May 23, 2012

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Rural Kingsley man dies in farm accident

May 9, 2012 By

A rural Kingsley man died last night in a farm accident in northwest Iowa. At about 10:20 P.M., emergency services responded to a call at the 2800 block of Tamarack Avenue when apparently a tractor was fully submerged in a river.

The Plymouth County Dive Team, as part of the Plymouth County sheriff’s department was activated and found a male victim pinned under the tractor in the water. The victim, who has not been identified pending family notification, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Iowa State Patrol is investigating the accident. Rescue units were on the scene for nearly four hours.

By Dennis Morrice, KLEM, Le Mars

Filed Under: Agriculture, Fires/Accidents/Disasters, News

USDA responds to Grassley’s comments on closing of beef processing plants

May 9, 2012 By

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking issue with comments Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley made regarding the closing of three plants that produced the lean finely textured beef product (LFTB). In a conference call with reporters Monday, the Republican Senator said the U.S.D.A. and FDA were partly to blame for the closings, because they didn’t defend the product after it had been labeled “pink slime” on a network TV program.

Grassley said, “They immediately said hot lunch programs didn’t have to purchase it and so that sent a signal if it wasn’t good enough for the hot lunch program, it wasn’t good enough for this supermarket and that supermarket and they all jumped on board.” U.S.D.A. communications director, Matt Paul doesn’t agree with the senator.

“You know, we were very disappointed that Senator Grassley made that characterization. From the first discussion of this in the national news, U.S.D.A. was very strong in pointing out the safety record of LFTB. And in fact, at the pinnacle of this public discussion, the company cited U.S.D.A.’s support for the product,” Paul says.

As for the school lunch program, Paul says the U.S.D.A. does what Senator Grassley does, and was listening to its customers. He says they had four staff members dedicated to answering concerns about LTFB.

“All we said was that schools have a choice if they don’t want to receive this product, we on behalf of them, sort of their wholesaler, are simply making a case based on their concerns until there’s some greater public understanding of LFTB, that we would give district the option,” according to Paul.

“But again, it was based on a consistent message about the safety of this product.” Beef Products Incorporated suspended operations at three plants that make LFTB during the debate over its safety, and then announced Monday the closings were permanent.

Paul points out that Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack was one of the officials who appeared with Iowa’s governor and those from other states to support LFTB at the one production plant that remained open. “We dispatched our top food safety expert on this to make an appearance with the five governors in South Sioux City to talk about the safety of the product. So, the U.S.D.A. consistently touted the safety of this product,” Paul says.

“Our heart goes out to these impacted workers. It’s a sad situation, but not a situation that’s going to benefit from Washington finger pointing,” Paul says. The closing of the Waterloo plant means the loss of 220 jobs. Vilsack is a Democrat and former Iowa governor.

 

Filed Under: Agriculture, News, Politics & Government Tagged With: , , , ,

Grassley says USDA, FDA partly to blame for BPI plant closings

May 8, 2012 By

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration are partly to blame for the closure of three beef processing factories in Iowa, Texas and Kansas. Beef Products Incorporated announced Monday it would permanently close the plants due to a consumer backlash over the product it calls “lean, finely textured beef,” referred to as “pink slime” in an A.B.C. TV report.

Grassley says the U.S.D.A. and the FDA should have defended the product, but didn’t. Grassley says, “They immediately said hot lunch programs didn’t have to purchase it and so that sent a signal if it wasn’t good enough for the hot lunch program, it wasn’t good enough for this supermarket and that supermarket and they all jumped on board.”

After the U.S.D.A. and FDA’s actions, criticism of the beef product on social media went viral. The actions caused irreversible harm to BPI, Grassley says, and the plants — which were temporarily closed in March — are now closed for good.

“So then you try to make up for that harm and there’s not much that the Department of Agriculture can do, even by having four or five governors join in to save the jobs, it didn’t happen,” Grassley says. “It’s just a crime.”

The BPI factory in Waterloo had 220 employees. The closures of the plants in Kansas and Texas take the total number of jobs lost to 650.

Another BPI plant in South Sioux City, Nebraska, will remain open but production is being cut back. Grassley says, “You would think people would be more interested in human beings and preserving jobs than they would be in animal agriculture, but obviously the people that are against animal agriculture that wanted to create this fraud on ABC are more interested in animals than they are people.”

While Grassley says what’s taken place is a crime, he doesn’t expect any charges to be filed. He says: “It’s all within the freedom of speech of our broadcasters.” The other plants that are being shuttered are in Amarillo, Texas and Garden City, Kansas.

Filed Under: Agriculture, Featured Story, News, Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

BPI shutting down three plants, including Waterloo facility

May 7, 2012 By

Officials with Beef Products, Inc. (BPI) have announced plans to permanently close three processing plants, including one in Waterloo that employs 200 people. BPI is the maker of lean, finely textured beef, a product that came under attack earlier this year by critics who’ve referred to it as “pink slime.” Iowa Governor Terry Branstad objects to that term.

Branstad blasted the national media in late March at a press conference following a tour of a BPI plant near Sioux City. “It’s time to end the smear campaign and to stop the use of inaccurate, inappropriate and charged words that are designed to scare people,” Branstad said.

In a statement released Monday, BPI officials said it’s been “much more difficult” than anticipated to restore public confidence in the finely textured beef. While operations will continue at the South Sioux City, Nebraska plant, BPI is shutting down operations at plants in Waterloo, Iowa, Amarillo, Texas and Garden City, Kansas. The move will affect around 650 employees.

