Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

How Illinois’ ‘fragmented system’ of monitoring pesticide exposure ‘allows individuals to get poisoned over and over without any brakes’

A crew of farmworkers claimed they were sprayed with pesticides. What should have been a “rapid response” was a “big mess.”

By Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest and Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 14 Apr 2022

How Illinois’ ‘fragmented system’ of monitoring pesticide exposure ‘allows individuals to get poisoned over and over without any brakes’

Shuttered offices, potentially high fertilizer costs: Here’s what the situation in Ukraine means for U.S. agriculture

“We import 80% of the fertilizer we use from outside the U.S. so the situation in eastern Europe will affect those supply chain issues around the world," one farm bureau representative said.

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest, Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America and Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest

/ 3 Mar 2022

Shuttered offices, potentially high fertilizer costs: Here’s what the situation in Ukraine means for U.S. agriculture

GRAPHIC: Food prices — especially meat — are outstripping historical inflation

In the past 20 years, inflation on food prices was about 2% each year. Last year, it jumped.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 2 Mar 2022

GRAPHIC: Food prices — especially meat — are outstripping historical inflation

An Illinois bill aims to counteract a decades-long trend: The decline of the Black farmer

“This bill could help usher in a new generation of African American farmers,” a Black producer said. “But, if it fails, it’s gonna continue to dwindle.”

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 15 Feb 2022

An Illinois bill aims to counteract a decades-long trend: The decline of the Black farmer

GRAPHIC: Billions in crop insurance payouts can be linked to climate change, EWG report says

Between 1995 and 2020, the amount of crop insurance payments for drought increased about 400%, according to an analysis of government data by the Environmental Working Group.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 3 Feb 2022

GRAPHIC: Billions in crop insurance payouts can be linked to climate change, EWG report says

'When a grocery store closes up and it's your last one, you feel it immediately'

Rural areas are losing grocery stores but gaining other kinds of food retailers, such as dollar stores, according to the USDA.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 27 Jan 2022

'When a grocery store closes up and it's your last one, you feel it immediately'

“Keeping our drivers happy”: Trucker shortage leading to empty store shelves compels companies to increase wages

“We've had to go back to our customers and request additional compensation to be able to make sure our drivers were getting paid enough,” an owner of a trucking company said.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 11 Jan 2022

“Keeping our drivers happy”: Trucker shortage leading to empty store shelves compels companies to increase wages

COVID-19 disrupted supply chains. Now Illinois farmers face higher prices.

Bottlenecks at ports and labor shortages are leading to higher prices for needed farming materials, such as fertilizer, pesticides and equipment.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 16 Dec 2021

COVID-19 disrupted supply chains. Now Illinois farmers face higher prices.

Rural Illinois has lost population over the past decade. It’s gained in diversity.

Reflecting a national trend, rural counties in Illinois have seen an exodus of, primarily, white residents. Increases in Hispanic residents have fueled an uptick in diversity.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 15 Dec 2021

Rural Illinois has lost population over the past decade. It’s gained in diversity.

GRAPHIC: Family farms received on average $2,167 in stimulus payments in 2020

Overall, farm households received about $4.3 billion in pandemic aid from the federal government, according to the USDA.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 17 Nov 2021

GRAPHIC: Family farms received on average $2,167 in stimulus payments in 2020

GRAPHIC: For family farms, most income comes from far afield

Almost all farm households in 2019 derived some income from off-farm sources, such as pensions, investment income, or wages and salary from an off-farm job.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 14 Oct 2021

GRAPHIC: For family farms, most income comes from far afield

The pandemic disrupted Americans’ access to food. Minorities suffered the most.

New USDA data shows the overall food insecurity rate remained the same in 2020 compared to 2019. However, the rate increased for Black and Hispanic Americans. Researchers say more investigation is needed to understand the data.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America and Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest

/ 14 Oct 2021

Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

How Illinois’ ‘fragmented system’ of monitoring pesticide exposure ‘allows individuals to get poisoned over and over without any brakes’

Shuttered offices, potentially high fertilizer costs: Here’s what the situation in Ukraine means for U.S. agriculture

GRAPHIC: Food prices — especially meat — are outstripping historical inflation

An Illinois bill aims to counteract a decades-long trend: The decline of the Black farmer

GRAPHIC: Billions in crop insurance payouts can be linked to climate change, EWG report says

'When a grocery store closes up and it's your last one, you feel it immediately'

“Keeping our drivers happy”: Trucker shortage leading to empty store shelves compels companies to increase wages

COVID-19 disrupted supply chains. Now Illinois farmers face higher prices.

Rural Illinois has lost population over the past decade. It’s gained in diversity.

GRAPHIC: Family farms received on average $2,167 in stimulus payments in 2020

GRAPHIC: For family farms, most income comes from far afield

The pandemic disrupted Americans’ access to food. Minorities suffered the most.

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