Republicans in the Iowa Senate are pressing to require a face-to-face review with a pharmacist whenever a Medicaid recipient in Iowa gets a new prescription from their doctor. Senator Bill Dix, a Republican from Shell Rock, says it’s about controlling costs. “Medical therapy management is a concept that is utilizing local pharmacists in meeting with patients who’ve been prescribed medications from their doctor and making sure there are no harmful interactions,” Dix says, “that they’re taking them properly and also looking to find potential savings if they can use generics and things like that.” 

In 2005, the legislature in Minnesota set up a system which pays licensed pharmacists to conduct these sorts of consultations with Minnesotans who quality for government-paid health insurance. Dix says Iowa has had a similar pilot program and it’s time to expand it statewide for Iowans who qualify for Medicaid.  “In the pilot project that medical therapy management technique has shown to potentially save the state million of dollars, on top of what’s currently being saved,” Dix says. “It holds strong promise to save taxpayers a lot of money and to ensure better care of the patients.” 

Medicaid provides health care to Iowans who are disabled, low income and to thousands of children whose parents cannot afford health insurance. In addition, many senior citizens on Medicare are part of similar medical therapy management programs, as a result of the prescription drug benefit extended to seniors a decade ago. A 2006 study found 65 percent of elderly patients were prescribed a drug that was unnecessary. And a study conducted last year found nearly half of all Americans used at least one prescription drug in the previous month.

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)

Officials with the ISU Extension Service in Cass County have released the schedule for the 2012 Cass County Fair, which runs from July 26th through the 31st. (The complete schedule can be found at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/NR/rdonlyres/FD79263F-7EEC-4FD2-9AAE-9A47B9EACD65/164027/2012Schedule_CassCountyFair.pdf )

Events begin Thursday, July 26th, with the Swine, Rabbit, Horse, Poultry, Dairy and beef entry sign-ins, entry and judging of 4-H static exhibits, and a food sale at the Community Center. Later that same evening, the King and Queen Contest will take place, along with Senior Recognition.

Friday’s activities (July 27th) include: the Rabbit, Horse and Feeder Calf shows; and a bull riding competition. On Saturday, July 28th, there’ll be a Sheep and Pet show, livestock judging, and ATV races.

Events Sunday (July 28th) include: the Swine, Poultry, Dog and Horse Fun shows; Decorator’s showcase; and a Tractor Pull.  Sunday and Monday afternoon, there will also be a “Skid Loader Rodeo.”

The last full day of activities on Monday, July 30th, will include: the Beef, Dairy/Dairy Goat, and Goat shows; Best of Iowa; a watermelon feed; Style show and building awards; and Grand Champion Beef selection. The Fair concludes Tuesday morning, July 31st, with the Livestock Sale. Clean-up activities will occur the following day.

For more information on the 2012 Cass County Fair, call 712-243-1132, or e-mail xcass@iastate.edu. On the web at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass

A custom feedlot owner operator from Adams County told attendees at Sunday afternoon’s Rolling Hills Heifer Project banquet and awards program in Atlantic, that when he purchases feeder cattle, whether it be from auctions or through private sale, he takes a lot of time asking questions about the animals’ health, quality and when, where, and how he will harvest and market the animals. Todd Drake, who owns Nodaway Valley Feeders, in Nodaway, said his decision is ultimately impacted by how healthy the cow is. He says he likes to purchase cattle which come directly from the mother cow, complete with a round-to-modified live vaccine, about three-weeks prior to shipment.

Drake says cattle which are weaned have more value to him, depending on the time of the year. He says he also likes to buy cattle which are on a “non-starch” diet, or those who eat very little corn. He says he doesn’t want the cattle to be “huge” before he buys them. He recommends forage based diets for the animals. As for quality, Drake says the types of animals that bring in the most money at his feedlots, are those with capacity, and spring of rib depth. He says he wants cattle “That can consume a lot of dry matter.” Cattle “With some width between their front legs and plenty of spring of rib,” appear to be their lowest cost of gains or best dry matter conversions.

Drake says it’ important for the animal to have some size. He says they like to have steers that finish out at around 1,350-pounds, and heifers that finish at 1,250-pounds. Drake says he has not preference when it comes to color and breed of the cow, but the bottom-line on closeouts is, that those animals with at least three-quarters English blood in them provide the best closeouts. That would include those animals bred to Charolais, Simmental, and some exotics. The “half-and-half” bloods…such as a Charolais bred to an Angus cow…don’t work as well, he says, when it comes to dry matter conversion.

Drake says he spends a lot of time on marketing the animals he gets into his feedlot, and get them harvested before it gets too hot, or late in the fall. He left the young people at Sunday’s meeting with a phrase to remember when purchasing their own cows in the future. He says great calves to buy should grade about 70% choice and about 70% one and two yield grades. Many of the animals he purchases come from Florida, Montana, the Sand Hills of Nebraska and elsewhere, but the majority comes from northern Missouri and southern Iowa.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Audubon City Council will hold a final review of the City’s proposed Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Budget. The review, and action on a resolution setting March 12th, 7-p.m.,  as the date and time for a public hearing on the budget, will come during the Council’s meeting, which begins tonight at 7 o’clock.

