Investigate Midwest
@investigatemidwest
Independently investigating agriculture, rural communities, and the policies that impact them through data, depth, and accountability. Have a tip? Contact us securely at MidwestCenter@protonmail.com
Major meatpackers have taken in more than half a billion in tax subsidies since 2006 Minnesota Reformer Most of America’s beginning farmers don’t farm full time. AG Daily #InvestigateMidwest #IntheNews
Where our reporting appeared lately: Snapshot: What ICE arrests looked like in farm counties last year Devils Lake Journal A loophole leaves Oklahoma data center water consumption largely untracked Tulsa World Data centers have moved into rural America. So have the concerns. River County News
Our mission is to keep Big Ag accountable, but how do our reporters carry out the mission? We gathered the highlights of our reporting process. If our work resonates with you, donate to help us achieve our goal of $7,000. investigatemidwest.o...
As the beginning farmers emerge in the United States, there is a changing dynamic of the farmer’s age and occupation before agriculture. Women are increasingly starting farms and the majority of farmers have careers outside of farming. #DataHarvest #InvestigateMidwest investigatemidwest.o...
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Field notes. investigatemidwest.o...
Melissa Dai has won the SPJ Mark of Excellence Best in Show award for her investigation, “Broadband’s Broken Promise: How federal funding fights keep Native and Black farmers offline.” Dai is a graduate from Northwestern University and was our 2025 summer reporting intern.
#ICYMI: A March 2026 investigation found Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources understaffed and unable to fully oversee CAFO wastewater permits. Federal cuts have left it short of the 20-to-1 ratio needed for proper oversight. #InvestigateMidwest investigatemidwest.o...
Our investigative reporting is a resource for newspapers, which can republish our stories and data to inform their communities and hold the power accountable. Supporting our newspaper is supporting in-depth reporting at a time when local news outlets are disappearing.
The Trump administration ordered the USDA to identify funding related to what President Donald Trump called “gender ideology extremism,” a term used in his executive orders targeting certain programs and initiatives related to transgender people and diversity efforts.
Investigative journalism is a resource for communities to stay informed and advocate for change in the country.nThe Prairie River Network often cites our work on social media and elsewhere, using our independent reporting as a resource to educate the public. Here's what they said
#ICYMI: This September 2025 investigation examines the reality Black and queer farmers face amid DEI cuts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the second Trump administration. investigatemidwest.o... #InvestigateMidwest #USDA
AI corporations plan to develop hundreds of data centers across rural communities, causing rising concerns on its impact on energy costs and use of farmland. investigatemidwest.o... #investigatemidwest #datacenters #dataharvest
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Field Notes. investigatemidwest.o... #Investigatemidwest #Fieldnotes #newsletter
Major meatpacking plants received billions of dollars in tax subsidies for creating new jobs in small towns – however, these programs often fail to create as many jobs as promised. #Investigatemidwest #dataharvest #meatpackingplant
ICYMI: Meatpacking plants are often found in rural America, employing migrant and undocumented workers, but in this 2024 investigation, plants such as Agri Star are polluting the local water systems used by those some employees by processing waste. investigatemidwest.o...
Where our reporting has appeared lately: Low cattle numbers raise fears of another beef packing plant shutdown The Iola Register After Trump cut food programs, Oklahoma lawmakers look to replace lost aid for farmers – Sequoyah County Times #Inthenews #InvestigateMidwest
#Inthenews Five things to know about pesticides, cancer and a pending Supreme Court ruling NPR Illinois @stltoday.com Minnesota Reformer The USDA fired its experts on seed industry concentration. Then, it proclaimed it was working on the issue. The Gazette AGDAILY Civic Media
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the agribusiness Monsanto and its claim that it failed to warn consumers of cancer risks associated with herbicide, Roundup. #InvestigateMidwest #Pesticides #SupremeCourt
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Field Notes, for our latest stories. #InvestigateMidwest #FieldNotes
As geopolitical tensions continue in the Middle East and South America, residents face double-digit inflation in food prices – driving up the costs of healthy food. investigatemidwest.o...
ICYMI: NextEra Energy lobbied and won a reduced state permit fee from $2.5 million to $500,000. investigatemidwest.o...
Drought, herbicides, data centers, trade deals and corporate consolidation – here’s five things to know about agriculture this summer. AGWeek Magazine The New Lede AG DAILY Media WGLTnews
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Field Notes, for our latest stories. investigatemidwest.o... #InvestigateMidwest #FieldNotes
Rising energy prices contributed to more than half of May’s inflation increase – led to farmers facing increased operation costs. investigatemidwest.o... #Energy #DataHarvest #InvestigateMidwest
Investigate Midwest is an independent, nonprofit newsroom and our work is free to read. Today we’re launching our second annual summer fundraising campaign and through July 31, we’re asking readers who value data-driven and investigative storytelling to donate at any amount. investigatemidwest.o...
ICYMI: Pesticide regulations in the U.S. are set at different standards compared to other parts of the world – this allows for chemicals like paraquat and glyphosate to be used locally and commercially regardless of allegations that they increase cancer risk.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Field Notes, for our latest stories. investigatemidwest.o... #InvestigateMidwest
The U.S. cattle herd is at an all-time low, creating challenges for four major beef processing companies — Tyson, Cargill, JBS and National Beef. When plants cannot meet the high-volume requirements, plants close and thousands of jobs in rural towns are lost.
The USDA says competition in agriculture is a priority. But as Sky Chadde reports, the agency ended a seed industry initiative staffed by experts focused on market concentration, then announced new efforts aimed at many of the same issues. Read the story here: