The USDA fired its experts on seed industry concentration. Then, it proclaimed it was working on the issue.
The second Trump administration has paid more attention to antitrust concerns in the agriculture industry, but the episode shows that, in at least some respects, they are trying to ‘reinvent the wheel,’ experts said.
Five things to know about pesticides, cancer and a pending Supreme Court ruling
After years of lawsuits against agrichemical companies and battles over environmental regulations, the nation’s highest court is expected to rule this summer on a case that could significantly alter the pesticide industry.
Bayer’s proposed Roundup settlement violates Constitution, new legal filing claims
Critics say the structure of the deal provides a rich payout of $675 million in fees to the lawyers helping promote the deal, but paltry payments for the cancer sufferers who make up the class.
Energy prices drove most of May’s inflation increase
Gasoline prices were 40.5% higher than a year ago, adding pressure to farm operating costs.
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Pesticide use and cancer risk rise together across America’s heartland
America’s farmers and farmworkers, their families and neighbors, are being diagnosed with cancer at rates higher than the national average. A growing body of research indicates that pesticides are partly to blame.
pesticides and cancer
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Low cattle numbers raise fears of another beef packing plant shutdown
The closure of Tyson Foods’ Nebraska beef plant exposed vulnerabilities in an industry dominated by four companies. Analysts say more closures could follow if supplies remain tight.
Foreign suppliers play a key role in US fertilizer markets
US farmers depend on a global fertilizer supply chain, with Canada supplying 87% of potash imports.
Meet the newest members of the Investigate Midwest newsroom
Caspar Dowdy, a University of Missouri student, and Paloma Sanchez-McGee, a recent University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate, have joined Investigate Midwest as summer interns.
In Illinois, cancer and pesticide rates typically rise together
Most counties with the highest cancer rates also had the highest use of pesticides and herbicides.
Food prices just had their highest month-to-month jump in years
Since President Trump started a war with Iran, oil prices have spiked, affecting all aspects of the economy.
This herbicide is so toxic it’s been banned in over 70 countries. But plants in the South are releasing it into the air.
Paraquat has been linked to Parkinson’s disease and just a sip is fatal, but tens of thousands of pounds of it are being released in the Mississippi Basin.
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data harvest
After USDA cuts, complaints over food safety spike
The number of complaints filed about the safety of meat, poultry and egg products jumped nearly 40% last year, from…
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Iowans share life lessons at Investigate Midwest event
You’re invited to an evening of live storytelling featuring powerful, personal stories from five Iowa men with backgrounds in journalism, education, comedy, and the arts.
Iowa immigrants fear the Trump administration’s move toward mass deportation
The spread of misinformation has fueled anxiety and alarm within Iowa’s Latino immigrant community. It is estimated that the state is home to more than 52,000 undocumented immigrants.
Midwest farmers advocate for steady policies amid trade challenges
Recent trade policies have imposed tariffs to boost U.S. production, but Midwest agriculture has suffered, losing ground to competitors like Brazil in soybeans and pork. Farmers urge the new administration to prioritize free trade and stable agreements.
