Investigate Midwest: 2022 stories in review
2022 was a year of growth and change for our news organization — a new executive director, creating the Iowa newsroom, and publishing 140 stories in total from our staff and from partnerships and collaborations.
From that work, we asked our editorial staff to choose important work of the last year.
Secret Subsidies: Program meant to help farmers in trade war overspent, lacked transparency and compliance checks
This story is a demonstration of what our work, including with other news outfits, can uncover and bring to light. Instead of helping farmers most heavily affected by the U.S.-China trade war during and post-pandemic, the Market Facilitation Program ultimately lined the pockets of operations in far less — if at all — need for assistance.
— Erin Orr, executive director and managing editor
How Illinois’ ‘fragmented system’ of monitoring pesticide exposure ‘allows individuals to get poisoned over and over without any brakes’
In late 2020, farmworkers filed a lawsuit over an incident that happened in summer 2019. The lawsuit got some attention in Illinois at the time, but our investigation uncovered new aspects that were previously unknown.
For instance, we found evidence that supported the workers' contention at the heart of their lawsuit — that they were sprayed with pesticides twice. Even the workers' lawyers had not gathered this information. We also pushed the state to reveal information they don't normally unveil. The state investigated the sprayings, but, because the administrative case was ongoing, the files could be kept under wraps by law. We kept asking, and the state finally released some documents related to the case. These records showed the workers' employer — which denied any knowledge of the spraying — had filed a complaint against the pesticide applicator in the first spraying.
— Sky Chadde, assistant editor/senior reporter
‘Where is she?’: Iowa’s Indigenous communities grapple with crisis of missing and murdered women
A part of my role is working with interns and young college journalists. This story by a Simpson College senior and now Northwestern University graduate student revealed a heartbreaking story in the Native American population — oftentimes rural residents. It was also the first story out of the IowaWatch newsroom.
— Suzanne Behnke, digital editor
ADM, other Big Ag companies host top state ag officials in Midwest at private dinner before Farm Progress Show, emails show
This story shows the relevance of following up on the lobbying that big corporations do at the state level and how what seems to be a simple dinner invitation shows a gap in the accountability legislation for public officials.
In state-level midterms in Midwest, Big Ag favors Republicans, incumbents and governors, data shows
For a company to contribute to public officials' campaigns is a legal action. However, it is important that voters learn how such contributions can influence public policy in their communities.
— Mònica Cordero, Report For America corps member
E. Coli outbreaks linked to leafy greens continue despite FDA, industry prevention efforts
After a rash of E. Coli illness outbreaks linked to leafy greens, the FDA and industry leaders put together a plan to prevent contamination of the veggies. Two years after the implementation of the plan, the outbreaks continued. When I dug into the issue, I found that several factors were responsible for the continued contamination, ranging from a lack of technology to the nature of leafy greens. Scientists, farmers and government officials are still working to understand how these bacteria spread.
The American Farm Bureau Federation claims it’s the ‘Voice of Agriculture.’ These groups beg to differ.
The American Farm Bureau Federation is the agriculture world's biggest lobbying group, claiming to represent all farmers. The group holds itself to policy positions voted on by members and outlined in the Farm Bureau Policy Book. But these positions aren't universal, and other, less powerful organizations say the Farm Bureau defends corporations over small farmers. In this story, I dove into the 2022 Policy Book and talked to Farm Bureau lobbyists, leaders and opponents about who the organization actually represents.
— Madison McVan, reporter
Year-end campaign update: 3 days to give!
Whew! Here we are past the holidays and near the end of the year. You can see from the great stories our staff picked that we fulfilled our mission in 2022 — 140 data-driven, in-depth stories and columns published with a focus on agribusiness!
We have three days until the end of the year to meet our goal of $25,000 in our year-end campaign.
We want to be able to be more and do more in 2023; that's why we are asking you to consider donating or adding to your donation yet before Dec. 31.
Happy New Year!
— Mary Ungs-Sogaard, Donor Relations Manager
