Iowa

Iowa attorney general pushes federal review as farmers warn refinery exemptions hurt corn market

Published

5 months ago

November 18, 2025

Iowa attorney general pushes federal review as farmers warn refinery exemptions hurt corn market

Johnson County farmers have expressed general disapproval of policy exemptions for facilities that turn crops into fuel across the state. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird urged an investigation into these facilities across the state.

Bird sent a letter to federal agencies alleging some of Iowa’s small biofuel refineries may be cutting production to qualify for ethanol exemptions, a tactic that farmers say is contributing to lower prices and lost income on their crops.

The Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS, is a federal program requiring U.S. fuel suppliers to mix renewable fuels into gasoline and diesel with the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, with the 2025 target calling for renewable fuels to account for about 13 percent of the nation’s gasoline and diesel supply.

Small refineries — those unable to satisfy the 75,000-barrel-per-day threshold — can claim an exemption from this requirement by submitting an application that is then reviewed by the EPA.

According to the letter, which was sent on Oct. 29, these companies are claiming hardship while simultaneously telling investors they’re thriving.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Iowa produces over one-fourth of the nation’s ethanol, making Iowa particularly exposed to these kinds of exemptions. When small refineries bypass mixing requirements, it cuts directly into the demand for fuels.

George Swenka, a farmer and rancher in the Tiffin area, agreed with Bird and said he was unhappy with these exemptions, adding it does not make sense to avoid the 10 percent when it helps “everyone.”

“It gives them [refineries with exemptions] an unfair advantage in the marketplace,” Swenka said.” It’s a renewable resource. It helps the producers. It helps every state that’s involved. At the end of the day I just don’t think it’s achieving the goal that should be a common goal for all of us.”

RELATED: Iowa cattle farmer sentiment falls alongside beef futures following Trump’s beef import comments

Chad Hart, an agriculture and finance economics professor at Iowa State University, said this lack of demand has caused financial hardship for farmers.

“It’s a combination of them having ample supplies right now and not seeing as much demand as they would need to take prices higher again. So, if you have the sort of overwhelming supply combined with demand uncertainty, they’re feeling financially squeezed,” Hart said.

Swenka spoke personally about how the lack of demand has affected his farming and said it is especially difficult as farming prices continue to rise.

“Right now, the prices that we’re receiving are just at breakeven, and without an extra marketplace without another source to market our goods, it really makes it tough,” Swenka said.

He said the issue is a common conversation for farmers, calling it “coffee talk,” but he also worries that refinery issues will not be taken as seriously.

“Farmers make up less than 1 percent of the population, so we really feel sometimes that we’re a minority and we feel that we lack any kind of political clout,” he said.

However, he hopes those outside of agriculture realize it affects the broader Iowa community.

“There’s such a high percentage of jobs, especially in Iowa, directly or indirectly touched by agriculture. So, when the attorney general does good, we all do good, especially in small rural Iowa,” Swenka said.

Great American Insurance Group’s Iowa’s 2025 Digital Yield Tour projects Iowa’s 2025 corn yield could hit 223.7 bushels per acre, which would be well above recent averages, with the average last year being 205 bushels per acre. Hart cited statistics like these as a potential reason why Bird decided to write to the federal government, as many farmers are looking for “usage of their bountiful harvest.”

Hart said the last time Trump was in office, a large number of exemptions were granted to these smaller refineries, and then later overturned in court cases, with Trump issuing 85 exemptions in his first term according to an EPA report.

“There’s also this idea that we may see a similar wave of that here during President Trump’s second term,” Hart said.

Timothy Hagle, a political science professor at the UI, said if changes aren’t made, people may see farms go out of business. According to a Bloomberg Law report released in April, farm bankruptcies grew 55 percent from 2023 to 2024 and are trending even higher in 2025, with Iowa leading all other states with 12 bankruptcies.

“You’re going to have some farmers that would not be able to continue because of financial reasons, so they may go out of business. You may have some people that would switch crops to the extent they can do,” Hagle said.

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Iowa

Iowa State basketball names veteran Tim Buckley as new assistant coach

Published

56 minutes ago

April 6, 2026

Press Room

Iowa State basketball names veteran Tim Buckley as new assistant coach

Iowa State men’s basketball has filled the first assistant coaching vacancy on its staff.

The Cyclones announced on Monday, April 6, that head coach T.J. Otzelberger has named Tim Buckley as a new assistant coach. He will begin his duties with Iowa State immediately.

Buckley most recently served as an assistant for two seasons at Cincinnati, but he comes to Ames with more than three decades of coaching experience. He was also previously part of Otzelberger’s staff for both years of his tenure at UNLV from 2019-21.

“A renowned coach in player development, I’m excited to have Tim join our staff at Iowa State,” Otzelberger said in a statement. “Tim brings a wealth of knowledge, both as a head coach and assistant coach. He has recruited and developed some of the top talents in the NBA. I’m thrilled that our student-athletes will get the opportunity to work with Tim.”

The 62-year-old Buckley has garnered a reputation for his player development and recruiting. Before arriving in Ames, he got Division I head coaching experience at Ball State (2000-06), and he’s also been an esteemed assistant coach at Wisconsin (1993-94), Ball State (1994-99), Marquette (1999-00, 2007-08), Iowa (2006-07), Indiana (2008-17), UNLV (2019-22), South Carolina (2022-24) and Cincinnati (2024-26).

Before joining Otzelberger’s staff at UNLV, he was also a scout for the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2017-19.

