April 5, 2023 www.investigatemidwest.org Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
Worry grows as invasive feral hogs make way to Minn.
Invasive feral hogs have roamed territory in the southern U.S. for decades, consuming farmers’ crops and damaging local ecosystems. The animals continue to spread despite laws that allow for nearly unrestricted hunting.
Now, a new strain of wild pig is approaching the northern U.S. from Canada. These “super pigs” have adapted to survive harsh winters, and have the potential to establish a population in Minnesota, a state that has managed to avoid feral hogs to this point.
If the hogs were to make it to Minnesota, farmers and pork producers would suffer the consequences.
— Madison McVan, reporter
Wild ‘super pigs’ are rooting toward Minnesota. The state wants to keep them out.
By Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest
Minnesota is the second-largest pork producing state in the country, generating more than $7 billion in economic activity, according to the Minnesota Pork Producers Association.
In the Canadian province of Manitoba, researchers have detected pigs roaming within 40 miles of the Minnesota border.
Read more.
Graphic: Newly released data shows timeline of COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin’s food production facilities
By Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest
For two years, data illuminating COVID-19 cases by business in Wisconsin was kept under wraps. Now released, the data, through March of this year, shows consistent case counts in the industry throughout 2020 and summer 2021. A few sporadic cases were recorded throughout 2022, with the latest cases appearing this past November.
Search the graphic.
Opinion: Tyson’s failed federal court gambit was an act of desperation
By Dave Dickey, columnist
Dave Dickey writes about the COVID-19 pandemic in his latest column: "COVID-19 was particularly dangerous for workers in meat processing plants. And Big Meat had a problem that had nothing to do with worker safety, but rather keeping the doors open and the profits rolling in.
"But in seeking a solution, Tyson Foods and its meatpacking brethren have run afoul of the Defense Production Act, which may end up costing Big Meat billions of dollars in state court lawsuits.
Center news
Come to Iowa City April 20 to hear 'Home Grown' stories
We are excited to announce the full slate of storytellers for the upcoming Spring Storytelling Event April 20 in Iowa City.
The goal is for Iowans to tell a personal tale with the theme of "Home Grown." Here are the speakers and their story titles:
- "Grown Here, But Home Here?" from Forrest Meyer
- "Bloom Where You're Planted" from Scott Koepke
- "Finding Home Again" from Ann McGlynn
- "The Day Baseball Died in Farmersburg" from Lyle Muller
- "From Zero to 80 mph Winds: Year One of Rhubarb Botanicals & Lamb's Quarter" from Emma Barber and Jeremy Wilhelm
This event is co-produced with the University of Iowa Events Management Certification program.
Doors open with music starting at 5:45 p.m. Attendees can order appetizers or dinner on their own and enjoy a themed drink ahead of the speakers starting at 6:30. Tickets are $20 and include a free drink. (They can be purchased ahead of time or at the door.)
Find out more on social media (links at the bottom of this newsletter) and here.
More news
As US pushes ‘climate-smart’ agriculture, hopes and fears collide
For decades, leading U.S. farm leaders have likened efforts to rein in harmful climate change as attacks on agriculture itself, aligning with oil and gas industry groups to block policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. That stance has slowly been shifting in recent years, and now, fueled by $3.1 billion in federal grants, farm country is poised to shape a new era of “climate-smart” agricultural practices and take a significant role in addressing the dire consequences of a warming planet. Read more. This story was reported by Circle of Blue.
