WASHINGTON–Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa sent a letter yesterday to the Department of Justice pressing the Antitrust Division to review JBS USA's proposed acquisition of Cargill Inc.'s pork unit.

Grassley expressed concern that the merger will increase concentration and decrease competition in the U.S. pork industry. 

"If the JBS-Cargill deal is finalized, the four largest pork processors will control roughly 71 percent of the processing capacity in the country.  Continued mergers and acquisitions in an already consolidated pork industry could reduce competition.  And, reduced marketing opportunities for farmers and independent producers, and the subsequent impact it could have on pork prices for consumers is of great concern," said Grassley. 

JBS USA and Cargill Inc. are currently the third and fourth largest U.S. pork processors respectively.  If the transaction is finalized, JBS USA will become the second largest pork processor with a daily slaughter capacity of around 83,000 head.  This equates to nearly 20 percent of U.S. daily pork processing capacity.    

Grassley has long worked to ensure such mergers are carefully reviewed by the Justice Department to ensure a competitive market.  This transaction, reportedly valued at $1.45 billion, comes almost one year after Tyson Foods purchased Hillshire Farms.

JBS USA has a plant located in Marshalltown, Iowa, and Cargill Inc. has a plant located in Ottumwa, Iowa. 

A signed copy of Grassley's letter to the Department of Justice can be found here.

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Proclamation was set to expire July 31; now extended until Aug. 30

 

(DES MOINES) - Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today announced that he is extending the State of Disaster Emergency in response to the avian flu outbreak through Aug. 30, 2015. This is the third extension the governor has made to the original disaster proclamation. The current disaster proclamation would have expired on July 31, 2015, without an extension from the governor.

The proclamation of disaster emergency does the following:

1. Activates the disaster response and recovery aspect of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department's (HSEMD) Iowa Emergency Response Plan.

2. Authorizes the use and deployment of all available state resources, supplies, equipment, and materials as are deemed reasonably necessary by the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and Iowa HSEMD in order to do the following:

A.      Track and monitor instances of confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza throughout the state of Iowa and the country,

B.      Establish importation restrictions and prohibitions in respect to animals suspected of suffering from this disease,

C.      Rapidly detect any presumptive or confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza within Iowa's borders,

D.     Contain the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza within our state through depopulation, disinfections, and disposal of livestock carcasses,

E.      Engage in detection activities, contact tracking, and other investigatory work to stop the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza within our state, and

F.       Eliminate the disease in those disaster counties where it has been found and lessen the risk of this disease spreading to our state as a whole.

3. Temporarily authorizes the Iowa HSEMD, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), other state agencies, and local law enforcement agencies and private contractors employed by the same to remove and/or dispose of live animals and animal carcasses on publicly or privately owned land when those live animals and/or carcasses threaten public health or safety.

4. Authorizes the Iowa HSEMD, the Iowa DOT, the Iowa DPS, the Iowa DNR, IDPH, other state agencies, and local law enforcement agencies to implement stop movement and stop loading restrictions and other control zone measures as are reasonably deemed necessary, including establishing buffer zones, checkpoints, and cleaning and disinfecting operations at checkpoints and borders surrounding any quarantine areas established by the IDALS or at any other location in the state of Iowa, in order to stop the spread of this contagious disease.

5. Authorizes state agencies to assist the IDALS in disinfection, depopulation, and livestock carcass disposal efforts.

6. Temporarily waives restrictions to allow for the timely and efficient disposal of poultry carcasses.

7.      Temporarily suspends the regulatory provisions pertaining to hours of service for commercial vehicle drivers hauling poultry carcasses infected with or exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza or while hauling loads otherwise related to the response to this disaster during its duration, subject to certain conditions outlined in the disaster proclamation.

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Dr. Chris Nelson of Kemin Industries accepts appointment as co-chair alongside Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds

 

(CEDAR FALLS, Iowa) - Kemin Industries President and CEO Dr. Chris Nelson will serve as co-chair of the Iowa Governor's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Advisory Council starting this month. Appointed by Gov. Terry Branstad, Nelson succeeds Vermeer CEO and Chair of the Board Mary Andringa, who completed her two-year term as STEM Council co-chair in May.

In 2013, STEMconnector named Nelson as one of the top 100 CEO leaders in STEM at the U.S. News & World Report's STEM Solutions Summit. STEM education is important to Nelson as Kemin is a bioscience leader in the Cultivation Corridor, manufacturing and distributing approximately 500 specialty ingredients for the global feed and food industries as well as the health, nutrition, and beauty markets.

