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.
Trump’s DHS is pushing the boundaries of probable cause and due process to fuel a farm labor crisis
Trump said he was going after the “worst of the worst,” but many of the people his administration is detaining and deporting have no criminal record. Agricultural employers are scrambling to find reliable replacements.
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.
About Us
Investigate Midwest is an independent, nonprofit newsroom. Our mission is to serve the public as a watchdog over influential agricultural corporations and institutions through in-depth and data-driven investigative journalism. Learn more »
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.
More Stories
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.
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.
In 2025, growers grew more anxious about Brazil’s edge in global soybean markets
Brazil’s dominance in China’s soybean market has only deepened since the Trump administration’s tariff fight.
Take our short reader survey
Investigate Midwest is participating in an audience research project led by Northwestern University’s Medill Local News Accelerator and Press Forward Chicago. Your input helps shape how we report and reach readers.
Join us Feb. 19 to explore how tariffs and China’s global investment are reshaping U.S. farming
Investigate Midwest, the Arkansas Times, and the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk will host a live virtual panel examining the impacts on U.S. farmers.
Midwest and Southwest states see major increase in temporary H-2A workers, despite slow growth in program
These visas offer a pathway for increased farm labor, but have a documented history of wage theft and poor working conditions.
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
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.
