The Minnesota Journalism Center's School of Journalism and Mass Communication – in collaboration with the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting, and Investigative Reporters and Editors – hosted the “Covering Big Agribusiness” workshop in Minneapolis on Oct. 3 through Oct. 5. Check out the sessi
In recent years, crop insurance has become an increasingly controversial subject. While many support the program, others claim it sucks up too many taxpayer dollars. Reporters can use this guide to start their crop insurance research.
As part of a project with Harvest Public Media, the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting analyzed electronic federal lobbying reports to get a closer look at who lobbied on the 2014 Farm Bill. Access the results and data here.
Government reports have recently found that the U.S. water supply is in jeopardy, both in terms of quantity and quality. Here are tools for reporters to research water issues.
In May, the Government Accountability Office released a report that looked at U.S. freshwater availability. The report found that, since an earlier investigation in 2003, the state of the water supply in the United States has worsened. Furthermore, a survey of state water managers found that 40 out
A White House assessment revealed that climate change will affect the agriculture industry in several ways. Rising temperatures will cause some crops to no longer be productive, while also creating ideal conditions for insects. More extreme weather events will rapidly erode the soil and cause planti
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported an estimated $6.2 billion in improper payments in 2013, according to an Office of Inspector General’s April report. Read the report here.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released preliminary data today on the 2012 Agriculture Census - taken every five years - during its Ag Outlook Forum in Arlington, Va. Investigate Midwest reporter Sam Robinson is reporting live this week. Here's a quick look at the latest data.
Timothy Pigford sued the United states Department of Agriculture in 1997 because he believed black producers were being denied loans. Pigford's case resulted in the largest civil rights settlement in the history of the United States. Yet, many black producers who joined the settlement have only rece
On Sept. 18, 2013, The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting and Poynter Institute conducted a Webinar on covering agribusiness. The Webinar included information about finding documents and people for stories, along with information about coming up with story ideas in any area.
A new report by The Center for Investigative Reporting found that hundreds of female agricultural workers have complained to the federal government about being raped and assaulted, verbally and physically harassed on the job, while law enforcement has done almost nothing to prosecute potential crime
More than two dozens journalists from throughout the U.S. gathered in Champaign, Ill. for an intense three-day workshop on covering big agribusiness companies.
