9 to 9:50 a.m.
IRE: OVERVIEW OF REPORTING ON AGRIBUSINESS
20 DIFFERENT KINDS OF STORIES
I plan on noting that Iowa, a state with $8.4 Billion in agriculture trade in 2010, with its top
commodity exports being tractors ($745 Million), Soybeans ($513 million), frozen pork ($436
million, has seen a reduction in the number of reporters dedicated to ag reporting: Des Moines
Register, Cedar Rapids Gazette, KGAN, KWWL then and now.
(Register still covers farm issues but does not have dedicated ag business writer; reorg)
1) Des Moines Register: Harvest of Change
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/longform/money/agriculture/2014/09/25/harvest-ofchange-virtual-farm-day
2) Story idea: Multiple issues about farm (These are mostly Iowa-based, but similar
resources are available in other states)
- Farm Fatalities: This is one area that we’ve had a great deal of success with in terms of
raising awareness of the lack of regulations on Iowa farms, which puts workers at risk.
o Iowa Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program : http://www.publichealth.uiowa.edu/face/
 This is operated under the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health, which has cooperative agreements with 9 states. It includes
information on farming-related fatalities, in addition to other occupational
fatalities.
 See if your state is a participant:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface.html
3) Story idea: Environment -- Water Pollution Resources:
o The Iowa DNR monitors Iowa streams and lakes, many of the pollutants can be
linked to farming practices. This data is available on a local level, with reports on
individual lakes and local reports on streams. Check with your state DNR to see
if it has similar programs.
http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/WaterQuality/WaterMonitoring/MonitoringPr
ograms/Streams.aspx
o Example: Chemical/Physical report on Iowa’s Coralville Reservoir 2000-2013
http://limnology.eeob.iastate.edu/lakereport/chemical_report.aspx?ryear=2013&L
ake_ID=023&bk=1#1 (Note the Ammonia and Nitrate rates)
 Because lakes are often a gathering place for kids and families in the
summer times, local reports on water quality are a great resource for a
quick-hit report.
4) Story idea: Animal Safety: Upcoming IowaWatch story on puppy mills in Iowa. It can be
duplicated in many stations.
5) Story idea: Campaign Contributions:
a. FollowTheMoney.org
b. Allows you to search by industry (Agriculture) or by an individual contributor
c. Example: Donations to Iowa candidates from the Agriculture industry, displayed
by contributor: http://followthemoney.org/
6) Story ideal Quirky: Local officials mull pot reform (Daily Iowan, December 11, 2013):
http://www.dailyiowan.com/2013/12/11/Metro/36008.html
7) Story ideas: multiple angles on topics: Farm safety: personal, trend, culture, government
involvement, solutions
http://iowawatch.org/2013/12/16/matter-of-seconds-injury-and-death-on-americas-farms/