Clips

Check out where all Chris’ articles have been published.

U.S. grocery shortages deepen as pandemic dries supplies (Reuters, January 14, 2022)

U.S. offers $1.5 bln for school meals during supply chain crunch (Reuters, December 17, 2021)

Biden farm debt relief plan to exclude thousands of minority farmers (Reuters, December 17, 2021)

Hunger lingers for millions of underemployed, low-income Americans (Reuters, December 14, 2021)

U.S. Thanksgiving turkey costs fatten up after farmers slimmed down flocks (Reuters, November 22, 2021)

Thanksgiving dinner cost jumps with inflation on the menu (Reuters, November 20, 2021)

Hunger rose for U.S. minorities, children in 2020, despite federal pandemic aid (Reuters, September 8, 2021)

U.S. pandemic summer school meal program has served millions, but its future uncertain (Reuters, August 11, 2021)

‘Big risk’: California farmers hit by drought change planting plans (Reuters, June 1, 2021)

Debt relief for U.S. minority farmers coming in June – USDA (Reuters, May 21, 2021)

Biden to cancel Trump’s pandemic food aid after high costs, delivery problems (Reuters, April 14, 2021)

Lessons of hunger: pandemic prompts fresh thinking, new players in U.S. food aid (Reuters, March 23, 2021)

U.S. agriculture secretary prioritizes pandemic aid, expanding export markets (Reuters, February 25, 2021)

U.S. lawmakers introduce legislation to help Black farmers (Reuters, February 9, 2021)

Biden’s agriculture secretary pick disappoints Black farmers (Reuters, December 11, 2020)

Biden agriculture pick likely to reassure farmers, disappoint activists (Reuters, December 9, 2020)

‘Very stressful’: COVID-19 surge slices U.S. demand for big Thanksgiving turkeys (Reuters, November 23, 2020)

Food workers, rural Americans go hungry despite U.S. government farm aid (Reuters, October 27, 2020)

Time’s up: After a reprieve, a wave of evictions expected across U.S. (Reuters, October 19, 2020)

Trump trade aid payments benefited large, Southern farms: watchdog report (Reuters, September 14, 2020)

Lockdown, leftovers and how food frugality is a climate boon (Reuters, August 18, 2020)

Derecho winds tear through U.S. farmland, leave 500,000-plus without power (Reuters, August 10, 2020)

Morning glories and mustard: U.S. investigates unsolicited seed mystery (July 31, 2020)

Exclusive: U.S. government’s boxed food aid promise falls short (Reuters, June 7, 2020)

Coronavirus spreads among fruit and vegetable packers, worrying U.S. officials (Reuters, June 11, 2020)

U.S. food aid program launches with companies scrambling to deliver (Reuters, May 15, 2020)

The great potato giveaway: U.S. farmers hand out spuds to avoid food waste (Reuters, May 7, 2020)

‘Whole new business’: Farmers innovate to get food from field to plate (Reuters, May 7, 2020)

U.S. food banks run short on staples as hunger soars (Reuters, April 24, 2020)

Home gardening blooms around the world during coronavirus lockdowns (Reuters, April 20, 2020)

California farmer plows under lettuce after coronavirus shutters restaurant market (Reuters, April 15, 2020)

Canada, U.S. farms face crop losses due to foreign worker delays (Reuters, April 6, 2020)

‘The watermelons will rot:’ U.S. visa confusion in Mexico keeps out agriculture workers (Reuters, March 30, 2020)

In North Dakota, A Changing Climate Threatens Crop Diversity

This is the first story in a five-part series, “Change at the Climate Divide,” about climate change and the Great Plains. This reporting project was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center.

Nearly two years after ICE came to town, trauma still haunts these Iowa families

This story was produced with support from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Center for Health Journalism’s National Fellowship and by the Dennis A. Hunt Fund for Health Journalism.


Crop insurance, farm safety programs get big cuts under Trump’s budget


After suing feds for contempt, Kraft Foods attempts second settlement in wheat market manipulation case


Half of North Dakota’s Corn is still in the field. USDA calls it “on-farm storage”

This story was also published by The Counter.


More foreign ownership of U.S. beef processors raises food safety concerns

This story was also published by the Wasau Pilot and Review.


Farm immigration reform aims to aid struggling Midwest dairies

This story was also published by Wisconsin Farmer.


A 10-minute delay of key USDA reports gave some people an advantage. Here’s why.

This story was also published by Iowa Public Radio.


EPA’s second attempt to fix Renewable Fuel Standard loophole draws criticism


Soybean promoters shop for new markets as talks with China continue


Agriculture is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. But it can also be a part of the solution.

This story was also published by In These Times.


