w/Kate Olson.
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Iowa News Service/DES MOINES, Iowa – The U.S. Department of Agriculture soon will release new regulations that livestock and poultry producers hope will better protect them from what they see as unfair competition in the highly consolidated meatpacking industry. The Packers and Stockyards Act was enacted by Congress nearly 100 years ago, but some experts say it hasn’t been effectively enforced. Joe Maxwell, executive director of the Organization for Competitive Markets, said small and mid-size producers need rules to help level the playing field with the large-scale meatpacking companies.
“Congress acted in 2008, in the Farm Bill of 2008, and said, ‘USDA, you have to clarify these undue preference and these issues,'” he said, “and here we are, 11 years later, still trying to get the protections that Congress mandated.” Maxwell said four U.S,. companies control 82% of the beef market, 68% of pork and 60% of the poultry market, allowing them to keep farmers’ profits below the cost of production – and even to retaliate by refusing to buy their product.
A public comment period will begin after the proposed regulations are released by the USDA. Under the current rules, said Anna Johnson, senior policy associate with the Center for Rural Affairs, farmers face an insurmountable challenge if they go to court against a meatpacking company they believe hasn’t compensated them fairly for their livestock or poultry. “In order for the producer to prove that they were harmed under the contract,” she said, “they actually have to show that the company’s actions harmed not only them and their operation, but also harmed competition broadly for the whole sector, which is generally an impossible standard.”
Incomes for farmers have slumped in the past five years, while the costs of feed, seed, fertilizer, fuel and machinery have increased – and tariffs on ag exports have created more difficulties. The Department of Commerce has said personal income for farmers dropped in the first quarter of this year by the largest rate in three years.
(Radio Iowa) — The Madison County Board of Supervisors has scaled back the duration of its proposed moratorium on new wind turbines. The board voted to end the moratorium on October 1st of next year, rather than on January 1st of 2022. Adam Jablonski of MidAmerican Energy was among those who testified at a public hearing in Winterset yesterday (Tuesday). He argued the 27-month-long moratorium was “excessive.”
“MidAmerican would not be able to develop wind projects if people did not want them,” he said. “Wind turbines have been operating in Iowa for over 20 years and we still have people signing up for them — all voluntary and we would not be able to build any projects if the landowners in those areas we were looking for did not voluntarily sign up for wind projects, so just please consider them as you consider this moratorium.” Others who testified at the hearing complained about the engine noise of the turbines. Bev Anderson of St. Charles raised concerns about the cropland that’s taken out of production by turbines in rural areas. “This land is adding up to more and more acres,” Anderson said. “Farmers need that land to plant.”
Mary Jobst, rhymes with “roast”) of Earlham circulated a petition in favor of the moratorium. “I was stunned by the number of people who believe these turbines are too close and don’t want them and most willingly signed the petition,” Jobst said. “The majority of people living in the footprint of the proposed 52 turbines do not want them.” That includes Jobst and her husband, who signed a lease to host a turbine and she asked the board of supervisors to put a halt to the wind farm project. Bonnie Haugen of Winterset defended wind development. She told the supervisors her husband, father, brother-in-law and a cousin all have jobs in the wind industry. “My nephew just took a job custom welding on turbines in Iowa,” Haugen said. “I just want to be the persona face of 10,000 rural Americans who are working in wind.”
More than 100 people attended yesterday’s (Tuesday’s) public hearing in Winterset. Some who testified said the controversy over wind turbines has ended friendships and created rifts in families.
The Council Bluffs Police Department reports a large disturbance broke out at Iowa Western Community College, in Council Bluffs, just before 1-a.m. today (Wednesday). Authorities say the offenders got into two cars and attempted to flee the area. One vehicle was described as a red Honda Accord and the other a black Volvo. Officers located the Honda Accord on the college property headed towards Valley View Drive. Three of the occupants in the Honda Accord were arrested and charged with Assault causing bodily injury. At this time, the other vehicle has not been located and those offenders have not yet been identified.
The offenders who were arrested are: 19-year old’s Jalen Black Harris and Malik L. Kidd, along with 34-year old Titus Quinell Smith. All three offenders were charged with Serious Assault.
Today: Mostly cloudy w/a 30% chance of drizzle or Rain, mainly this morning. High 86. S @ 10.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 71. S @ 15.
Tomorrow: A chance of light rain in morning & again late afternoon. High 80. SW @ 15-30
Friday: Sunny. High 76. W @ 10.
Saturday: A slight chance of rain, otherwise Mo. Sunny. High 83. S @ 10.
Yesterday’s High in Atlantic was 85. Our Low this morning 65. We received .13” rain at the KJAN studios yesterday. Last year on this date our High was 82 and the Low was 60. The record High in Atlantic on this date was 96 in 1895 & 1936. The Record Low was 31 in 1955.
Police in Red Oak say two women were taken into custody Tuesday evening following a reported fight in progress, in the 200 block of N. 2nd Street. Officers arrested 42-year old Pegge Jo Williams and 39-year old Penny Marie Griggs, both from Red Oak, at around 6:05-p.m.
The women were charged with Breach of Peace and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where they were being held on a $300 bond, each.
