Five things to know as data centers spread across rural America
More than 1,500 data centers are planned nationwide, many in rural communities. Here’s what to know about their water use, environmental impact and the growing opposition.
Researchers identify thousands more Iowa livestock facilities than state database shows
State records list roughly 11,000 regulated animal feeding operations. A yearlong effort using federal aerial imagery, satellite analysis and state records found more than 15,000 livestock facilities, revealing a larger industrial footprint and raising new questions about how Iowa tracks manure, pollution and oversight.
US beef exports decrease, while imports increase under Trump
USDA projections show imports rising through 2027 as a shrinking cattle herd forces the US to buy more beef abroad. But some ranchers say the policy betrays President Trump’s America First agenda and does little to lower prices for American consumers.
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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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Illinois led the US in direct, producer support staff losses, report says
Farm Service Agency staff help producers navigate financial aid and disasters. They also give producers a voice through advisory boards.
Most of America’s beginning farmers don’t farm full time.
The 2022 Census of Agriculture offers a snapshot of producers with 10 years or less of farming experience and shows how they differ from US farmers overall.
Snapshot: What ICE arrests looked like in farm counties last year
While the numbers are small compared to the overall arrests, data obtained by the Deportation Data Project show farm counties saw an increase in ICE arrests last year as the Trump administration pursued mass deportations of immigrants.
Data centers have moved into rural America. So have the concerns.
New survey results show rural residents are more worried than urban and suburban Americans about the impacts of data centers, especially when it comes to electricity costs and the changing use of farmland, as AI infrastructure expands.
Major meatpackers have taken in more than half a billion in tax subsidies since 2006
Companies like Tyson and Cargill have received tax breaks from economic development programs in governments across the country.
The statistic that sparked an award-winning investigation
Former Investigate Midwest reporting intern Melissa Dai reflects on the reporting behind her nationally recognized investigation and why reader support helps make work like this possible.
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data harvest
While Western grocery inflation cools, food costs reach critical highs in some emerging economies
Food price inflation has been significant in the U.S. in recent years, beginning with supply chain disruptions that saw prices…
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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.
