Iowa
Iowa farmers caught in Benson Hill bankruptcy can get help through grain indemnity fund
Watch: Marion County farmer discusses harvest, state of grain market
Steve Kuiper talks about his family farm’s 2024 harvest and the state of the U.S. grain market while harvesting soybeans on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
As St. Louis-based Benson Hill files for bankruptcy, the Iowa Department of Agriculture is encouraging Iowa farmers who experience losses tied to the ag tech and seed company, which holds a state grain dealer license, to file claims for reimbursement through a state indemnity fund.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture on Wednesday notified farmers that the company had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy March 20 in Delaware. They may have 120 days to file a claim to help cover any losses.
The company, which plans to sell its assets, said it had received court approval to obtain up to $11 million in financing to continue operations during the bankruptcy. Altogether, nine Benson Hill companies filed for bankruptcy protection this month, reporting $100 million to $500 million in both assets and liabilities.
Benson Hill said Wednesday it has a seed field services operation in Bondurant. The company said the facility continues to operate and “all existing contracts and service agreements remain in place.”
Benson Hill sold a soybean processing plant in Creston in southwest Iowa about a year ago to Omaha, Nebraska-based White River Soy Processing for $72 million. The company said it was continuing its plan to transition to an “asset-light business model backed by world-class soybean germplasm and competitively advantaged technology.”
White River Soy Processing also purchased a Benson Hill soybean crush facility in Seymour, Indiana, in 2023 for $36 million.
The Iowa ag department said farmers who have not been paid for grain sold to a Benson Hill operation before March 20 may file a claim with the Iowa Grain Depositors and Sellers Indemnity Fund. Created by the Iowa Legislature in 1986 during the Farm Crisis to provide financial protection to farmers, the fund will pay 90% of a loss on grain up to a maximum of $300,000 per claim.
Last year, the department notified Iowa farmers that they would need to pay a quarter of a penny on each bushel of grain sold to help replenish the fund, which protects them when elevators and other grain buyers file for bankruptcy. Filings in 2021 and 2022 by Pipeline Foods LLC of Fridley, Minnesota, Global Processing Inc. of Kanawha and B&B Farm Store of Jesup had dropped the fund’s balance to about $312,000. The fee kicks in when the fund falls below a $3 million minimum.
If farmers have questions, they may contact the Iowa Department of Agriculture Grain Warehouse Bureau at 515-281-5987. For more information on Benson Hill’s bankruptcy, go to cases.stretto.com/bensonhill.
Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com.
An Iowa women’s basketball transfer portal visitor committed to one of the Hawkeyes’ conference foes instead. Former Iowa State guard Kenzie Hare took a visit to Iowa during her transfer portal recruitment, but the 5-foot-9 guard committed to Indiana on Sunday night.
Hare had several visits throughout her transfer portal recruiting process, including trips to Michigan and Illinois State, but the Des Moines Register’s Chad Leistikow reported that Hare also visited Iowa.
On3’s Talia Goodman reported Hare’s commitment to the Hoosiers.
Hare has one year of eligibility remaining. This past season with the Cyclones, in 32 games played and 31 starts, Hare averaged 6.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game on 40.5% field goal shooting and 40% from 3-point range. A hip injury limited Hare to just 10 games during her first year with the Cyclones in the 2024-25 season.
The soon-to-be redshirt senior transferred to Iowa State before the 2024-25 campaign after spending two seasons at Marquette from 2022-24. Hare averaged a career-best 14 points per game on 45.5% field goal shooting and 42.5% 3-point shooting during the 2023-24 season with the Golden Eagles.
Had Iowa been able to lure the Naperville, Ill., native to Iowa City, Hare would have been another valuable addition to the Hawkeyes’ backcourt depth. But, Iowa has landed other backcourt reinforcements throughout this transfer portal cycle.
The Hawkeyes inked both Dani Carnegie and Amari Whiting.
Carnegie was a first-team All-SEC selection this past season at Georgia, averaging 17.8 points per game on 42.7% field goal shooting, 35.4% from 3-point range and 83.3% from the free-throw line. Whiting averaged 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game on 42.5% field goal shooting, 32.1% 3-point accuracy, and 71.6% free-throw shooting.
As Hare joins a promising core of players in Bloomington, the Hawkeyes will once again face the former Cyclone at least once this upcoming season as part of their Big Ten regular-season slate.
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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Senator Chuck Grassley said he’s recovering from a gallstone removal procedure.
His media team shared that he is working in Iowa “in good spirits and looks forward to returning to Washington soon.”
“I’m gr8ful [sic] for the excellent care from local health care providers,” he shared on X.
Over the weekend in Iowa I had a procedure to remove gallstones I’m gr8ful for the excellent care from local health care providers Be back to capitol ASAP
— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) April 20, 2026
Grassley, 92, is the oldest senator currently in office and the sixth-longest-serving senator in U.S. history.
The Senate is in session this week.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Former Iowa State center Audi Crooks has committed to Oklahoma State via the NCAA Transfer Portal. She has one season of eligibility remaining.
Crooks made 99 appearances and 95 starts during her three seasons at Iowa State. She averaged 25.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this past season, while shooting 64.9% from the field. Additionally, the 6-foot-3 star shot 1-11 from 3-point range.
Crooks played a leading role for the Cyclones from the moment she stepped on campus. She is a three-time All-Big 12 First-Team selection and two-time All-American. On April 2, Crooks announced her intention to enter the transfer portal.
“Cyclone Nation, thank you all for embracing me and showing up to Hilton every single game day. I’ve met so many of you out in the community, and I will cherish all of the genuine connections that I’ve built during my time at Iowa State,” Crooks wrote. “Words cannot fully express how grateful I feel to have called this place home.
“I want to thank my teammates for their friendship and all the great memories. … I still believe the grass is greener where you water it, and I’ve done that here.”
Now, Audi Crooks will aim to thrive in her new environment. Oklahoma finished the 2025-26 season with a 24-10 overall record.
The NCAA Transfer Portal officially opened on April 6 and closes on April 20. The new 15-day window was enacted following a recommendation by the women’s basketball oversight committee. Athletes don’t have to commit to a new school by the April 21 deadline.
To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.
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