Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

Podcast: Farmland ownership in the U.S. and how it relates to food security

What does an increases in foreign investment mean for farmers in Iowa? IowaWatch Connection, a statewide radio program, dug into the issue of foreign investment and food security.

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 24 Jul 2017

Farmland Ownership In the U.S., And How It Relates To Food Security

One important way to ensure food security in the United States is to keep farmland ownership from going into foreign hands. That doesn't always happen.

By Jeff Stein and Lyle Muller, Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest and Brant Houston

/ 24 Jul 2017

Farmland Ownership In the U.S., And How It Relates To Food Security

Monsanto responds to dicamba bans after drift issues

Monsanto has issued a statement calling the decision to ban the use of one of its herbicides that has been connected to crop damage “premature.”

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 10 Jul 2017

Monsanto responds to dicamba bans after drift issues

Migrant farm workers file class action lawsuit against Monsanto

A federal class action lawsuit on behalf of two migrant farm workers was filed in federal court last week accusing Monsanto of violating the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Agricultural Workers Protection Act in its treatment of farmworkers who help produce seed corn.

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 2 Jul 2017

Migrant farm workers file class action lawsuit against Monsanto

Foreign investment in U.S. farmland on the rise

Over the past decade, foreign companies have been investing in agricultural land in the United States at a record pace, according to a Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting analysis of USDA data. The data was compiled from 1900 to 2014 under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (A

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest, Robert Holly/Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting and Jelter Meers/The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 22 Jun 2017

Foreign investment in U.S. farmland on the rise

Sale of timber land went mostly to a handful of foreign investors

The top 10 foreign investors own about $8.1 billion worth of agriculture land, almost one-fifth of all holdings, according to calculations by the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting.

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 22 Jun 2017

Sale of timber land went mostly to a handful of foreign investors

Lagging crop conditions could be preview of future Illinois climate

The weather that led to the below-average conditions could be a preview of future climate conditions, according to a new study from the University of Illinois.

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 20 Jun 2017

Lagging crop conditions could be preview of future Illinois climate

Lack of irrigation reporting leaves uncertain future for Illinois groundwater

Almost 1,000 pivots have been installed in counties statewide in the past four years as a result of higher crop prices and the demand of seed corn companies, an almost 20 percent increase in overall irrigation that equals the use of more than half a million people each year.

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 20 Jun 2017

Lack of irrigation reporting leaves uncertain future for Illinois groundwater

Irrigation could be one side effect of changing climate

“If I was going to invest in farm ground, if some of these climate scenarios come true, then having irrigation might be something that would pay off in the long-term,” Roadcap said.

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 20 Jun 2017

Irrigation could be one side effect of changing climate

High commodity prices, seed corn companies spur rise in irrigation in Illinois

Since the 2012 drought, the number of irrigation pivots in Champaign County has more than doubled. Brad Uken, the manager of the Champaign County Farm Bureau, said that one of the driving factors behind the recent growth in irrigation has been seed corn companies moving toward growers that have inst

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 20 Jun 2017

High commodity prices, seed corn companies spur rise in irrigation in Illinois

Irrigation’s impact on agriculture during the drought of 2012

The drought of 2012 was the worst since at least 1988, spanning the entire Corn Belt, from Ohio to Wyoming, and costing the agribusiness industry billions of dollars.

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 20 Jun 2017

Irrigation’s impact on agriculture during the drought of 2012

'Uncharted waters:' Illinois water use issues exacerbated by irrigation, lack of water supply planning

While Illinois is not currently facing a water crisis, highly populated areas with high growth – namely Chicagoland and Champaign County – are starting to see some levels of water conflict, and agricultural irrigation is playing a major role.

By Johnathan Hettinger, Investigate Midwest

/ 20 Jun 2017

Podcast: Farmland ownership in the U.S. and how it relates to food security

Farmland Ownership In the U.S., And How It Relates To Food Security

Monsanto responds to dicamba bans after drift issues

Migrant farm workers file class action lawsuit against Monsanto

Foreign investment in U.S. farmland on the rise

Sale of timber land went mostly to a handful of foreign investors

Lagging crop conditions could be preview of future Illinois climate

Lack of irrigation reporting leaves uncertain future for Illinois groundwater

Irrigation could be one side effect of changing climate

High commodity prices, seed corn companies spur rise in irrigation in Illinois

Irrigation’s impact on agriculture during the drought of 2012

'Uncharted waters:' Illinois water use issues exacerbated by irrigation, lack of water supply planning

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