To Mike Schultz, Kansas ranchers are stuck in velvet handcuffs. Walmart, the nation’s largest grocery retailer and private employer, recently expanded into the U.S. beef industry with its own processing plant in Olathe, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. The opening of the Walmart-owned plant in July marked a turning point for the company and […] The post Walmart looks to tighten its grip on the beef supply chain appeared first on Investigate Midwest.| Investigate Midwest
In case you didn’t know it, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is under siege by USDA, Congress, and the Trump administration. USDA reports 41.7 million people received SNAP food stamps in 2024. That’s 12.3% of the U.S. — so any announcement from the feds regarding SNAP changes is a big deal. Last month, USDA Secretary […] The post USDA’s new SNAP rules sound healthy. Until you read the fine print. appeared first on Investigate Midwest.| Investigate Midwest
It’s pumpkin season – from spiced lattes to Halloween decorations on the porch – and chances are it was grown in Illinois. Just over a third of all pumpkins in the United States – 485 million pounds – come from Illinois, according to annual USDA surveys. Much of that production centers on Morton, a village […] The post Where do your pumpkins come from? Illinois keeps the crown appeared first on Investigate Midwest.| Investigate Midwest
What began in 1952 as a stopgap for seasonal labor has become a test case for U.S. immigration policy under President Trump. The H-2B visa program has become a backbone of seafood processing and meatpacking, particularly in coastal states. The number of H-2B visa holders working in meatpacking has increased 60% since 2016, according to […] The post H-2B visa holders keep the nation’s seafood industry afloat appeared first on Investigate Midwest.| Investigate Midwest
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is canceling a survey that hunger groups use to understand — and respond to — food insecurity across the country. The USDA has collected data using the Food Security Supplement for about 30 years. Once a year, the questionnaire was included in the U.S. Census’ monthly Current Population Survey. The […] The post Ag department cuts 30-year survey of food insecurity appeared first on Investigate Midwest.| Investigate Midwest
By Carey Gillam Agricultural operations across Iowa are a leading cause of significant water pollution problems in the state, posing dire risks to public and environmental health, according to a new scientific report that is sparking heated debate in the key US farm state.| The New Lede
