The Biden Administration is providing another $800 million to support smaller-scale beef, pork, and poultry plants and is establishing a new tip line for whistleblowers from the meatpacking industry. President Biden said the four largest meatpacking companies are distorting prices for farmers and … [Read more...]
Group says tests detect manure run-off in trout stream water samples
A group of environmentalists is asking state officials to inspect the manure application from a cattle feedlot in northeast Iowa that's near a prized trout stream. Supreme Beef is constructing a feedlot in Clayton County for 11,600 head of cattle, but already has 800 cattle nearby. Steve Veysey, … [Read more...]
Governor using $100 million in federal funds for water quality projects
Governor Kim Reynolds is using 100 million dollars in federal pandemic relief for water quality infinitives. Twenty-five million is going into a state fund that provides grants to farmers implementing conservation practices, as part of the voluntary Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Reynolds … [Read more...]
Designer chosen for beef plant in Mills County
A southwest Iowa company has hired a Hartland, Wisconsin company to design its proposed 500,000 square foot beef processing plant. Cattlemen’s Heritage lead developer, Chad Tentinger, says the plant will be built in northern Mills County just south of Council Bluffs. "A couple of things that will … [Read more...]
To succeed, meat locker start-ups will have to secure repeat customers
After disruption in the meat supply at the start of the pandemic, the federal government will spend half a billion to expand meat and poultry processing and another $150 million specifically for small meat lockers. In Iowa, officials are reviewing 72 applications for grants from a $750,000 state … [Read more...]
Grassley co-sponsors new bill on cattle market price discovery
Senator Chuck Grassley and three other Senators say they have developed a compromise plan that give independent cattle producers more clues about what meatpackers are paying for cattle raised under private contracts. "One step closer, a big step closer to making that happen," Grassley … [Read more...]
Officials consider ordinance allowing beef, pork slaughter facilities in Spencer City Limits
Officials in Spencer are considering a new ordinance that could permit a meat locker or other business within city limits to process more types of meat. Don Hemphill, legal counsel for the City of Spencer, has briefed Spencer's Planning and Zoning Commission. "The only thing you can process right … [Read more...]
Miller-Meeks says majority of Covid-positive JBS workers got the virus outside of the Ottumwa plant
Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks is defending how the meatpacking plant in her hometown of Ottumwa responded in the first weeks of the pandemic. "Let's not forget that even experts like Dr. Fauci didn't know what was going on in those early months and guidance was changing daily," … [Read more...]
State and federal ag departments monitoring African Swine Fever outbreak
Meat processors and agriculture officials are working to make sure they’re prepared for a highly-contagious swine disease. Tyson Foods, the U.S.D.A, the Iowa Department of Ag and other industry groups took part in a mock exercise last month to work on their response to a simulated African Swine … [Read more...]
Harlan eatery’s tenderloin named best in the state
A southwest Iowa restaurant is this year's winner for the Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin in the state, as selected by the Iowa Pork Producers Association. Richard Buman, co-owner of Victoria Station in Harlan, says he's bowled over by the win. "Someone said we should be nominated for the contest … [Read more...]