Investigation
At Nebraska Plant, ADM Allowed Dangerous Dust to Build Up Beyond Safe Levels, Recordings Show
'Could have been a hell of a lot worse,’ a federal safety inspector noted to plant managers.
Food•9 min read
Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest
Sky is senior reporter for Investigate Midwest. Previously, he was the Center's USA TODAY Agriculture Data Fellow. In 2019, he graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism with a master's degree in investigative reporting. He's covered Missouri state government for the Columbia Missourian and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Before grad school, he was a reporter in Texas, covering local governments and law enforcement. At Investigate Midwest, he focuses on data journalism.
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Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest's Posts
Investigation
Trump’s Deportations are Causing Farm Labor Issues. He Hasn’t Presented a Viable Long-term Solution.
Trump has cast the H-2A visa program as a quick help for farmers. At the same time, the program has been suspended during the government shutdown.
Farms•12 min read
Feature
USDA’s DEI Purge: How Trump and Rollins Are Reshaping American Agriculture
The Trump administration has cut funding for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as part of an effort to reduce what it deems wasteful spending.
Farms•11 min read
Feature
‘Farming in the Dark’: Brooke Rollins’ Leadership, Doge’s Grip and the Cost to American Agriculture
In her first six months, Donald Trump’s second agriculture secretary has altered the course of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Policy•21 min read
Investigation
‘I Know I Have a Dust Problem’: ADM Repeatedly Failed to Prevent Potentially Deadly Grain Explosions
How one of the world’s largest animal feed producers, Archer Daniels Midland, failed to implement crucial safety measures — to grave consequences.
Health•21 min read
News
Axed Once, USDA Employees Anxiously Await Potentially Being Fired Again
Many employees have been reinstated, but the Trump administration is moving forward with plans to slash federal jobs.
Policy•5 min read
Reported
Mass Firings Have Cut USDA ‘Off At the Knees,’ Ex-Employees Say
More than a dozen recently fired USDA employees told Investigate Midwest the terminations have stalled conservation projects.
Policy•9 min read
Investigation
New Senate Agriculture Committee Leadership Has Extensive Ties to Meat Industry
Arkansas Senator John Boozman has received tens of thousands of campaign donations from employees at Tyson Foods.
Policy•7 min read
Reported
COVID-19 Hit Slaughterhouse Workers Harder Than We Thought
A new Congressional report found that slaughterhouses owned by five major meatpacking companies accounted for at least 59,000 COVID-19 cases and 269 deaths.
Policy•8 min read
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