Rural Illinois is shrinking. Over the past decade, all of Illinois’ 21 farm-dependent counties – places where farming makes up a large share of jobs and income – have lost population. Meanwhile, the state’s rural areas tied to meatpacking and food manufacturing have seen immigration slow population losses and, in some cases, keep local economies afloat. […] The post Rural Illinois’ food economy depends on immigrants appeared first on Investigate Midwest.| Investigate Midwest