Regina and Eldon Roth founded BPI in 1981. Regina said in March that “misleading” media reports led to a sharp reduction in demand for their product. “Our commitment has always been to produce a safe, wholesome product,” Roth said. “So, it has been so disheartening for our family and our employees to see these negative and misleading stories lead to consumer concerns.”

BPI suspended operations at the plants in Waterloo, Amarillo and Garden City on March 26. Production at the South Sioux City facility has continued, but at a reduced capacity.

Lean, finely-textured beef is made from the trimmings left over after steaks and roasts are cut out of beef carcasses. Branstad noted that the product has never caused any illnesses. “I think we’ve just seen it confirmed from our trip through the plant that this is a safe and reliable product. This company has gone out of its way to protect the safety of the consumers and no one has become sick by this product,” Branstad said. The job cuts by BPI are effective May 25.

Governor Branstad released a statement Monday saying it may take “years to correct” what a “ruinous smear campaign accomplishes overnight.” Despite the campaign to defend lean, finely textured beef, most large supermarket chains have not agreed to restock their shelves with the product.

Filed Under: Agriculture, News

UNI program helps farmers with business end of markets

May 7, 2012 By

It’s farmers market season and vendors are beginning to make their weekly trips to markets around the state. But, running a business may not come naturally to some small-time farmers. A program this week at the University of Northern Iowa is designed to help these growers learn the basics of selling their products.

Andy Larson is a Small Farm Specialist with Iowa State University Extension. “Farmers are generally people who love to farm. They love to grow things and they love to raise animals. Marketing isn’t always their strongest suit,” Larson says. Iowa has around 230 farmers markets – the fifth most per capita in the country, according to the U.S.D.A.

Larson has been holding workshops around the state for a couple of years. He advises vendors to focus on building a reputation around one or two items and using that to sell other products.

“Diversified farmers and alternative farmers in Iowa are growing such a humongous variety of things that they have a hard time really specializing and becoming known for one thing,” Larson said. More information about this Friday’s workshop in Cedar Falls is available through U.N.I.’s Center for Energy and Environmental Education or I.S.U. Extension.

Filed Under: Agriculture, Business, News Tagged With: ,

Historic Flynn Mansion gets some maintenance work

May 7, 2012 By

The operators of Living History Farms in Urbandale celebrated the completion of the renovation of an historic Iowa home this weekend. Living History spokesperson, Jennie Deerr, says they had catch up on several maintenance issues the Flynn Mansion.

“By adding a roof, a gutter, doing some foundation and we most recently added back kitchen on the back of the property that was actually removed when the state had used the Flynn Mansion for a time as part of an honor farm,” Deerr explains. The home is the centerpiece of the operation that tells the history of 300 years of farming in Iowa.

“The Flynn Mansion was built by Martin and Mary Ellen Flynn in 1870. And the Flynns had actually made their money on the railroad, they were railroad contractors,” Deerr explains. “The Flynn Mansion, where it stands today, was actually the Flynn’s country home. It’s just an absolutely beautiful piece of architecture and history in the Des Moines area. And really it tells the story of an immigrant family (who) came over from Ireland, and its’ really a true rags-to-riches story.”

Fixing up the Flynn is a little more complicated than the average DIY projects. Deerr says the mansion is on the National Register of Historic places, so while they can use modern materials, they have to check with several experts to ensure the materials are historically accurate.

Deerr says they are adding some programs this year to go along with the history of the mansion. “This year we’re introducing from the Union Pacific Foundation a program called ‘Railroad Crossings,’ where we’ll actually do hands-on activities and fun interactive activities around the railroad, because obviously the railroad contracting was very important to the Flynn family,” Deerr says.

Deerr says visitor surveys show the Flynn Mansion is one of the most liked areas of Living History Farms. Living History Farms is open from May through August from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, and noon until 5 p.m. Sundays. Find out more at: www.lhf.org.

Filed Under: Agriculture, Human Interest, News, Recreation & Entertainment

Farmers markets set to open across state

May 4, 2012 By

Des Moines farmers market.

Many of the roughly 230 farmers markets around the state will be opening soon and Iowans will likely find some fresh produce they aren’t accustomed to seeing at this time of year.

Kelly Foss, director of the Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market, says the warm weather in March allowed most growers to plant crops two to three weeks earlier than usual.

In addition, orchard produce began blooming much earlier than normal. “Through the season, I think we’re going to be ahead of schedule,” Foss said.

“Typically, we get closer to fall before we start getting apples, but we may see apples a little bit earlier this year, same with strawberries and things like that.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports Iowa has the 5th most farmers market per capita in the country. Between 15,000 to 20,000 people attend the Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market each week. Foss said the crowds are getting bigger because there are more growers and a wider variety of growers.

“Selling directly to your customer is a really great marketing tool for local growers and it has really become a passion for these growers and they weren’t doing it 10 years ago,” Foss said. “Many of our growers who are selling at the market are fairly new within the last five to six years.”

The Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market opens for its 37th season tomorrow. There will be over 300 vendors, including 30 who are new to the market this year. Two vendors will be offering a new meat – rabbit. There will be a total of 17 producers selling meats.

Those meats include duck, goat, lamb, chicken, elk, pork and beef. Vendors, artists and entertainers at the Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market come from 51 of Iowa’s 99 counties.

Filed Under: Agriculture, News, Recreation & Entertainment
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