WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Nov. 7, 2012 - While the overall price tag of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner remains steady, with only a 1 percent increase from last year's total meal cost; prices are beginning to creep upward for poultry and meat. As the price of grain for feed continues to inch upward after a drought-stricken harvest, livestock farmers are beginning to make adjustments for the increased costs of feeding those animals.

But those food price hikes shouldn't affect this year's annual fall feast. According to the recent American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Thanksgiving Dinner Price Survey, a family of 10 can enjoy the typical Thanksgiving meal that features a 16-pound turkey, bread stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and the trimmings for $49.48.

"The Thanksgiving feast remains a real bargain for American families.  The bounty of our flocks and fields can still be put on the table for less than $5 per person," said Dave Miller, director of research and commodity services for the Iowa Farm Bureau.  "Even in the face of weather challenges that cut production of corn and soybeans on many Iowa farms by 30 percent or more, the Thanksgiving meal this year has risen in cost by less than 1 percent."

Turkey accounted for most of the increase in the cost of the dinner. The price for a 16-pound turkey crept up by 66 cents to $22.23, compared to $21.57 last year. The increase is a result of higher consumer demand for turkey, lowered turkey production and higher feed prices.

"The modest increase in the price of this year's Thanksgiving turkey demonstrates the resilience of American turkey producers in the face of drought and higher feed costs," said Miller. "During each of the first 8 months of 2012, U.S. turkey producers increased production and prices were slightly lower than a year ago, but higher prices for feed due to the record-setting drought of 2012 has led them to curtail

production by about 4 percent during October, resulting in the slight increase in price that may be seen as Thanksgiving approaches this year. But we are on the cusp of change regarding seeing higher prices for meat."

This year, there were small increases for the costs of dinner rolls and items used to make the meals. The survey shopping list includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of celery and carrots, pumpkin pie with whipped topping and beverages of coffee and milk, in quantities efficient to serve 10 people.

More than 150 volunteer shoppers from 35 states, representing every region in the nation, participated in the annual AFBF Thanksgiving price shopping survey.  The cost of the dinner has steadily climbed in recent years: 2008: $44.61, 2009: $42.91, 2010: $43.47, 2011: $49.20 and 2012: $49.48.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online media center at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

[Moline, Ill] - This Election Day, "99% voters" here played a key role in persuading other Americans to reject the "You're On Your Own" Republican philosophy that guts vitals services and provides tax breaks to the wealthy -- and to instead vote to rebuild the middle class, invest in good jobs and protect vital services like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

In an effort to reach across the table, voters and activists from Action Now Illinois will join together to call on Rep. Bobby Schilling to make the right choices for American families and the economy when he returns to Washington for the Lame Duck session of Congress. They will visit him at his congressional office on Thursday, November 8, 2012.

"What is clear after the election is that constituents have clearly rejected the trickle-down economics theory and the deep budget cuts to pay for tax cuts for the rich," says Cynthia Rivers, a resident of IL 13. "The best way to reduce the deficit is to put people back to work and we hope that Bobby Schilling will now represent us -the 99% when he returns to Washington."

Congress faces serious choices before the end of the year. Will it make disastrous cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, childcare, special education and other vital public services that our communities rely on or will it take an approach that puts job creation first?

At the rally, the 99 percent voters and Action Now activists will carry a large poster calling on Rep. Bobby Schilling to commit to the principle that jobs should come before cuts - the poster will bear a Lame Duck Pledge they want Schilling to sign.

WHO: Quad City area "99% Voters" and activists from Action Now Illinois

WHAT: Rally to Call on Rep. Bobby Schilling to Reflect Will of Voters, Support "Jobs, Not Cuts" in Lame Duck Congress

WHEN: 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 8, 2012

WHERE: Congressman Schilling's Office, 3000 41st Street, Moline, Illinois

VISUALS: A Lame Duck Pledge that 99% Voters want Rep. Schilling to sign

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There's plenty of information about women's physical and health-care needs. Unfortunately, some of it is incomplete, or based on opinion and conjecture, or it's just plain bad information, says registered nurse Iyalode Edwards.

"Women tend to be more vigilant about their bodies than men, and there is a huge marketplace of literature, products, studies, politics and other opinions on women's health," says Edwards, author of "Multiple Orgasms Made Simple: 'How to Do It' Sex Secrets All Women Should Know!" (www.multipleOmadesimple.com).

"Not all of it makes sense."

It's only natural that women are more focused on their bodies than men because women have the more complex anatomy, she says. But old ideas from a society based in patriarchy, along with today's health market issues, can create confusion. Edwards, who has more than 35 years experience as a registered nurse, clarifies three points about which she sees the most misunderstanding among her patients:

• Untested therapies: Several years ago hormone replacement therapy was all the rage, used almost as a cure-all for post-menopausal women suffering a variety of symptoms. After a few decades, however, a large percentage of those women started suffering ovarian and breast cancer, in addition to other complications. More recently, vaccines for the human papillomavirus have been touted to girls and young women as the new preventative measure against cervical cancer. But thousands of girls have experienced a wide range of side effects, including seizures, strokes, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, headaches, vomiting, weakness, joint pain, auto-immune problems, chest pains, hair loss, appetite loss, personality changes, insomnia, tremors and menstrual cycle changes. Be wary of new cure-alls. Adverse effects are sometimes not revealed until they've been in use for a significant amount of time.

• Health through pleasure: A 2011 survey by Jane Magazine found that, while more than 87 percent of men aged 18 to 26 years old experienced orgasm "most or all of the time" during sex, only 46.8 percent of women could say the same thing. Not only could that percentage be much higher for women, it could be more meaningful, too. "The truth is, if you have all your sex organs intact and can achieve the first level of climax, then you can achieve it multiple times during the same encounter," Edwards says. "You just need information, and there has been too much misinformation disseminated." Sexual satisfaction comes with several health benefits, including improved cardiovascular functioning, sounder sleep and a deeper bond with a partner.

• The politics of women's health: As imperative as it is to know more and listen closely to one's body, it is also important to stay connected to current events since women's health care has become a political football, she says. Comments from multiple elected officials seem to be narrowing the definition of rape, and there are many who support limiting women's care in insurance plans, to name a few public debates. "I want women to be more aware of their bodies," Edwards says. "Unfortunately, the rhetoric of many politicians seems to be pointing backward regarding our health."

About Iyalode Edwards, R.N.

Iyalode Edwards is the author of "Multiple Orgasms Made Simple," a straightforward, step-by-step how-to guide that includes physiological explanations for sensations women experience. Edwards is a registered nurse with more than 35 years of experience. She informally interviewed a number of women and physicians as part of her research.