The Council will also refine the definitions of a “Nuisance Lighting” ordinance, and discuss: An ordinance banning parking in yards; a Water/sewer maintenance contract; and, compensation practices.

A man formally of Perry, who authorities say was the driver behind a car that went out of control in Guthrie County and crashed in 2009, is set to stand trial, Tuesday. According to the Omaha World-Herald, and, online court records,  30-year old Thomas Dugan has been charged with vehicular homicide, reckless driving and drunken driving, in connection with the August 23rd, 2009 death of Adam Anderson, of Bagley.

Anderson was 28-years old at the time. As KJAN reported on August 24th, 2009, officials said a 2003 Ford Mustang the men were in, was traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on Wink Avenue in Guthrie County, when the road changed from hard surface, to gravel. The car began to fishtail out of control and entered a ditch before rolling end-over-end, and coming to rest on its top in a soybean field. Even though they were wearing seatbelts, both men were ejected during the crash, which happened at around 6:30-a.m.  Anderson died at the scene, while Dugan suffered critical injuries.

The newspaper says Dugan wasn’t charged until Feb. 2011, because it took authorities that long to determine who was driving. The answer came through the results of a DNA test. Dugan was arrested in March, 2011. He was released later that month on a $25,000 bond. According to Iowa Courts Online, the trial, which was supposed to have started January 24th, but was continued until 9:30-a.m. Tuesday in Guthrie County District Court,  is expected to last about four days.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

A program designed to involve the youth of area communities in agriculture has grown since its inception, and even sparked interest in forming similar programs in other counties around western Iowa.

Chuck Edwards, President/CEO of Rolling Hills Bank & Trust

Chuck Edwards, President and CEO of Rolling Hills Bank and Trust, which is headquartered in Atlantic, told a crowd of young people, their parents, and others in attendance at a banquet at the Cass County Community Center Sunday afternoon, that the “Heifer Project,” which began in 2001 with five heifers each given to two area youth, has grown to four sets of heifers given away this year.

And, he says, the Carroll County Farm Bureau joined in this year, and also gave away five heifers. That makes 25 head of bred heifers given out this year to area youth. So far, 220 head of heifers have given to 45 people. Carroll County, which is in the second year of the program, has given away 10 altogether.

Edwards said when he spoke recently before a gathering of the Shelby County Cattleman’s Association, he said he learned they’re interested in getting a similar program established in that area. Tim Greave, who attended Sunday’s meeting , said their satellite program began this year, with one of their board members placing five heifers.  He says during a recent auction, 70,000 was raised in 15-minutes, to put towards the heifer program, which is still in its infancy and being tweaked in that. He says in the future, there may be a “share-type program,” where a portable loan is paid back at the end, and one or two of the payments are forgiven.

Past and present recipients of heifers from the RHHP 2-26-12

The Rolling Hills heifers are purchased by the bank, to be given to two individuals for a 5 year period. Those persons must be either in 7th or 8th grade, and must be interested in agriculture and willing to accept total responsibility for the daily care of the heifers. The youth can do what they wish with the heifers for the 5 years, either by selling the offspring, building a herd, etc., but at the end of the 5-years, the current cash equivalent value of 5 heifers must be paid to the Rolling Hills Heifer Project. Those funds will be used to purchase heifers for the next year’s recipients. The participants must document the entire process involved with raising the animals, including income and expenditures, and be willing to promote the program to other youth.

This year’s heifer recipients in western Iowa included: Morgan Barkley, from Cumberland; Brooke Newell, from Anita; and Preslyn Grobe, of Hancock. The Carroll County Farm Bureau gave its five heifers to Kourtney Grimm. Chuck

In addition, rewards were given Sunday to those youth participating in the program, who kept the best records while raising their animals. First place, and a cash award of $750, went to Jonathan Triggs, of Mt. Ayr, who received his heifers in 2008. Second place, and a $500 award, went to Paige Kipp, of Yale, who received her heifers in 2008 also. Third place, and a $250 award, went to Delaney Carroll, of Avoca.

To apply for the Rolling Hills Heifer Project Program, individuals must fill out an application describing their interest in agriculture as well as have 3 letters of recommendation from such persons as teachers, club leaders, etc. For more information use this link:

www.rollinghillsbank.com/heifer_project.htm

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sac County woman has pleaded not guilty to 93 counts of animal neglect.  Sioux City television station KTIV reports that Mary Brodersen entered the plea during her initial appearance in court on Friday.

The charges stem from the rescue of 87 dogs and one cat from a farm in rural Kiron. The carcasses of five dead animals were found when officials searched the farm on Jan. 25th. 
Authorities say the dogs were kept in a wooden shack, up to five in 4-by-4 wire cages, which were stacked on top of each other.
 
Brodersen faces a maximum of 12 years in prison if convicted of all the charges. She has relinquished ownership of the animals, which have been turned over to various shelters.