The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports 32-year old Shawn Riazzi, of Grant, was arrested at around 10-p.m. Tuesday, following an investigation into suspicious activity at 6th and Benton Streets, in Corning. Authorities say Riazzi was allegedly trying to remove a street sign at that location. He was subsequently arrested for Public Intoxication. Bond was set at $300.
And, a traffic stop Sunday evening in Corning resulted in the arrest of Howard Gene Herring. The Corning man was taken into custody on an Adams County warrant for Theft in the 3rd Degree. He later posted bond and was released.
Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — Nolan Arenado hit a 482-foot two-run homer that bounced out of Coors Field in the first inning, Chi Chi González got his first big league win in four years and the Colorado Rockies slowed the St. Louis Cardinals’ playoff push with a 2-1 victory. St. Louis had won 23 of 30 coming in to open a four-game lead in the NL Central over the second-place Chicago Cubs.
CHICAGO (AP) — Rookie Eloy Jiménez hit his first career grand slam, Yoán Moncada launched a monster two-run homer and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3. Adam Engel added a solo shot for as the White Sox won their second straight, but just their fourth in 14 games. Adalberto Mondesi, Alex Gordon and Ryan O’Hearn went deep for the Royals on a warm night where the ball carried well and every run was scored on a homer.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s passing game last season was all about the tight ends. Which made sense, since T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant would go on to be first-round selections in the NFL draft. It’s different this season for the No. 19 Hawkeyes, who play Saturday at Iowa State. Eleven players have receptions so far this season and all six touchdown passes have gone to wide receivers.
AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State entered this season with more hype than ever before and then almost lost to Northern Iowa in the opener. The Cyclones know they will need to be much better to knock off No. 19 Iowa on Saturday. Hamstrung by a lack of explosive plays, bad penalties and somewhat inconsistent line play, Iowa State only scored 13 regulation points against Northern Iowa. Coach Matt Campbell says his team needs to force the flow of the game.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs have returned De’Anthony Thomas to the active roster and waived fellow wide receiver Byron Pringle with the hope that they can sign him to the practice squad should he clear waivers.
Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CDT
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Republicans in Iowa and New Hampshire are vowing to hold a caucus and primary next year, even as party leaders in South Carolina, Nevada, Arizona and Kansas have canceled their contests to help smooth President Donald Trump’s path to reelection. At least three Republicans have stepped up to challenge Trump’s claim to the party’s 2020 presidential nomination, though none is expected to generate enough support to defeat the incumbent.
BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) — Police in eastern Iowa say they’ve determined that an Illinois man who shot and killed himself as he fled troopers in western Nebraska last month was the gunman who killed a convenience store clerk a day before his death. Bettendorf police issued a written report Tuesday saying police “are certain” 21-year-old Manuel Rangel, of Genoa, Illinois, killed 28-year-old Brittany Wilson. Wilson was found Aug. 17 on the floor of the Big 10 Mart in Bettendorf, where she died.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Mason City woman who pleaded guilty in a case in which prosecutors say burglarized 13 Iowa homes of patients in search of painkillers has been sentenced to more than a year in federal prison. Federal prosecutors for Iowa say 33-year-old Samantha Jo Rogers was sentenced Monday. The thefts occurred in Cerro Gordo County. Prosecutors say Rogers accessed the private health and residence information of at least 1,900 patients and used that information to steal opioids from patients’ homes.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Providers of Medicaid services in Iowa say they’re owed up to $1.4 million by an insurance company that left the Iowa Medicaid program two years ago. Documents filed with the Iowa Insurance Division show AmeriHealth Caritas could owe as much as $1.4 million to Iowa hospitals, nursing homes and providers of mental health services. An AmeriHealth spokesman says the company continues “to diligently work to resolve any outstanding items.”
Hawkeye Ten Conference
Denison-Schleswig 25-16-25-25, Clarinda 15-25-15-21
Harlan 17-225-25-25, Shenandoah 25-22-15-18
Kuemper Catholic 25-25-25, Clarinda 17-11-16
Kuemper Catholic 25-25-25, Denison-Schleswig 17-19-10
Red Oak 25-25-25, Glenwood 18-17-18
Lewis Central 25-25-25, St. Albert 22-14-12
Rolling Valley Conference
Ar-We-Va 25-25-27, Exira-EHK 18-20-25
Coon Rapids-Bayard 25-25-25, West Harrison 18-9-13
Glidden-Ralston 25-25-25, CAM 4-14-11
Woodbine 28-25-14-21, Paton-Churdan 26-23-25-25-11
Corner Conference
East Mills 25-25-27, Griswold 21-16-25
Sidney 25-25-25, Essex 2-13-10
Underwood 25-25-25, Fremont-Mills 21-22-17
Pride of Iowa Conference
Lenox 25-28-25, Bedford 19-26-16
Nodaway Valley 25-25-25, Mount Ayr 14-19-15
Other Scores
ACGC 27-25-15-25, Woodward-Granger 25-21-25-23
Carroll 25-25-25, Boone 13-12-19
East Union 25-27-25, Central Decatur 21-25-18
West Monona 28-24-25-25, Kingsley-Pierson 26-26-20-12
Westwood 25-25-25, Siouxland Christian 23-14-22