SHELBY, Ohio (AP) — Proposals to use dams to reduce flooding along the branch of an Ohio river aren’t universally popular. The Black Fork, a branch of the Mohican River, has frequently flooded around Shelby, with recent events in 2007, 2011 and 2013. The 2007 flood destroyed 51 businesses and homes and flooded many farm fields.

 

The Mansfield News Journal reported three proposals to address flooding all  include five or six dams at costs ranging from $45 million-$68 million. Joe Gies, Shelby projects coordinator, said the dams would be located to slow water before it gets to Shelby, about 74 miles north of Columbus. Farmers fear dams upriver from Shelby would delay plantings by temporarily making fields too wet.

 

MIAMI, Fla. — On May 4, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida entered a consent decree of permanent injunction between the United States and Syfrett Feed Co., Inc. of Okeechobee, Fla., which requires the company to adequately control its production of medicated animal feeds and to comply with federal law before it can resume its medicated feed operations.

 

Over the course of three inspections of the company’s facility in January 2014, June 2015 and June 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it documented multiple violations of the current good manufacturing practice regulations for medicated feeds.

 

Following the 2014 inspection, the FDA issued a warning letter citing the violations. In 2014, Syfrett Feed informed the FDA it had received complaints relating to its horse pellet product and the subsequent euthanasia of 17 horses. The company has since agreed to discontinue the production of the horse feed connected to this incident.

 

The consent decree prohibits Syfrett Feed from processing, manufacturing, preparing, packing and distributing the  medicated animal feed it produces untilthe defendants hire an expert to ensure they are following all regulations in the manufacture of medicated feed, and until the FDA provides Syfrett Feed with written permission that they may resume manufacture and distribution.  The complaint was filed by the Department of Justice on behalf of the FDA.

 

 LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Already well connected in the business world, Anthony Bonomo hooked up with trainer Todd Pletcher to prepare an entry for the Kentucky Derby.

 Bonomo’s wife, MaryEllen, offered up Always Dreaming’s name because of her proclivity for thinking big. The dark brown colt then fulfilled a dream come true for a multitude of people by winning the marquee race going away on Saturday. 

 

A succession of Brooklyn accents spoke loudly in the joyous aftermath of Always Dreaming’s 2 3/4-length victory as the favorite at Churchill Downs.

 

Always Dreaming’s primary ownership is comprised of Bonomo’s Brooklyn Boyz Stables and Teresa Viola, whose husband, Vincent, owns the NHL’s Florida Panthers.

 Branstad pledges to confront Beijing on human rights

 WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — The Midwest governor President Donald Trump picked to be his ambassador to China says if confirmed for the post he will confront Beijing on human rights issues and would welcome meetings with Chinese activists.

 Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said during his Senate confirmation hearing May 2 that he intends to travel to every province in China, just as he’s traveled to every county in his state. He boasts a decadeslong relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two met in 1985 when Xi led an agricultural trade delegation to Iowa.

 Branstad said he hopes his longtime ties to Xi can lead China to play a greater role in defusing North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. He called Pyongyang’s push for nuclear weapons a “threat to all of humankind.”

 

WAYZATA, Minn. — Cargill, Inc. is selling its two remaining cattle feedlots in Kansas and Colorado, marking the company’s complete exit from this aspect of the beef industry.

 The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported the agribusiness giant is still a major player in beef production with multiple beef processing plants across the

southern, central and western United States. Cargill hopes to finalize the sale of its Leoti, Kan., and Yuma, Colo., feed  yards to Omaha-based Green Plains, Inc.after regulatory approval. Green Plains is purchasing the yards for $36.7 million, excluding working capital.

 

In July, Cargill sold its feed yards in Bovina and Dalhart, Texas, to Amarillobased Friona Industries LP. Just like in Texas, the buyer of the Colorado and Kansas feed yards will continue to supply Cargill’s nearby beef processing plants once the cattle are ready for slaughter, under a multiyear agreement.

  

Two years ago, Cargill sold its entire pork business to JBS USA Pork for $1.45 billion, a deal that combined two of the country’s largest pork processors. Cargill remains one of the nation’s four largest beef producers that collectively control more than 70 percent of the U.S. beef market.

 

 

BAD AXE, Mich. (AP) — Voters in the Michigan Thumb region have rejected two proposals to expand the number of wind turbines in the area.

  

The proposals rejected last week would’ve added dozens more wind turbines to Huron County. One of the proposed developments would’ve let DTE Energy implement 70 turbines in four townships. The second would’ve allowed NextEra Energy Resources to implement 60 turbines.

 

Opponents of the proposals said the turbines are negatively affecting the “quality of life” in the county. NextEra spokesman Bryan Garner said the county has “experienced an economic setback” by rejecting the developments.

 

DTE spokeswoman Cindy Hecht said the energy company will continue to evaluate areas statewide for possible wind projects in order to meet Michigan’s renewable energy standard goal of 15 percent by 2021. 

 

 COLUMBUS, Ind. (AP) — Work is about to start on installing 4,000 panels for a solar energy farm along Interstate 65 near Columbus. The new farm covering about seven acres is among 10 being built by Hoosier Energy to produce power for 18 electrical cooperatives in southern and central Indiana and southeastern Illinois.

 

The (Columbus) Republic reported project developer Chad Jenkins expects the construction work could be completed by August about 40 miles south of Indianapolis. It is the first such project in Bartholomew County. He said Hoosier Energy is building the farms with a goal of having 10 percent of its power come from renewable sources.

 Bartholomew County REMC is among Hoosier Energy’s customers. REMC spokesman Marty Lasure said its customers want renewable energy and most support the project.