November 25, 2024 (DES MOINES) – Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Grant Menke and a 16-member delegation have just returned from a trade mission to Taiwan and Japan. The mission, coordinated by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), included representation from Iowa’s meat production, grain, and meat processing industries. The purpose of the mission was to encourage trade development, bolster partnerships and identify opportunities to expand export markets.

Taiwan and Japan were both ranked in the top 10 U.S. agricultural export markets in 2023 and continue to be critical Iowa trading partners. In 2023, Iowa companies exported $225.1 million in agricultural goods to Taiwan and $1.3 billion to Japan. Taiwan is Iowa’s 13th largest trading partner, with exports estimated at $321 million in manufactured and value-added goods in 2023. Taiwan is the eighth-largest destination for Iowa soybeans, which accounted for $87.4 million in 2023. Iowa companies exported $50.5 million in meat products to Taiwan in 2023.

Japan is Iowa’s fourth largest export destination and the second-leading export market for pork and beef products. Iowa companies exported $533 million in meat products to Japan in 2023. With $367 million worth of corn purchases made in 2023, Japan is the second largest destination for Iowa corn. Through September, corn exports to Japan have risen 25% in 2024.

“Iowa is an agricultural production powerhouse, so it is vital for our state’s farmers and agribusinesses to be able to share our abundance with the world through trade and to seek new market opportunities for Iowa ag products through participation in international trade missions,” stated Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Grant Menke. “This North Asian mission allowed our well-rounded ag delegation to build on Iowa’s longstanding friendship and partnership in trade with both Japan and Taiwan – strong, stable markets that depend heavily on imports for their food and agriculture needs and deeply value the reliability and premium quality of Iowa’s meat products and commodities. Our meetings, briefings, tours and customer visits showcased the innovation and creativity of Japanese and Taiwanese businesses, provided key information and insights on Iowa agriculture, addressed technical barriers to trade, and confirmed the potential and desire for even greater volumes of Iowa ag exports to Japan and Taiwan in the future.”

The Iowa ag delegation visited Taipei, Taiwan and Tokyo and Osaka, Japan from November 15-23. The itinerary was comprised of trade policy discussions, information sessions on Iowa’s agricultural industry and business development meetings. The delegation was comprised of representatives from Iowa ag processing companies, the Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Corn, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association and the Iowa Soybean Association. IEDA worked with the U.S. Grains Council, U.S. Meat Export Federation, U.S. Soybean Export Council and USDA – Foreign Agriculture Service to identify and organize business prospects for the mission.

IEDA’s International Trade Office connects Iowa companies with markets for their products and services, educates Iowa businesses on exporting and assists global companies wishing to establish or expand operations in Iowa. To find out more about these services or other trade missions, visit iowaeda.com.

(Harlan, Iowa) – Officials with Harlan Municipal Utilities (HMU) report a Boil Advisory issued last Wednesday (Nov. 2oth), has been lifted. All bacteria samples came back from the lab as being approved, and the water may now be used for consumption and cooking. HMU recommends their customers run their faucet for a few minutes, to flush any old water out of the lines.

The Boil Advisory had been issued last week due to multiple breaks in the water main system in Harlan.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Corrections says a man convicted in Polk County of Intimidation with a dangerous weapon, failed to report back to the Fort Des Moines residential facility as required, Sunday. 25-year-old Keemarey Joe Foster is a 5-feet 11-inches tall, 204-pound, Black male. He was admitted to the work release facility on Oct. 4, 2024.

Persons with information on Foster’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Keemarey Foster (IA DOC photo)

(Cedar Rapids, Iowa)  – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections, today (Monday), said a man convicted of 2nd Degree Robbery in eastern Iowa’s Linn County, failed to report back to a residential center as required, Friday. 26-year-old Anthony Robert Skriver is described as being a 5-foot 8-inch tall white male. He was admitted to the work release facility on Sept. 24, 2024. Persons with information on Skriver’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Anthony Skriver (Iowa DOC photo)

For more information on the state’s work release program, please see Iowa Code 904.901-904.910

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports five people were arrested over the weekend, two of them were arrested on drug, burglary & theft charges. Saturday morning, 51-year-old Jason Allan Lohoff, of the Trails End Camp Ground, was arrested at 118 Manor Drive in Creston. Lohoff was charged with Possess Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a controlled substance, Marijuana/1st offense, Theft in the 2nd Degree, and Burglary in the 3rd Degree. Lohoff was taken to the Union County Jail where he later bonded out on a bond of $11,300. Also in connection with that same incident, 35-year-old Jennifer Ann Self, of Creston, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a controlled substance/Marijuana-1st offense, Intent Manufacture/Deliver Meth, Theft in the 2nd- and Burglary 3rd-Degree. Self was taken to the Union County Jail where she is being held on a bond of $25,000.

At around 2:25-a.m., Saturday, Creston Police arrested 24-year-old Ronan Francis Noeth, of Creston, for OWI/1st Offense and Carrying a Weapon – While Intoxicated (OWI). Noeth was taken to the Union County Jail where he later bonded out on a bond of $2,000.

Just before Noon, Saturday, 24-year-old Louis Riley Lumbard, of Creston, was arrested for Driving Suspended. Lumbard was cited and released from the scene on a promise to appear. And, late Sunday morning, 69-year-old Michael Dennis Seddon, of Creston, was arrested on an Assault charge. Seddon was taken to the Union County Jail where he later bonded out on a bond of $300.