Institutional investors helped fuel soaring land values, but economic conditions are changing. From Kansas to Iowa, states that once saw double-digital farmland price increases are experiencing a cooling market.
The little-known Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission is taking longer to review appeals of OSHA fines and orders. Now the three-person commission is about to lose its only member.
The industry giant faces FTC scrutiny over its repair policies, which critics say drive up costs and limit farmers’ choices. Meanwhile, elected officials in more than a dozen states are considering right-to-repair bills to improve independent repair access.
Despite industry pushback, a new USDA rule seeks to curb salmonella in poultry, aiming to reduce foodborne illnesses and protect public health. To make lasting progress, regulators, industry, and lawmakers must find common ground and work together.
More than a dozen recently fired USDA employees told Investigate Midwest that mass terminations have stalled irrigation projects, rural housing aid and efforts to combat invasive crop diseases. Remaining staff are overwhelmed; farmers may not receive much needed timely help, former staff say.
