Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Saying “the worst may not be behind us” with severe weather, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, today said an emergency federal appropriation may be in order to assist the state with the effects of devastating storms and flooding.
“This is a disaster and our federal government should respond,” Harkin said.In a conference call this morning Harkin said he would seek to work with the Bush Administration on any necessary federal designations and funding for Iowa in the wake of tornadoes and flooding that have reminded Iowans of 1993.
His office has been in regular contact with FEMA and other officials, Harkin said. For his part, Gov. Chet Culver, who has given 55 counties state disaster designations, spoke with President Bush and top federal officials about the need for rapid federal response.
Harkin said he planned to join U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, Friday for a tour of some of the more heavily impacted areas. The itinerary is evolving but Harkin said the likely agenda involves Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Charles City and the Little Sioux Scout Ranch in Monona County where four Boy Scouts were killed.
“I think it is important to get a first-hand look at it,” Harkin said.
Harkin said there are elements of the recently passed farm bill designed to assist in recovery, and the senator said he worked aggressively after the 1993 flooding to put other response-and-assistance programs in effect.
The effect on the farm economy is already significant, Harkin said, noting some prediction for $9 corn, which he said would tough on hog, cattle and chicken producers.
Here is The Chicago Tribune:
Heavy rainfall across the Midwest has muddied forecasts for the corn crop, with analysts now predicting a poor harvest and prices that could shoot to once unthinkable levels.
Freshly planted corn and soybeans literally drowned last week, as rain drenched fields in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and elsewhere.
Farmers can respond to the downpour by replanting soybeans late in the season or abandoning their fields, choices that would limit how much corn is available for ethanol, overseas buyers and livestock feed.
“We could easily see corn go to $7, $8 or $9 because we’re going to be losing yield,” said Phil Flynn, an analyst for Alaron Trading Corp. in Chicago. “And it could be higher if the weather doesn’t improve.”
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