Help our team report on ag, the environment
When you support Investigate Midwest, you are supporting our team. Mónica Cordero is an award-winning journalist who will be focusing on the impacts of fertilizer in the Mississippi River Basin and Iowa - her new home where she will join our IowaWatch newsroom there. Our partner, Report for America, promotes local philanthropy to fuel a healthy, thriving information ecosystem. They have generously funded half of her salary. Now we need you to help during our August campaign to fuel to continue serving you.
Reports by our staff
Pesticide drift eats up farmers', states' time
Each year, tens of millions of pounds of pesticides are dumped on corn and soybean fields across the Midwest. Some — dicamba, for one — drift off their intended targets, killing crops that can't withstand the chemicals.
Farmers have complained for years about pesticide drift, and drift takes up significant time for state investigators charged with determining whether a violation of pesticide law has occurred. In Illinois, for instance, 60% of pesticide misuse investigations involve drift.
In Iowa, some investigations stretch beyond a year, and farmers are tired of it. The state department of agriculture needs "to do something to help get us results quicker," one farmer said.
— Sky Chadde, managing editor
‘No excuse why they’re taking so long’: Iowa farmers are fed up with lengthy pesticide misuse investigations | Kendall Little, Investigate Midwest
This summer, Investigate Midwest looked into complaints from Iowa farmers that investigations of pesticide drift are lengthy. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship said it lacks the staff needed to address all the complaints.
GRAPHIC: More fruits and veggies have pesticide residue, new federal report finds | Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest
Over the past decade, the percentage of fruit, vegetable and grain items found with the acceptable amount of pesticide residue has increased, according to figures from the FDA testing.
COLUMN: It’s another price-fixing lawsuit … shocking | Dave Dickey, Investigate Midwest
A new complaint alleges the nation's four largest meat packers – Tyson Foods, JBS USA, Cargill and National Beef – of banding together to fix beef prices by suppressing the number of cattle slaughtered since 2015. You might recall beef isn't the only meat that's had a target on its backside when it comes to price-fixing lawsuits, writes Dave Dickey in his latest column.
Se prensó el pie en el trabajo. Cuando pidió una compensación por los salarios perdidos, le dijeron que no. | Sky Chadde and Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest
We are offering this story in Spanish in our effort to reach farm workers who are employed at many Big Ag companies. The English version is available here.
News about Investigate Midwest
Our latest crop of fellows, interns
Investigate Midwest has benefited from the work of five fellows and interns this summer. Three will depart Aug. 12 and head to their schools or next ventures. They include:
Kendall Little of Florida State University. She focused on an investigation into pesticide drift investigations and data on beef and pork consumption. Little will return to school, where she is the editor of her student newspaper. Little is a Gary Marx Journalism Fund intern.
Marley Schultz, a recent master's graduate of the University of Illinois, centered her summer reporting and research on a Securities and Exchange Commission proposal to require companies to compile their greenhouse gas emissions. She also reported on data on cows' milk consumption. Schultz is applying for reporting and communication work.
Aruni Soni, a senior at Columbia University, published a story on U.S. Senate proposals to beef up enforcement of the 1921 Packers and Stockyards Act. She also reported on Seresto pet collars and the latest numbers of avian flu. Soni is a Dow Jones Fund intern.
Come to Sunset On The Farm on Sept. 25
and support our investigative journalism
Tickets are available for this IowaWatch favorite, sponsored in part by the Cedar Rapids Gazette. It will take place 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, September 25, at the Walker Homestead, just outside of Iowa City, Iowa. Come for the beautiful setting, great brick-oven pizza, wine, silent auction and camaraderie. Contact Mary Ungs-Sogaard at for more information.
