Charges filed in Hog Stockpiling Near Graettinger
May 1, 2019
By Anesa McGregor , Emmetsburg News
When the Palo Alto County Sheriff's Department was called to 4076 290th Street just west of Graettinger in Walnut Township, they arrived to a scene not that was not normal to the area.
Hog carcasses had been stockpiled at the address.
HOG CARCASS STOCKPILING is against the law without a licenses. Approximately 12 truck loads of carcasses were removed from a location near Graettinger. The owners of River Valley Rendering were charged with stockpiling carcasses without a valid license and sited. If you come across a sight such as this, please be sure to report it to the proper authorities immediately.
An investigation into the incident was conducted on March 22 and again on March 25 by the sheriff's department determining that the hog carcasses had been stockpiled on the property by River Valley Rendering out of Redwood Falls, MN.
According to the complaint filed on April 2 in District Court by Palo Alto County Attorney Peter Hart, River Valley Rendering is operated by Kenneth Behrendt and his son, Ryan Behrendt.
The original claim filed shows the Iowa Department of Agriculture issued a rendering license to River Valley Rendering Feb. 21, 2019 for a fee of $50, with an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2019.
According to Iowa Code Chapter 167.4(d), a $50 rendering license is for a delivery service, which collects and transports whole animal carcasses or their parts to a disposal plant or collection point.
The license does not include a collection point or disposal plant within the State of Iowa.
The license which was issued to the Behrendt's and River Valley Rendering was for disposal of hog carcasses within a reasonable time after death by composting, cooking, burying or burning within a reasonable amount of time.
Both Kenneth Behrendt and Ryan Behrendt were individually charged with failure to dispose of dead hogs without a license for central location, which is in violation of Iowa Code 167.19 and 167.18, and is a simple misdemeanor.
A simple misdemeanor carries with it a possible fine of not less than $65 and not more than $625 plus surcharge and court cost and/or no more than 30 days in jail.
The highest amount that could potentially be charged (including surcharge and court costs) is $903.
According to County Attorney Peter Hart, a count of the hog carcasses could have been conducted and a charged filed against each man for each hog carcass located at the site could have been filed.
Roughly 12 truck loads of hog carcasses were removed from the site.
Ryan Behrendt entered a plea of guilty on April 24 and penalties will be forthcoming.
Kenneth Behrendt has not yet entered a plea.
Residents are reminded to report anything similar to the stockpiling of carcasses.
There are many problems with this practice including health repercussions.
stockpiling hogs is a crime, gare
Linear Mode
