Emails show Trump’s labor department struggling to deliver on H-2A ‘one-stop shop’ promise
As mass deportation efforts affected one labor force for farms, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer promised to cut red tape so they could access another: workers on temporary visas. It hasn’t gone according to plan.
How a solar energy developer lobbied for and won a reduced state permit fee amidst farmer pushback
Emails show how NextEra Energy secured a big break on permitting fees for its Skeleton Creek solar farm as renewable energy projects multiply across Oklahoma, including separate developments tied to AI data centers.
Trump’s immigration surges in Midwest cities correlate with less employment, researchers find
The number of private sector workers declined in states such as Illinois and Minnesota after mass ICE presence, according to an analysis of employment data by UC Merced researchers.
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You can’t gaslight food affordability
Prices are higher in 5 out of 6 tracked food-at-home categories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Farm bankruptcies jumped 46% in 2025 as debt loads and costs rise
Chapter 12 filings climbed to 315 in the US. That’s a third straight increase annually as higher production costs and expanding borrowing put new pressure on farmers in 2026.
3 charts to better understand the potential link between pesticides and cancer
Most counties with the highest pesticide use also have cancer rates above the national average.
Cattle raised for beef are heavier than ever, raising new concerns in the industry about animal health and welfare
With the national cattle herd in long term decline, producers have increasingly relied on larger animals to keep up with demand.
What does a small town do when the water in undrinkable?
Residents of Early, Iowa (population 587) say they often find out their water is unsafe to drink by reading about it on Facebook.
Ag producers in worst 3-month cost-price gap since 2015, new USDA data shows
The analysis of federal price indexes also shows agricultural producers have consistently paid more to operate than they have received in return, with costs outpacing prices in every month since at least 2015.
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Opinion
Expect more turmoil and change for the 2026 ag sector
Armed with only the best of prognostication tools, here are the 2026 agricultural stories that people will be talking about.…
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.
