Governor Branstad’s brother has been fined for causing a manure spill last year.
Monroe Branstad, who goes by the name Monte, has a cattle feedlot in rural Forest City. A judge fined Monte Branstad $10,000 for a manure spill in April of last year. State investigators determined 900,000 gallons of manure from Branstad’s feedlot wound up in a tributary of the Winnebago River. Monte Branstad admits the manure came from his feedlot, but he says the spill was unintentional.
Monte Branstad was cited for another manure spill in 2008 and in 2007 he was cited for violating open burning and solid waste disposal regulations. About a decade ago, Monte Branstad and his aunt got into a legal dispute over a farm loan.
Governor Branstad released his tax returns in 2010 and 2011. They show the governor has no business relationship with his brother.