Kraft, Mondelez agreed to pay $16 million for allegedly manipulating the wheat market. Now, they’re complaining the feds talked about it.


General Mills launches pesticide reduction plan after traces found in cereal

This story was also published by the Associated Press and others.


As scientists predict ‘killer heat’ in near future, ag companies and farmers prepare

This story was also published by the Associated Press, the Daily Herald, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Peoria Journal Star, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, U.S. News and World Report, and others.


JBS a big winner in USDA trade war relief contracts

This story was also published by the Associated Press, Daily Yonder, Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Olympian, Peoria Journal Star, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The State, U.S. News and World Report and others.


Food pantries struggle with abundance of meat, milk as USDA triples food buys


Controversial pesticide use sees dramatic increase across the Midwest

This story was also published by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Harvest Public Media, Science Friday, The Daily Yonder, KCUR, KUNC, St. Louis Public Radio, Illinois Public Radio, WVIK Quad Cities Public Radio and others.


Experts concerned about dicamba overuse


CDC report: More research needed on health risks from weedkiller glyphosate


Comments on Bayer-Monsanto merger settlement reveal lack of confidence in competition


In Iowa, 2020 candidates decry mega-mergers and falling farm incomes


U.S. food buys offer little relief from trade war

This story was also published by New Food Economy and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.


USDA rural broadband investment tops $200 million in 2018

This story was also published by the Des Moines Register.


Lawsuit challenges rule easing environmental reviews for animal confinements

This story was also published by the Daily Star Journal and St. Louis Today.


USDA to reduce work exemptions for some SNAP recipients


Poultry growers, caught between strict rules and financial risk, lean heavily on government-backed loans

This story was also published by the Associated Press, Minneapolis Star Tribune and U.S. News and World Report.


USDA’s Rural broadband plan met with citizen criticism and concerns

This story was also published by the Associated Press, The Chicago Tribune, The Daily ReporterDaily Yonder, Faribault Daily NewsThe Food & Environment Reporting Network, High Plains Public Radio, KNEB Radio Scotts BluffKUNC, Merced Sun-StarThe Peoria Journal Star and the Winona Daily News.


Business, education, healthcare top of mind as rural broadband expansion inches forward

This story was also published by the Associated Press and the Peoria Journal Star.


Midwest businesses, farmers rally to oppose Trump’s trade war


Disappearing farmland

This story was also published by the Associated PressDaily Yonder, La Crosse TribuneThe News TribunePeoria Journal Star, Successful FarmingWashington Times and WRAL-TV.


Disappearing farmland

This story was also published by the Alva Review-CourierAssociated Press, Brookings RegisterDaily Reporter, Fresno BeeIdaho Statesman, NBC 5 Chicago, NBC 5 DFWNBC 10 PhiladelphiaPeoria Journal StarU.S. News and World Report, Washington Times and Winona Daily News.


Database: Disappearing Farmland


Post merger, Bayer vague on lawsuit strategy, despite liability

This story was also published by the Alva Review-CourierAssociated Press,  Chicago Tribune and U.S. News and World Report


Trade disputes explode under Trump tariff war

This story was also published by Illinois Public Media.


Slaughterhouses provide low, yet stable floor for employment in rural America

This story was also published by In These Times.


Large animal feeding operations on the rise


Report: USDA payments to non-farmers remain high


Up in the Sky: Saving Old Farm Photos, One Roll at a Time

“Go out and take pictures of every farm you see.”

Seems like an odd thing to ask an airplane pilot. It’s a lot of farms and a lot of film. More than 60 years after that first pilot took that first picture, a company called Vintage Aerial is trying to match rolls and rolls of aerial farmland photos – 18 million photos worth – to the families who have lived and worked on that land for generations … Continue reading

          Agweb.com

Reliable Rural Broadband: A Near Future Reality or All Talk?
Agweb – 1/15/18

4-H and Google Team Up to Bring Tech to America’s Youth
Agweb – 8/11/17

New Sage Grouse Plan Workable for Farmers, Ranchers
Agweb – 8/8/17

Will Soybean Acres Surpass Corn This Year?
Agweb – 6/29/17

Dairy under the Golden Arches
Milk Business Magazine – 9/5/16

A Mule’s Paradise
Missouri Life Magazine – 8/1/15

5 Key Mistakes To Avoid After A Bike Crash
The Chicagoist – 12/4/15

Hard to Swallow: One man’s journey around the world & into the record books
Medium – 4/28/15

Surveying the Unknown: Mozambique’s struggle to free itself of landmines
Deadly Debris – 1/5/15
This story was also published by Global Post.

Nurse-shaming: Chicago dad responds to breastfeeding blog post
Chicago Parent – 8/1/14

Lessons for youth concerning Trayvon Martin
Austin Weekly News – 11/5/13