Corrections page

We at Investigate Midwest believe all incorrect things must be corrected and noted in some way.

Factual errors need to be corrected at the top of stories.

Here is an example: “This story originally said ADM’s international headquarters is based in Decatur, Illinois. The correct location is Chicago.”

This page is dedicated to archiving all corrections as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Midwest oat growers want a renaissance, but it will be hard without Big Ag

Note: This story has been updated to reflect that Practical Farmers of Iowa is based in Ames, Iowa — not Des Moines. Investigate Midwest regrets the error. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Few people outside Quaker Oats know exactly what the Cedar Rapids factory is making when a sweet, wholesome smell wafts from the plant north … Continue reading Midwest oat growers want a renaissance, but it will be hard without Big Ag

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This story has been updated to reflect that Practical Farmers of Iowa is based in Ames, Iowa — not Des Moines.

Campaign cash flows from ethanol and corn sectors as Illinois lawmakers weigh carbon capture regulations

Note: This story was updated 10:23 a.m. Jan. 27, 2025. Nestled along the curves of the Illinois River just outside the town of Hennepin is the country’s largest dry-mill ethanol plant, where a network of pipes, grain elevators and exhaust towers rise like a mini-city. Surrounding the plant are hundreds of acres of corn, the … Continue reading Campaign cash flows from ethanol and corn sectors as Illinois lawmakers weigh carbon capture regulations

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This story was updated to reflect Marc Miller’s title as deputy director of the Prairie Research Institute.

Pillen’s promises: Economic boom and little harm for neighbors. They haven’t always panned out.

As he grew Nebraska’s largest hog operation, Jim Pillen made economic and environmental assurances to residents of small communities where he was looking to build. Some residents profited. Others say Pillen Family Farms prospered while they suffered.

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Photo captions were updated to clarify the location of Pillen Milling’s new feed mill.

At the mouth of the Mississippi, Louisiana bears the burden of upstream runoff. Why doesn’t it push for solutions?

This summer’s ‘dead zone,’ a low-oxygen area where the river empties into the sea, could span 5,827 square miles across the Gulf of Mexico. Louisiana has the power to call for change.

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An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the locations of river diversions in Louisiana and gave an incorrect date for the upcoming annual Gulf research cruise. This story has been updated.

As Illinois session ends, lawmakers’ attempt to reinstate wetland protections fails

The U.S. Supreme Court reversed a major Clean Water Act provision protecting wetlands. Illinois lawmakers attempted to codify protections into state law during this year’s session. The bill will be brought up again during the fall veto session.

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The last name of Jessica Whiston was misspelled. The story has been updated with the correct spelling.

Vern LaGesse is a former executive director of the Friends of the Sangamon Valley, an organization dedicated to protecting wetlands. The story and a photo cutline have been updated to reflect this information.

Turkey growers left out of USDA payment reform say the decision is ‘devastating’

Key takeaways * Poultry growers have complained that the “tournament system” — which has been criticized for delivering large swings in pay each time growers deliver birds — makes it difficult to make a living from poultry farming. * When the USDA first announced reforms to the tournament system last year, the turkey industry was … Continue reading Turkey growers left out of USDA payment reform say the decision is ‘devastating’

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The financial value of the turkey industry in 2022 has been updated in the text of the story and in the accompanying graphic. It is a $7 billion dollar industry.

The ultimate price

Two Mexican farmworkers died in a trailer fire in North Carolina. Their story illustrates how the nation’s most important agricultural visa program is failing the workers it is supposed to protect.

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Due to an editing error, laws protecting H-2A workers was incorrectly stated. The story has been updated to correctly reflect that only federal laws are in place to protect these workers.

Oklahoma’s permit system ushered in new wave of industrial poultry farm growth

Without notice, some Oklahomans find new farms next door that bring flies, feathers, odors and water pollution.

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This story originally had the incorrect location for where the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project is based, which is Delaware. In the same paragraph, it is clarified that the organization advocates against the harms of industrial farming.

Poor regulatory safeguards leave farmworkers suffocating in the face of increasing heat waves

A fifth of reported heat-related deaths between 2017 and 2022 were agricultural workers, according to OSHA data. Academics, occupational health specialists, and advocacy groups are calling attention to the under-reported impact of climate change on this group from heatwaves.

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Due to an editing error, Juan Peña’s age was incorrect in the initial version of this story. It has been updated with his correct age. Also, due to an editing error, the number of undocumented farmworkers in the U.S. was misrepresented. The information is correct now.