Illinois Farm Bureau sees ‘moral obligation’ to protect livestock from extreme weather. It opposes temperature standards for workers.
The Illinois legislature is debating whether to become one of a handful of states to legally require worker protections from extreme temperatures. The legislation would apply to labor on the frontlines of the climate crisis, such as farm work.
American farmers bet on solar. Then Trump changed the rules.
We tracked how the collapse of federal rural energy support is ending solar projects across farm country — and costing some developers millions they’ll never get back.
A closer look at pesticides and cancer risk in farm country
The May 7 virtual panel will explore what current data and reporting reveal, bringing together research, clinical insight, and lived experience.
Cancer is a statewide problem in Ohio, including in the pesticide-heavy northwest corner
Ohio has one of the highest cancer rates in the nation, often linked to a variety of factors, including industrial pollution and pesticide use.
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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.
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With Iran War, food prices will grow faster than originally expected this year, USDA predicts
In late February, the US Department of Agriculture had already predicted food prices in 2026 would increase faster than inflation. A month into the war, some prices will likely skyrocket.
North Dakota’s Red River Valley a pesticide and cancer hotspot
The state’s easternmost counties have the highest rates of agrichemical use and cancer rates.
Iowa’s high cancer rate linked to nitrate, pesticides, PFAS and radon, new report finds
The new analysis combines science on environmental risk factors with the lived experiences of Iowans battling cancer.
Investigate Midwest’s Juan Vassallo wins first place in NAAJ writing contest
The NAAJ judge praised the reporting for its depth, use of sources, and ability to connect policy decisions to real-world impacts.
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data harvest
High pesticide-use counties often have higher-than-average late-stage cancer rates
Seventy-one percent of counties that spray the most glyphosate have late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma incidence rates above the national average, according…
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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.