"I established the STEM Council in 2011 with the goal of inspiring our next generation of innovators who can take full advantage of the great careers waiting for them across Iowa," said Governor Branstad. "Kemin is one of our state's outstanding career destinations, and Dr. Nelson is one of our most inspiring STEM leaders. I am grateful that he is willing to co-lead the STEM Council alongside Lt. Governor Reynolds."

"Kemin and Dr. Nelson have been outstanding partners to the Governor's STEM Advisory Council since the beginning," said Lt. Governor Reynolds. "So, it is a natural expansion of that partnership to invite Dr. Nelson to co-chair the STEM Council. His global perspective, STEM expertise and leadership skills will help us take Iowa STEM to new heights."

In 1980, Nelson began his career with Kemin as Director of Research and Development. Since 1993, he has served as President and CEO of the global nutritional ingredient company that specializes in improving human and animal health through molecular innovations. Under his leadership, the company has more than quadrupled in size and now employs nearly 2,000 people, operating internationally in more than 90 countries with manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, India, Italy, Singapore, South Africa and the United States. Nelson received his undergraduate training at Northwestern University and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Washington State University. He is the holder of 15 patents and has authored numerous peer-reviewed, published research studies.

"There is an increasingly global need for preparing students to become skilled in STEM subjects. The challenges presented by the scale and pace of change throughout the world calls for new innovative solutions from the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics," says Nelson. "I'm proud to personally further support the advancement of STEM in Iowa schools."

Outside of his role at Kemin, Nelson serves on the board of a leading international corporation, the National Institutes of Health Technical Advisory Committee, National Forum for Agricultural Executives Council, the Des Moines Symphony and the Des Moines Community Foundation among others. He continues to have a passion for science education and serves on the Board of the Science Center of Iowa where he helped lead a successful development effort for the construction of the $62 million Science Center.

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About the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council

Established in July 2011 via Governor's Executive Order, the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council is a public-private partnership of educators, companies and Iowa students and families addressing policies and programs designed to improve Iowa's educational system focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The STEM Council works to engage and prepare students for a career-ready workforce path, regain our State's historic leadership position in education and provide a vital competitive economic advantage now, and for the future, to ensure that every Iowa student has access to world-class STEM education opportunities. The 47-member STEM Council is chaired by Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Kemin Industries President and CEO Dr. Chris Nelson. For more information, visit www.IowaSTEM.gov.

DAVENPORT, IA:  July 28, 2015 -- The National Alliance on Mental Illness of the Greater Mississippi Valley (NAMI GMV) is pleased to offer 2 opportunities to participate in the Family-to-Family Education Program this fall:

In Davenport:

NAMI GMV Office

1706 Brady St, Suite 101

- 12 Wednesdays -

September 2–November 18, 2015

6pm–8:30pm

Davenport class participants must register through the NAMI GMV Office: 563-322-8870

 

In Muscatine:

Muscatine Comm. College

152 Colorado St.

- 12 Thursdays -

September 10 -December 3, 2015

6pm–8:30pm

Muscatine class participants must register through the college: 563-288-6100; Reference Course#: 159532

 

The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program is a FREE 12-session course taught by other family members who have a loved one dealing with the challenges of living with a mental illness.  These family members receive intensive training from the class presentation.  Instruction and course materials are provided FREE to class participants.

Class topics include :

• Current information about schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder (manic depression), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder.

• borderline personality disorder, and co-occurring brain disorders and addictive disorders.

• Up-to-date information about medications, side effects, and strategies for medication adherence.

• Current research related to the biology of brain disorders and evidence-based treatments to promote recovery.

• Gaining empathy by understanding the subjective, lived experience of a person with mental illness.

• Problem solving, listening, and communication techniques.

• Acquiring strategies for handling mental health crises and relapse.

• Focusing on care for the caregiver: coping with worry, stress, and emotional overload.

• Guidance on locating appropriate supports and services within the community.

• Information on advocacy initiatives designed to improve and expand mental health services.

Testimonials:

"I was empowered by the education I received in the Family To Family program offered by NAMI.  I also found peace in knowing our family was not alone in this battle of mental illness."   Laurie E., Bettendorf, IA

"For families to advocate for their loved one, they must be knowledgeable; Family to Family offers up to date information that is invaluable when helping their loved one cope with the journey that is mental illness."

Jamie Kreuger - Davenport, IA

"Taking the NAMI Family to Family Class in the fall of 2005 empowered me to help my son struggling with schizophrenia in ways I would never have dreamed possible."

Suzanne Wiese - Davenport, IA

About NAMI

NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope.

http://www.namigmv.org (Local)

http://www.nami.org (National)

http://www.namiiowa.com (NAMI Iowa)

http://www.il.nami.org (NAMI Illinois)