Buckley has worked with 12 NBA Draft picks, nine of whom were drafted in the first round. Of those nine first-round picks, six of them were lottery picks. Some of the top talent Buckley has recruited and developed include Dwyane Wade, Victor Oladipo, Cody Zeller and Noah Vonleh. He also helped coach All-American Yogi Ferrell at Indiana.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to be reunited with T.J. Otzelberger,” Buckley said in a statement. “What he has done over the last five years is amazing. Iowa State is a nationally recognized program and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Buckley played at Waubonsee Community College from 1982-84, before finishing his playing career at Division II Bemidji State from 1984-86. After that, he went right into coaching at his alma mater for two seasons, before moving over to Division III Rockford, where he spent one year as an assistant. He was promoted to Rockford’s head coach, a job he held from 1989-93, before breaking through to the Division I ranks.

Iowa State finished this past season at 29-8. The Cyclones reached the Sweet 16 for the third time in five years under Otzelberger. The Cyclones still have one assistant coaching vacancy to fill, after J.R. Blount (San Diego) and Kyle Green (Northern Iowa) departed for head coaching opportunities.

Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.

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Iowa

UPDATE: Amber Alert canceled for missing 12-year-old

Published

13 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

UPDATE: Amber Alert canceled for missing 12-year-old

WATERLOO (KCRG) – The Amber Alert for 12-year-old Deyton Annabelle Cranston has been canceled.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety said Cranston was located and the Waterloo Police Department is investigating.

PREVIOUS STORY:

Iowa (KCRG) – An amber alert has been issued for a missing 12-year-old out of Waterloo.

12-year-old Deyton Annabelle Cranston was last seen wearing a white tank top and a blue skirt and wearing clear glasses.

An Amber Alert has been issued for Deyton Annabelle Cranston who has been reported missing from Waterloo(State of Iowa Amber Alert)

She’s described as 5′4′, 135 and has blonde hair and brown eyes.

Officials say to look out for a red Toyota Camry with all tinted windows, a black spoiler, and no license plate on the front.

Anyone with information should contact authorites.

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Iowa

Vote: Who Should be Iowa’s High School Athlete of the Week? (4/5/2026)

Published

1 day ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

Vote: Who Should be Iowa’s High School Athlete of the Week? (4/5/2026)

Here are the candidates for High School on SI’s Iowa high school athlete of the week for March 30-April 4. Read through the nominees and cast your vote.

Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, April 12. The winner will be announced in the following week’s poll. Here are this week’s nominees:

Greyson Hartman, Washington boys track and field

The junior recorded the second-best United States throw in the shot put with a toss of 67-3.5. It is the second-best throw in Iowa history, breaking the Class 3A mark set by NFL standout Tristan Wirfs.

Shea Rapp, Ridge View girls track and field

Rapp won the high jump and the 200 at the Audubon Early Bird while also running on the winning distance medley relay and runner-up 4×400 relay.

Rylee Hemmingsen, Treynor girls track and field

Hemmingsen showed off her skills by winning the 100 hurdles, running on the winning shuttle hurdle and 4×400 relays, and placing second in the high jump at the Audubon Early Bird.

Cash Varner, Alburnett boys track and field

Varner was cash at the Benton Early Bird, placing first in both the 100 dash and long jump.

Aiden Gosselink, Grinnell girls track and field

Gosselink hit the Blue Standard to qualify for the Drake Relays in the long jump while also winning the 100 at the Benton Early Bird.

Rylan Peters, Waverly-Shell Rock boys track and field

Peters set a new school-record in the long jump at 23-8 while also hitting the Blue Standard and qualifying for Drake Relays.

Jase Price, Des Moines Christian boys soccer

Price had quite the varsity debut, as the freshman recorded a haul by scoring four goals in a win over Boone.

Aiden Kellar, Treynor boys soccer

Kellar tallied a hat trick with three goals in a 5-1 win for the Cardinals over Harlan.

Kaden Theisen, Western Dubuque boys soccer

Theisen was peppered with 20 shots in a match vs. Beckman Catholic, saving 19 of them to help the Bobcats to a 2-1 win.

Lucas Sidles, Independence boys track and field

Sidles swept the throwing events at the West Delaware Early Bird, winning the shot put and discus.

Adam Kacmarynski, Pella Christian boys track and field

Kacmarynski won the 100 and ran on the winning sprint medley and 4×100 relays at the Chariton Invitational.

Mark Fraise, Davis County boys track and field

Fraise finished first in the 400 hurdles, was on the first place shuttle hurdle and 4×400 relays, and also ran on the second place distance medley relay.

Gage Hoppenworth, Johnston boys track and field

Hoppenworth had a three-gold night at the Dowling Catholic meet, winning the 110 and 400 hurdles while running the third leg on the winning shuttle hurdle relay.

Alayna Goldsberry, Southeast Polk girls track and field

The junior won the 100 and 200 at her home invitational while running the anchor on the second place 4×400 relay.

Natalie Sitzmann, Waukee girls track and field

Sitzmann, a senior, won the 200 and ran on the first place shuttle hurdle and 4×400 relays at her home invitational.

Isabel Spradling, Des Moines Roosevelt girls track and field

Spradling picked up a first in the 1,500 and was on the gold-medal 4×400 and 4×800 relays at the Waukee Invitational.

Alayna Williams, Carlisle girls soccer

Williams, a senior, recorded five goals in a season-opening win over Knoxville, 10-1.

Carly Torneten, Harlan Community girls soccer

Torneten not only scored four goals, but she recorded four assists vs. Carroll.

About Our Athlete of the Week Voting

High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.

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