Dana Cronin, Illinois Public Media

A giant investment firm paid a university to study one of its biggest assets — farmland

In 2013, mammoth U.S. investment company TIAA-CREF gave $5 million to the University of Illinois — to study an area of investment where the company has made a, sometimes controversial, name for itself.

By Dana Cronin, Illinois Public Media and Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 16 Nov 2021

A giant investment firm paid a university to study one of its biggest assets — farmland

Corporate money keeps university ag schools ‘relevant,’ and makes them targets of donor criticism

Large donors can put universities in potentially awkward positions when faculty conclusions conflict with the interests of those benefactors. Data collected by Harvest Public Media and Investigate Midwest shows corporations have given at least $170 million to ag colleges in the past decade.

By johnathan-hettinger-and-sky-chadde-investigate-midwest-dana-cronin-katie-peikes-and-seth-bodine-harvest-public-media, Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest, Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest, Dana Cronin, Illinois Public Media, Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio/Harvest Public Media and Seth Bodine, Harvest Public Media

/ 15 Nov 2021

Corporate money keeps university ag schools ‘relevant,’ and makes them targets of donor criticism

As Climate Change Ramps Up Heat, Farmers Struggle To Keep Animals Cool

Farmers have invested thousands in new technologies designed to protect animals from heat stress.

By Dana Cronin, Illinois Public Media

/ 31 Aug 2021

As Climate Change Ramps Up Heat, Farmers Struggle To Keep Animals Cool

For farmland conservation, it comes down to who owns it

TOLONO — Lin Warfel puts farmland owners in central Illinois into two categories: Those with a deep connection and desire to preserve their land, and those obsessed with short-term money. The 80-year-old still owns the land that’s been in his family since his great-grandfather arrived in Champaign C

By Dana Cronin, Illinois Public Media

/ 8 Jun 2021

For farmland conservation, it comes down to who owns it

Building Trust Is Key To Ensuring Farmworker Access To COVID Testing, Vaccine

The rollout of coronavirus vaccines provides hope that the end of the pandemic is near. But the virus is still spreading across the U.S. and efforts to expand access to testing and build trust with the farmworker community are still needed, Tellefson Torres says.

By Christine Herman, Illinois Newsroom and Dana Cronin, Illinois Public Media

/ 22 Jan 2021

Building Trust Is Key To Ensuring Farmworker Access To COVID Testing, Vaccine

Lawsuit Alleges Farmworkers Sickened After Pesticide Exposure

In late July 2019, a group of migrant farmworkers from south Texas was working in a cornfield in DeWitt County, Ill., when suddenly a crop duster flew overhead, spraying them with pesticides. Panicked, the crew, which included teenagers and a pregnant woman, ran off the field with clothes doused in

By Dana Cronin, Illinois Public Media

/ 10 Dec 2020

Lawsuit Alleges Farmworkers Sickened After Pesticide Exposure

‘Either I Risk It All Or Nothing At All’: Migrant Workers’ Need To Work Outweighs COVID-19 Concerns

Since June, there have been 21 COVID-19 cases linked to the hotel where an entire crew of migrant workers are living, according to the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, which tracks COVID-19 cases across Champaign County. The hotel is tied for third largest outbreak in the county, based on in

By Dana Cronin, Illinois Public Media and Christine Herman, Illinois Newsroom

/ 12 Oct 2020

‘Either I Risk It All Or Nothing At All’: Migrant Workers’ Need To Work Outweighs COVID-19 Concerns

Farmers reeling after storm rips through millions of acres of crops

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced a state of emergency in 20 counties on Tuesday, and the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig called the damage “significant” and “severe.”

By Dana Cronin, Illinois Public Media

/ 17 Aug 2020

Farmers reeling after storm rips through millions of acres of crops