Farmers in the region are facing decisions about how to best keep land in production as land values rise, climate change threatens operations, and a younger generation chooses not to farm.
The Illinois legislature is debating whether to become one of a handful of states to legally require worker protections from extreme temperatures. The legislation would apply to labor on the frontlines of the climate crisis, such as farm work.
USDA projections show imports rising through 2027 as a shrinking cattle herd forces the US to buy more beef abroad. But some ranchers say the policy betrays President Trump's America First agenda and does little to lower prices for American consumers.
The newsroom Lighthouse Reports, along with several partners around the globe, found food companies have sued more than 200 times in the past 15 years as governments have tried to rein in unhealthy ingredients in people’s diets.
State records list roughly 11,000 regulated animal feeding operations. A yearlong effort using federal aerial imagery, satellite analysis and state records found more than 15,000 livestock facilities, revealing a larger industrial footprint.
The ‘Great American Cotton Plan’ has support from industry leaders, lawmakers and MAHA. As another wave of Trump’s tariffs hit cotton producers, experts ask: Can the plan overcome decades of unsustainable practices, supply chain erosion and Brazil's growing lead?
Data Harvest (formerly Graphic of the Week) is Investigate Midwest’s way of making complex agricultural data easy to understand. Through engaging graphics, charts, and maps, we break down key trends to help readers quickly grasp the forces shaping farming, food systems, and rural communities.
All in Data Harvest
Cropland rents dipped for the second consecutive year as farmers face tight margins and rising operating costs.
Reva & David Logan Foundation, Inasmuch Foundation, Lumpkin Family Foundation, Builders Vision Philanthropy, Gary Marx Journalism Fund, Kirkpatrick Foundation, Chicago Region Food System Fund, Illinois Food Movement Fund, GRACE Communications, Good Chaos, Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, Fund for Investigative Journalism, Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, Rural News Network, Google News Initiative, Data-Driven Reporting Project, Arnold Ventures.
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