Introduction

This is a list of websites which lead to information and resources that relate to rural life.  They have been reviewed by the Rural Life Center staff and have been determined to be useful to people working to improve communities in rural South Dakota.  If you have discovered additional sites which might be helpful, email their addresses to sdsu_censusdata@sdstate.edu. 

Agricultural Information

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) is a national website covering a wide variety of topics and current issues.  Click on the "Program Information" button to examine the range.  They also publish a biweekly newsletter which includes summaries of current legislation relating to agriculture. 

South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is the center gathering point for collecting, compiling, and providing up to date current statistics.  The primary purpose is to provide the producers with reliable information to assist them in their production and marketing decisions.

Biotech Information

The AgBiotech Buzz is a monthly newsletter published by the Pew Foundation.  It is part of the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology.  Both are objective sources of information on modified food and agricultural biotechnology for citizens and policy makers.  The newsletter specifically focuses on the next generation of genetically modified plants and their use in the production of pharmaceuticals.

Children

Ag in the Classroom is a website for children and teachers sponsored by the US Department of Agriculture.

Child Poverty

Rural Children at a Glance is an annual bulletin produced by the Economic Information Service of the US Department of Agriculture.  It summarizes conditions in the US for children under 18. 

South Dakota Agriculture in the Classroom is a website for children and teachers a non-profit organization that is affiliated with the national Ag in the Classroom organization.

General Information

Center for the Study of Rural America

Center for Study of  Rural America's 2001 Annual Report

Economic Research Service: general rural information

The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank--a variety of rural information

AgricultureRB2: Agriculture Resource Directory

Rural Advocacy Groups

Stand Up for Rural America.  This is a campaign to increase resources for rural community development.  It has a list of US community development organizations (including South Dakota), and publishes a free, biweekly email newsletter.  It also has an extensive list of links to rural resources.

Rural Development and Resource Centers

Organizations such as non profits, businesses, foundations, university subdivisions, and governmental agencies which have the purpose of studying, understanding and improving live in rural areas and communities.

Rural Leadership

South Dakota Agricultural & Rural Leadership Inc.  Its goal is to put leaders back in rural South Dakota who are better spokespeople for agriculture.  The program operates on a two year cycle and accept 30 students per seminar cycle.  

Report of the impact of a Community Leadership Program in Garden City, Kansas.

Small Communities

The National Center for Small Communities is a national non-profit organization which serves leaders of small communities.  It attempts to assist leaders in improving their communities through local problem solving, economic development,  preserving community character, and protecting the health and welfare of the local citizens.