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.
Iowa
Northwest Iowa woman taken to the hospital after rollover
SIOUX COUNTY, Iowa (KTIV) – A Woodbury County woman was taken by ambulance to the hospital after a rollover took place in Sioux County.
The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office says 45-year-old Jenni Madison of Sioux City was taken to the hospital Saturday, July 11.
Authorities say at about 12:01 p.m., deputies investigated a rollover that took place on Highway 60, one mile south of Alton. According to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, the car was traveling north on Highway 60 when the driver lost control, entered the median and rolled.
Deputies say Madison was taken by ambulance to the Orange City Area Health System to be treated for minor injuries. The vehicle sustained $12,500 in damage.
Orange City Fire Department, Alton Fire Department, Alton Ambulance, the Orange City Police Department, and the Iowa State Patrol helped the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office at the scene.
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Iowa
Several Iowa High School Baseball Standouts Selected In MLB Draft
A number of Iowa high school baseball standouts were selected during the 2026 Major League Baseball draft. The amateur draft was conducted July 11-12, 2026 from the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Gable Mitchell, Kaleb LaFavor, Caleb Klein, Sam George, Nate Smithburg and Kooper Schulte each heard their names called during the draft.
Gable Mitchell Was Two-Way Star For Iowa City High
Mitchell, an Iowa City High grad, was picked in the eighth round with the 193rd overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays. He played his collegiate baseball at the University of Iowa after batting .466 with 12 extra-base hits, 55 runs scored, 29 RBI and 25 steals, going 5-0 with a 0.95 earned run average and 18 strikeouts as a senior.
In high school, Mitchell was an all-stater in baseball and earned all-conference honors on the football field. His grandfather is Dan Gable, an Olympic wrestling gold medalist who led the Hawkeyes to 15 NCAA championships.
Kaleb LaFavor Lone Current Iowa High School Baseball Player Selected
LaFavor, currently a senior at Sioux City Bishop Heelan High School, was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 10th round with the 304th pick. He has gone 3-1 with 40 strikeouts and a 0.79 earned run average in just under 18 innings on the mound this summer.
Klein, a Western Dubuque High School prep, played at Southeastern Community College and Southeast Missouri. He helped lead the Bobcats to back-to-back Class 3A Iowa High School Athletic Association State Baseball Tournament championships.
During his senior season at Western Dubuque, Klein hit .414 with nine doubles, seven triples, 49 runs scored and 30 RBI, stealing 20 bases. He went to the Atlanta Braves with the 442nd pick in the 15th round.
Several Former Iowa High School Baseball Players Hear Their Names Called
George, a former Pleasant Valley High School standout, played for Minnesota State University this past spring and was picked by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 19th round with the No. 581 overall selection.
In his final high school season with the Spartans, he struck out 62 batters in 44 innings, putting together a 2.07 earned run average.
Smithburg was picked by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 18th round with the 533rd pick after playing at Fairfield High School and for the Oklahoma Sooners.
As a senior, Smithburg went 6-1 with 83 strikeouts and a 0.43 earned run average in 47 innings pitched on the mound.
Schulte, who played at New London High School, played collegiately at Central Arizona, Southeastern Community College and for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He was selected by the New York Mets in the 20th round with the 600th pick overall.
He was an all-stater for New London in 2022, helping lead them to a state baseball championship that same season. As a senior, Schulte hit .444 with six home runs, 13 doubles, 50 runs scored, 44 RBI and nine steals, recording three saves and 29 strikeouts in just over 14 innings pitched.
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Iowa
Saints win finale in Iowa, snapping skid
The Saints claimed a victory in its series finale at Iowa, defeating the I-Cubs 5-4 to snap a four-game losing streak.
Orlando Arcia’s third-inning double scored Matt Wallner and Aaron Sabato to give St. Paul (50-41) the lead for good in the third inning.
Iowa scored twice in the ninth and threatened to steal away the win before reliever Trent Baker struck out Christian Bethancourt to end the game and earn the save.
Ben Ross and Kyler Fedko hit homers for the visitors.
Matt Bowman, who relieved Saints starter Aaron Rozek in the fifth inning, claimed the win.
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