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For security, increase Iowa livestock production, processing

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For security, increase Iowa livestock production, processing


  • Mike Naig is Iowa’s secretary of agriculture.

The surprising scarcity of child system throughout america has proven us that no product is immune from current provide chain points, and with inflation at a 40-year excessive, shoppers are seeing astronomical value will increase at each the grocery retailer and gasoline pump. Sadly, these points are anticipated to proceed effectively into 2023 and past with out motion.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has already raised grain costs by 60% in Africa, however its world impression has solely begun. Russia and Ukraine account for roughly 30% of the worldwide wheat provide, and Ukraine produces about 15% of the world’s corn exports. With the U.S. onerous purple wheat harvest anticipated to be the bottom since 1963 and no fast option to change the crops that Ukrainian farmers have been unable to plant this yr, 2023 world grain reserves are anticipated to say no.

Too usually in recent times, we have now seen disruption within the meat-processing business. Three current occasions show that extra must be carried out to make sure the protection, safety and reliability of America’s meat processing system.

The primary was the August 2019 fireplace that triggered the indefinite shutdown of Tyson Meals’ Finney County beef plant in Holcomb, Kansas, which processed about 30,000 head of fed cattle per week, roughly 6% of the whole US processing capability. The outcomes have been as devastating as they have been predictable. Retail meat costs jumped 10% in a single week. Whereas revenue margins for the biggest processing firms soared from $153 per head of cattle to $344 in the identical interval, cattle producers noticed their costs fall dramatically with the lack of a purchaser. 

Then got here 2020 and COVID-19, inflicting extra disruption and uncertainty. Like different industries, processing crops have been hobbled by workforce challenges that lowered hen, pork and beef processing, left retailers with empty cabinets, and noticed shoppers struggling to pay larger costs.

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In June 2021, a Russian ransomware assault on JBS, the world’s largest meat-processing firm, shut down manufacturing at amenities within the US, Australia and Canada for at the very least a day.

Clearly, meals safety is about greater than creature comforts; it’s about stopping mass famine and preserving social stability. It is usually a matter of nationwide safety.

In Iowa, we will do one thing about it by supporting elevated livestock manufacturing and processing. Within the course of, we will considerably enhance our state’s financial system.

Iowa exports greater than 1 million head of cattle to Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin for processing annually. Growing in-state processing capability won’t solely create extra jobs and financial vitality in Iowa, however it can additionally create the inspiration for the subsequent technology of farmers to get their begin.

Extra processing capability can even be certain that cattle producers in Iowa and surrounding states obtain a good value in order that they’ll keep in enterprise. Doing so advantages all of us — farmers, retailers and shoppers alike.

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Over the course of all these current challenges, we’ve realized classes and we’re actively taking steps on the state stage to encourage extra small-scale processing. The Butchery Innovation and Revitalization Fund, which started as a grant program piloted by the Iowa Division of Agriculture on the onset of COVID, has was a profitable million-dollar program that gives grants to Iowa meat lockers to improve their tools and infrastructure, leading to elevated efficiencies and processing capability. 

We’ve additionally labored to ease the workforce challenges that Iowa meat processors are presently scuffling with. Final yr, I used to be honored to steer the Artisanal Butchery Process Pressure, which really useful the creation of a meat processing certificates program at Iowa’s group schools so Iowans can entry profession coaching applications and acquire on-the-job work expertise whereas being paid.

However there’s extra we will do. We have to encourage the event of extra mid-sized processors to fill the hole between these native companies and the business’s largest amenities. It’s time to maneuver ahead to extend processing capability with amenities constructed on the pandemic’s classes and strengthen our meals provide chain for the unknown. 

The world’s client wants Iowa greater than ever. We’ve the chance to do extra and it’s time we make these alternatives a actuality. 

Mike Naig is Iowa’s secretary of agriculture.

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Iowa Hawkeyes Connected to Overwhelming Bowl Expectation

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Iowa Hawkeyes Connected to Overwhelming Bowl Expectation


Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes were able to take care of business on Saturday against the Maryland Terrapins. Now, they head into their final game of the regular season this coming Saturday against the Nebraska Cornhuskers with a 7-4 record.

