June 1, 2023 www.investigatemidwest.org Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
Why did Iowa see 1,000 fish kills in 40 years?
Fishing is a popular hobby in Iowa, passed down from generation to generation from an early age. But fishing depends on the quality of the state’s water.
An Investigate Midwest analysis of Iowa Department of Natural Resources data shows that many fish kill events — which occur due to water pollution — are linked to human activities, especially agriculture.
Over the past four decades, nearly 1,000 fish kill events have been recorded statewide, averaging 23 yearly. And although fish kill events have declined over time, the one constant has been agriculture’s contribution.
— Mónica Cordero, reporter and Report for America corps member
Animal waste and agrochemicals are leading cause of fish kills in Iowa waterways
By Mònica Cordero, Investigate Midwest and Report for America corps member
Over the past four decades, 35% of fish kills are related to Iowa's primary industry — agriculture, according to an Investigate Midwest analysis of state data from 1981 to 2022.
Iowa is one of the top 10 agricultural states in the country. It is the nation's leading producer of corn, a commodity whose productivity depends heavily on fertilizer.
It is also the nation's largest hog producer. Nearly one-third of the nation's hogs are raised in Iowa, with the collateral effect of generating thousands of tons of animal waste or manure.
Jamie Mootz, the water monitoring data analyst at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources who handles the fish kill database, describes these events as unintentional incidents.
“You could call all of them an accident, but some are avoidable,” Mootz said.
Read more.
GRAPHIC: Just 3 states account for one-third of H-2A jobs, data shows
By Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest
The H-2A program — a visa program that allows U.S. employers to bring foreign workers to the country for temporary or seasonal jobs — has skyrocketed in popularity. In 2022, 47 states saw more H-2A workers than the year before, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
See the graphic with the top 10 states.
OPINION: Big Meat lobbyists are bullying lawmakers into submission
By Dave Dickey, Columnist
Dave Dickey writes about how the dominant meatpacking companies — Cargill, JBS, National Beef, Tyson Foods — are involved in policymaking of their industry. He writes:
"Big Beef’s fine-tuned lobbying machine is doing just fine keeping industry interests in check."
"If you’re a representative or senator in a major beef producing state, you are just flat out not likely to oppose Big Beef interests. Even the administration can find doing the right and ethical thing difficult when it comes to Big Beef."
Read more.
The 'why' behind what we do: We're invested in this world with you
These past several weeks I’ve shared examples of topics our reporters dive into to produce the in-depth and data-driven investigative journalism you’ve come to expect:
- A fragmented Illinois state monitoring system that allowed farmworkers to be repeatedly sprayed with pesticides;
- A public health crisis in the making with elevated nitrates in many of Minnesota’s private water wells;
- How and why a popular flea and tick collar — tied to 100,000-plus incidents of harm in children and animals — has been allowed to remain on the market;
- A column holding a federal agency accountable for the abuses and failures at a dog-breeding facility.
All of these stories have an essential element in common: All of us.
These issues impact all our lives — yours and ours — from caring for our beloved pets, to the meat, produce and goods we buy, to the water we drink and the air we breathe.
When you support us, we know you are as invested in this important work as we are.
Thank you to everyone who so far has given during this mini campaign, which concludes today, June 1. All funds raised are targeted for our long-term growth and sustainability.
If you haven’t already, would you please make a tax-deductible donation by going to our Donate page? You can use your credit or debit card, or PayPal account. (If using your credit or debit card, you do not need to set up an account; just click the box beneath the yellow PayPal button.)
Your support — your investment in Investigate Midwest — will help us through the summer and beyond.
With gratitude,
Erin Orr, Executive Director/Managing Editor
Investigate Midwest news
Investigate Midwest a finalist for two awards for story on Illinois worker protection
Investigate Midwest’s work investigating Illinois’ system for monitoring human exposure to pesticides was named a finalist in May as part of the 46th Lisagor Awards for Journalism in Illinois and Northwest Indiana. The same piece was also a runner-up for the Richard H. Driehaus Awards for Investigative Reporting in the small newsroom category, also held in May.
The story — “How Illinois’ ‘fragmented system’ of monitoring pesticide exposure ‘allows individuals to get poisoned over and over without any brakes’” — published April 14, 2022. Sky Chadde and Amanda Pérez Pintado spent months reviewing the state system and detailed how workers had been exposed to pesticides.
The work by reporters Chadde and Pérez Pintado was supported in part by the Lumpkin Foundation.
Chadde is Investigate Midwest's assistant editor and senior reporter. Pèrez Pintado was a Report for America corps member.
