Federal prosecutors are moving to scrutinize high input costs as farmers face slimmer margins. USDA forecast data shows expenses climbing to $467.4 billion while crop receipts weaken for staples such as corn and soybeans.
In a conversation with Investigate Midwest, more than a dozen vendors describe how inflation, falling crop prices and tariffs are reshaping their livelihoods.
BELZONI, Miss. — For Pepper Roberts, running a successful farm comes down to managing risk and planning for potential challenges.
While other farmers sold their crops last fall, Roberts used grain
As many as 700 USDA workers on the frontlines of pest detection and crop protection have accepted deferred resignation offers. Their departure could slow inspections, delay outbreak response and leave the nation’s crops exposed to invasive species — which could harm the agricultural economy.
Midwest farmers fear economic fallout as Trump’s shifting tariff policies reignite trade tensions with key partners. Many worry that new trade wars will further disrupt global markets, leaving them with fewer buyers and declining profits.
Backed by the powerful corn lobby, Marquis Energy’s push to bury carbon emissions underground has sparked a fierce debate in Illinois politics. The ethanol plant is banking on carbon capture technology to secure federal tax credits.
