Saturday, March 28, 2020
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Ken and Kit McGuffin
Josh Wrestler is among the area farmers balancing concerns about unpredictable weather, trade rules and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. REGISTER/ERICK MITCHELL
Farmers brace for the unknown By ERICK MITCHELL The Iola Register
A $2.2 trillion bipartisan legislation was enacted Friday to lift the American economy from its slide due to the spread of COVID-19. The bill is set to add $14 billion to the Agriculture Department’s Commodity Credit Corp spending authority, and will allow
another $9.5 billion for U.S. farmers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Area farmers admit the coronavirus has had an impact on crop prices along with carrying out their prep work. Dan Daniels has been working on a spray rig for his newly purchased helicopter, but is finding it difficult to obtain parts. “A lot of the businesses
have shut down, and I’ve been trying to order parts, but they are working from home so they don’t have all the usual tools to help find you parts. Even insurance companies aren’t in their office,” Daniels said. With the spread of the coronavirus, beef has been one of the items swept off the shelves at supermarkets across the United States.
Even here in Iola, the selection of ground beef was significantly less than prior to the outbreak. Another area farmer, Josh Wrestler, believes the increase of purchasing of beef is not necessarily a spike in demand. “We sold our calves prior to the coronavirus outbreak, so it didn’t affect us that See FARMERS | Page A4
Seniors hunkering down By SUSAN LYNN The Iola Register
“I don’t want anyone to think I’m expendable just for the sake of the economy,” Ken McGuffin half-heartedly joked Thursday afternoon. With each passing day, McGuffin’s remark takes on a grimmer tone. As of Friday, the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States exceeded that of China, with the numbers multiplying. In one week, Michigan’s See HUNKERED | Page A7
Local greenhouse owner reimagines Farmers’ Market By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
“Come outside ... we’ll get some social distancing,” grins Calvin Parker, proprietor of Parker’s Greenhouse north of Humboldt. Parker has been growing fresh vegetables for Allen County’s Farmers Markets for several years now, and clearly takes pride in his work. In past years, he’s also operated a market stand from the side of the road, where folks put their money in a bucket following the honor system.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, this year Parker and his Farmer’s Market colleagues have been trying to envision alternative delivery methods. “We’re gonna look for a way to get produce to the community,” he said. “We’re not going anywhere.” Some options for reenvisioning the Farmer’s Market include: a drive-through set up, filling out online orders that are either picked up or delivered, or having a more traditional market with the recommended spacing beSee MARKET | Page A8
Calvin Parker proudly displays an array of vegetables inside his greenhouse. REGISTER/TREVOR HOAG
Pandemic, price war hit oil producers By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
An unprecedented set of events — a global coronavirus pandemic declaration, which precipitated a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia — has the world’s oil industry teetering toward collapse. And while local merchants, businesses and manufacturers already have felt the effects of the COVID-19 health See OIL | Page A4
Vol. 122, No. 107 Iola, KS 75 Cents
U.S. House passes $2.2T rescue deal WASHINGTON (AP) — Acting swiftly in an extraordinary time, the House rushed President Donald Trump a $2.2 trillion rescue package Friday, tossing a life preserver to a U.S. economy and health care system left flailing by the coronavirus pandemic. The House approved the See STIMULUS | Page A5
Hoopsters take aim
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Bourbon, Neosho say ‘stay home’
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NMRMC Family Medicine Welcomes Dr. Janet Bradshaw Family Medicine Specialist Now Accepting New Patients
620-432-5588. 1501 W. Seventh • Chanute, KS • 620-432-5588 • www.nmrmc.com