APHIS - Investigate Midwest

After forcing resignations, USDA tries to walk back staff cuts and calls frontline workers ‘vital’

More than 700 USDA workers accepted resignation offers that provided months of paid leave. Now the agency is warning that key biosecurity work, like port inspections and outbreak response, will suffer without them.

By Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest

/ 24 Apr 2025

After forcing resignations, USDA tries to walk back staff cuts and calls frontline workers ‘vital’

Millions of livestock die each year while being transported. Those cases are rarely investigated by the USDA.

Animal welfare advocates believe antiquated laws and truck driver exemptions lead to millions of farm animal deaths.

By Madison Holcomb, for Investigate Midwest

/ 30 Jan 2025

Millions of livestock die each year while being transported. Those cases are rarely investigated by the USDA.

Opinion: APHIS needs to be held accountable for Envigo dog breeding failures

The conduct of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in oversight of Envigo's Cumberland, Virginia, beagle breeding facility between 2017 and 2022 is atrocious, sickening and heartbreaking, Dickey writes.

By Dave Dickey, Columnist

/ 23 Nov 2022

Opinion: APHIS needs to be held accountable for Envigo dog breeding failures

Monsanto’s first-of-its kind GMO could shake up the corn market

Monsanto claims it has come up with a way to physically make ears of corn an inch or two larger. If that turns out to be true – and if the new variety successfully makes it through the coordinated framework for biotechnology – it would be a big deal for the U.S. corn industry.

By Robert Holly

/ 2 Oct 2015

Monsanto’s first-of-its kind GMO could shake up the corn market

GMOs, Monsanto and the fight against climate change

Two decades ago, less than 10 percent of corn and soybean acres were planted with genetically engineered seeds. Last year, nearly every single acre of corn and soybean was planted with GMOs. U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows St. Louis-based seed company Monsanto has propelled that rapid incr

By Robert Holly

/ 9 Jul 2015

GMOs, Monsanto and the fight against climate change

IowaWatch Connection Podcast: Bill To Let Iowa Inspect For 'Puppy Mill' Health Violations Must Wait Until Next Year

Iowa declined this year to give its Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship authority to inspect for animal health conditions large dog breeding facilities, particularly those suspected of having substandard conditions for animals at the facilities. Plus, link to new Horrible Hundred dog bree

By Jeff Stein

/ 29 Jun 2015

IowaWatch Connection Podcast: Bill To Let Iowa Inspect For 'Puppy Mill' Health Violations Must Wait Until Next Year

Monsanto Inches Closer To Biggest Biotech Launch In Company’s History

Agribusiness giant Monsanto is steadily moving forward on the introduction of its next major wave of genetically engineered crops. It's a bid to stop a super weed, but with critics.

By Robert Holly/Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 8 Feb 2015

Monsanto Inches Closer To Biggest Biotech Launch In Company’s History

GM soybean, cotton deregulation prompts herbicide concerns

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service deregulated Monsanto GM soybean and cotton varieties in January. Organic farmers and environmental advocates say they are concerned the seeds may prompt an increase in costly herbicide drift.

By Robert Holly

/ 6 Feb 2015

GM soybean, cotton deregulation prompts herbicide concerns

Monsanto inches closer to biggest biotech launch in company's history

To help farmers win the war on herbicide-resistant weeds, Monsanto is working on new varieties of genetically engineered soybean and cotton. Many farmers look forward to the GMOs, but some critics argue the varieties are shortsighted solutions to a long-term problem.

By Robert Holly

/ 6 Feb 2015

Podcast: KXIC 'Your Town' Features IowaWatch Puppy Mill Story, Jacob Luplow

IowaWatch summer 2014 intern Jacob Luplow and executive director-editor Lyle Muller were the guests on the Tuesday, Oct. 21, “Your Town” show on KXIC radio, AM 800, in Iowa

By IowaWatch

/ 30 Oct 2014

Podcast: KXIC 'Your Town' Features IowaWatch Puppy Mill Story, Jacob Luplow

Serious Animal Welfare Act Violations Do Not Mean Quick Removal Of Dogs From Breeding Facilities

Dog breeders in Iowa who repeatedly do not comply with the Animal Welfare Act [http://awic.nal.usda.gov/government-and-professional-resources/federal-laws/animal-welfare-act]are allowed to continue raising and breeding dogs – sometimes in horrible conditions – while federal inspectors give the cited

By Jacob Luplow

/ 12 Oct 2014

Serious Animal Welfare Act Violations Do Not Mean Quick Removal Of Dogs From Breeding Facilities