Iowa will be headed to a bowl game following their game against Nebraska. However, the real question ends up being, which bowl game will they play in?

At this point in time, the Hawkeyes seem to be trending towards playing in one bowl game in particular.

Here are a few of the bowl game projections that have been put out there by analysts:

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Obviously, the ReliaQuest Bowl seems to be the clear favorite when it comes to what game Iowa will play in.

Looking at some of the matchups that have been suggested, there is the potential for a very entertaining game.

Going up against Ole Miss, South Carolina, or Alabama would be a very difficult test for the Hawkeyes. Any of those three games would give them a great test to end the 2024 season.

There is still one game that needs to be played. A win over the Cornhuskers would have them ending their season at 8-4. After that game, it will be a wait and see approach as to which bowl game Iowa will play.

All of that being said, seeing this projections should bring excitement to the Hawkeyes’ fan base. None of them would be easy games, but the matchups would give Iowa a chance to end the season with a major upset and to head into the offseason on a high note.

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SYC: Iowa Big project focuses on helping unsheltered

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SYC: Iowa Big project focuses on helping unsheltered


CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A group of Cedar Rapids High School students are making sure people without a home have the essentials this winter.

Gavin Cornwell and his team of Iowa Big students filled 100 bags this week with a little bit of everything.

“We have some fruit roll-ups, some gushers, and a granola bar,” said Cornwell.

For this team, it’s more than just a class. Once done, the bags will go to the unsheltered population living at the winter overflow homeless shelter.

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“People really don’t understand, everyone has their own story,” said Cornwell.

These care packages will go to each person who stays at the low-barrier shelter this winter.

“We kind of grabbed the basic necessities to include in these care packages to give them some cheer this holiday season,” he said.

The homeless population in Linn County grew by more than 40% in 2024. Denine Rushing oversees operations at the overflow shelter and said the bags provide items that those who sleep at the shelter might not otherwise get.

“Being able to have these bags that they can just throw in their backpacks or in a bag or just carry with them and utilize throughout the day,” said Rushing. “I think it is going to be really helpful for people.”

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Rushing expected to see more people utilize the shelter this year, especially during snow events and bitter cold temperatures.

“You really have to kind of have things on the go, things that you can kind of just grab and take with you while you are out and about throughout the day,” said Rushing.

Cornwell said they planned to hand the bags out this Monday at the shelter. A place this Prairie High School senior is now closer to, a place that was more visible thanks to this school-based project.

“You might drive by and you might see somebody experiencing homelessness but you don’t really know what they’re experiencing,” said Cornwell.

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Iowa State women get back on track, hold off in-state rival Drake

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Iowa State women get back on track, hold off in-state rival Drake


Returning to Hilton Coliseum was just what the Iowa State women needed, as the eighth-ranked Cyclones held off Drake Sunday afternoon in Ames, 80-78.

Returning sophomore standout Audi Crooks had the game-winning bucket with just :00.3 seconds left in the game, finishing off a 33-point effort to lead Iowa State (5-1). 

Crooks, a preseason honorable mention All-American, added four rebounds to her night while shooting 15 of 25 from the field. 

Emily Ryan had a double-double, scoring 11 points while dishing out 12 assists. Addy Brown added 13 points and Mackenzie Hare chipped in 10. Brown led the team with eight rebounds while Ryan had six with two steals. 

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Arianna Jackson had three steals and no turnovers in almost 31 minutes of action. 

For Drake, another former Iowa prep standout put up a big number vs. the Cyclones, as Katie Dinnebier knocked down eight 3-pointers and scored a game-high 39 points. Anna Miller had 18 with eight rebounds, as Dinnebier also had five rebounds, two steals and two assists. 

The win marked the 300th non-conference victory for Iowa State under Bill Fennelly all-time, as he improved to 616-314 with the Cyclones and 782-367 overall in his coaching career. 

Iowa State added to its NCAA-record streak for consecutive games with a made 3-pointer, stretching it to 933 straight. 

Up next for the Cyclones will be defending national champion South Carolina on Thanksgiving at 12:30 p.m. on FOX. The Gamecocks had their 43-game win streak snapped with a 77-62 loss in Los Angeles.

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