China resumes US soybean purchases under trade deal with Trump, but future for farmers remains ‘daunting’
Exports to China, the United States’ largest soybean buyer, still lag previous years.
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.
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.
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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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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.
While Western grocery inflation cools, food costs reach critical highs in some emerging economies
US food prices seem to steady, but geopolitical friction keeps double-digit price hikes in Iran and Argentina.
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.
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.
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data harvest
In Illinois, cancer and pesticide rates typically rise together
Three-fourths of Illinois counties have cancer rates higher than the national average. Those counties also have an average pesticide use…
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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.
