left you expect to see many things. Pecan farms, and Dairy farms sure, but also the beauty of southern New Mexico. If you continue on to Anthony NM, you will stumble onto a gem. Rural Development (RD) is no stranger to the area, we have funded many water and wastewater systems. 

Every morning around 6:30, Mathew Ladegaard opens the flow of water from his catchment pond to water his various crops.

And each morning, he looks up and sees clouds in the distance and he hopes it’ll rain later in the day which will surely help his crops grow.

Ladegaard’s small farm is located in Nambé, New Mexico about 20 miles north of Santa Fe.

At one acre in size the Ground Stone Farm is very small but is very productive. Ladegaard grows various types of crops from lettuce to kale to greens, herbs, fruits, and seeds.

Water is the life source for everything living on this earth. For human survival, we require clean and reliable water through sustainable infrastructure. While most people in US communities are blessed with water resources that don't even need to be thought about when the tap is turned on, this is not the case in rural America. In many rural communities, there is a lack of sufficient water, and residents frequently live with compromised and unsafe water resources.

Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. proposes to construct the Ripley Energy Center project.  It will be a new natural gas-fired simple-cycle electric generating facility with approximately 50 acres of disturbance.  The project site is approximately 6.5 miles north of Ripley, in Payne County, Oklahoma.  The project includes constructing 0.5 mile and rebuilding 5.5 miles of transmission line. 

You would be forgiven for thinking that October 17th was just another ordinary day for the fifteen households of the Mt. Rose Bowl subdivision, hidden by dense forest between a ski resort and a sleepaway camp in Northern Nevada. But Sally Sue Broili vividly remembers letting out a joyful sigh of relief as families cleaned dishes, drank water, brushed their teeth, washed their hands, and went about their lives.

It was the first day any of the residents had direct access to potable water for over five months.

Today’s Power, Inc. proposes to construct the North Little Rock Electric Department (NLRED) Solar project.  It will be a solar facility located on a 45-acre tract of land owned by TPI-Natural, LLC.  It will be near the intersection of Baucum Pike and Garner Road, near the city of Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas.

Embracing remote work can be a game-changer for rural America, but it requires robust infrastructure and reliable internet connectivity. As remote work becomes more common, high-speed internet will allow Italy to compete for residents seeking a slower pace of life outside of the city.

Known as "The Biggest Little Town in Texas" the beautiful town is living up to it's big name attracting more residents thanks to the town's improved high-speed internet.