As deportations rise, farms face a growing labor crisis
For months, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have swarmed cities in an effort to fulfill President Trump’s pledge to deport millions from the country. Recently, much of the focus has been on Minneapolis, where two American citizens have been killed, and protests have filled the streets.
But ICE enforcement has also been active in America’s farming communities, where agents have arrested thousands of workers at farms and meatpacking plants nationwide.
In this week’s feature story, Sky Chadde investigates the impact immigration enforcement is having on the agriculture sector. After reviewing court records, conducting interviews and researching agency files, Sky has found that the majority of arrests appear to be of farmworkers without criminal records.
“Very few people I talked to had any run-ins with the law at all,” said Max Morales, a Vermont farmworker who was arrested. “That’s not who was in that detention center. For all of us, it felt unjust. None had done anything leading up to our detention. We were all just caught up in the system together.”
Sky’s story also raises questions about ICE agents’ tactics, which local law enforcement has criticized. As deportations continue, employers are also struggling to find suitable replacements.
Ben Felder
Editor in chief
— Ben Felder, editor-in-chief
DATA HARVEST: Cattle raised for beef are heavier than ever, raising new concerns in the industry about animal health and welfare
By Juan Vassallo, Investigate Midwest
In 1975, the average cattle carcass weight — the combined average for steers and heifers after slaughter — was 615 pounds. By 2024, it had risen to 890 pounds, an increase of about 45%, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.
The issue was a major focus at beef industry conferences last year, including the annual symposium hosted by the King Ranch Institute in November.
Mónica Cordero, newsroom honored for investigative reporting at Iowa newspaper awards
By Lauren Cross, Investigate Midwest
Investigate Midwest received multiple honors at the 2026 Iowa Newspaper Association Awards, recognizing both investigative reporting and newsroom-wide excellence in agricultural coverage and visual storytelling.
Mónica Cordero, our Iowa-based reporter, won second place for the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting for her multi-story submission.
The Investigate Midwest newsroom also placed third for "Best Coverage of Agriculture" and "Best Use of Graphics" with multi-story submissions.
ICYMI: Puerto Rico’s role in America’s corn
By Isabella Schoonover for Investigate Midwest
Puerto Rico has played a quiet but critical role in fueling America’s corn boom. This in-depth investigation examines how seed research on the island has boosted Midwest yields, while raising questions about land use, labor, and who ultimately benefits.
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