http://kbia.org en http://kbia.org/post/christmas-trees-suffer-through-drought <div class="article-body"><p></p><p></p><p>In the Dr. Seuss book, it was the Grinch who stole Christmas. But for some Midwest tree growers, it may be the drought that eventually steals the holiday.</p><p>Danny Moulds, who owns Kris Kringle’s Trees just north of Cedar Falls, Iowa, said the hot dry summer took a harsh toll on newly planted seedlings. “We did lose about 15,000 Christmas trees in a 46-acre farm,” Moulds said. “And with the fir trees we didn’t lose just the little ones we planted this year, we (also) lost last year’s.”</p> Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:41:30 +0000 Pat Blank 25167 at http://kbia.org Christmas trees suffer through drought http://kbia.org/post/pink-slime-maker-close-plants-650-lose-jobs Officials with Beef Products Incorporated, or BPI, will permanently close three production plants in Iowa, Texas and Kansas by the end of the month. BPI is the maker of finely textured beef. Critics call it pink slime. About 650 people will lose their jobs. Wed, 09 May 2012 09:06:00 +0000 Pat Blank 13813 at http://kbia.org