Aug. 24, 2023 www.investigatemidwest.org Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
Farmworkers toil in blistering temperatures. Are there ways to protect them?
The best available figures put the number of farmworkers in the U.S. as roughly equivalent to the population of Chicago. These workers often walk 10 miles daily picking vegetables and fruits in the furrows of farms, with minimal rest periods, under the brutal sun and suffocating humidity.
Juan Peña, a farmworker in Iowa and Texas, said that many people work comfortably in offices. But it is because of the farmworkers’ jobs in the fields that food is easily available. "They can go to a supermarket and buy fruits and vegetables, thanks to farmworkers," he said.
Working outside, coupled with little access to healthcare in isolated rural areas, makes farmworkers one of the most vulnerable groups to heat waves like the one hitting the Midwest this week. Doctors, advocates and academics say the Occupational Safety and Health Administration should accelerate the creation of rules to protect farmworkers from excessive heat.
— Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest/Report for America corps member
Poor regulatory safeguards leave farmworkers suffocating in the face of increasing heat waves
By Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest/Report for America, and Eva Tesfaye, Harvest Public Media
Farmworkers are unprotected against heat-related illnesses. They are 35 times more likely to die from heat exposure than workers in other sectors, according to the National Institutes of Health, and the absence of a federal heat regulation that guarantees their safety and life — when scientists have warned that global warming will continue — increases that risk.
This story is a product of Harvest Public Media, Investigate Midwest and the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk as part of the series A Changing Basin.
Graphic: Food spending has rebounded since pandemic’s start
By Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest
U.S. consumers are spending much more money on food now, fueled in part by going out to restaurants and bars more frequently, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Search the graphic.
Opinion: Federal legislation that would ban China from owning U.S. farmland might not pass constitutional muster
By Dave Dickey, Columnist
Dave Dickey in his latest column digs into lawmakers' and policymakers' attention on China. He writes:
"It’s China this and China that from state and federal lawmakers when it comes to acquiring agricultural farmland and businesses. As in no way, no how."
"For any number of illogical reasons, governments of all sizes and stripes think Chinese ownership of U.S. agricultural land and acquisition of/investment in U.S. businesses are an imminent threat to democracy."
Read more.
JOIN US: Come to our Iowa City event on Sept. 10
Who: Investigate Midwest and its IowaWatch newsroom invite you to this annual event.
What: An evening of gourmet pizza and salad, live music, a silent auction, cash wine bar, and more.
Where: Join us at Walker Homestead near Iowa City.
When: 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10.
Why: To support Investigate Midwest's mission — and have a great time doing so.
Tickets: Click here! We look forward to having you join us.
