Crops Reporter / Senior Editor

DTN • Remote, IL, IL

7d • $74,000 - $97,000 • Remote

About The Position

DTN is seeking a Crops Reporter to join the DTN/Progressive Farmer editorial team. In this role, you will provide timely, insightful coverage of crop production, plant and soil health, crop management practices, agricultural policy, commodity markets, and the business decisions that drive profitable and sustainable farming operations. This position will focus on delivering high-quality journalism across digital, print, audio, video, and social platforms while serving as a trusted source of information for farmers, ranchers, agribusiness professionals, and agricultural decision-makers. The ideal candidate is passionate about agriculture, skilled in both breaking news and feature writing, and eager to help shape industry conversations through impactful reporting. DTN and Progressive Farmer specializes in business-to-business news, information and analysis for practicing farmers, ranchers, farm managers, and those managing agriculturally related businesses. Our articles focus not just on the events of the day, but how those events affect the profitability of our readers and customers. Content will appear on various digital platforms and in the pages of Progressive Farmer Magazine. A growing part of our coverage will be in audio and video platforms. Experience in creating that content, or high interest in learning how to create that content, is needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism or equivalent experience
• 3+ years of experience as a reporter, editor, or related journalism role
• Strong journalistic reporting, writing, and editing skills, including knowledge of AP Style
• Ability to prioritize news coverage, manage deadlines, and operate effectively in a fast-paced digital media environment
• Working knowledge of crop production, plant science, soil science, or a strong interest in developing expertise in these areas
• Understanding of digital publishing, content management systems, social media, and audience engagement strategies
• Experience using word processing, spreadsheet software, and digital media tools
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to establish trust with farmers and industry stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining accuracy and quality

Nice To Haves

• Experience covering agriculture, agribusiness, commodity markets, or rural issues
• Knowledge of grain markets and agricultural business operations
• Experience creating audio, video, photography, or multimedia content
• Interest in data-driven journalism and analytical reporting
• Experience working with freelance contributors and collaborative editorial teams

Responsibilities

• Research, write, and publish news stories, feature articles, and analysis focused on crop production and agribusiness topics
• Cover topics including crop management, plant and soil health, regulatory developments, sustainability initiatives, carbon programs, and commodity crop production
• Produce timely coverage of breaking news and provide ongoing reporting as stories evolve
• Develop original story ideas and execute assigned editorial content
• Collaborate with editors, reporters, freelancers, grain analysts, and meteorologists to create comprehensive coverage packages and series
• Cultivate relationships with farmers, agribusiness leaders, industry experts, and other key sources
• Create content across multiple formats, including written articles, photography, audio, video, and social media
• Contribute to editorial planning and support development of content strategies that engage DTN audiences
• Utilize data and industry research to support accurate, impactful reporting
• Travel as needed to cover industry events, conferences, and on-location reporting assignments

Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Unlimited PTO
• Flexible working hours
• Remote work model (position dependent)
• Competitive Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Plans
• 6% 401K matching
• Unlimited access to 13k+ courses via learning platform to support employee career advancement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior