NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Grain producers across several states are taking urgent steps to protect themselves after Hansen-Mueller Co., an Omaha-based grain dealer with elevators in multiple regions, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 17. The filing leaves unpaid farmers in Iowa, Texas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin racing to verify deliveries, secure documentation, and file claims through their respective indemnity systems.
In Iowa, the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship confirmed that any unpaid grain delivered before November 17 may qualify for compensation through the Iowa Grain Depositors and Sellers Indemnity Fund, with a strict filing deadline of March 17, 2026. The fund — created during the 1980s Farm Crisis — can cover up to 90 percent of eligible losses. Regulators emphasized that missing the 120-day claim window results in loss of indemnity eligibility.
Texas officials issued a separate alert after receiving reports that producers remain unpaid for recent deliveries. Because Hansen-Mueller is licensed federally, not by TDA, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller urged grain sellers to immediately verify receipts, confirm payments, and consider filing a UCC-1 with the Texas Secretary of State to protect their interests.
Minnesota producers, who delivered grain to Hansen-Mueller’s Duluth operation, may submit claims through the state’s relatively new grain indemnity fund — now facing its first major test. The fund can subrogate claims through bankruptcy proceedings, but payments are not guaranteed to reach 100 percent. However, Wisconsin producers who delivered to the Superior elevator are not eligible for indemnity because Hansen-Mueller was not licensed under the state’s producer security program.
Looking ahead, multiple state agencies warn that grain title transfer, documentation quality, and timely filing will determine how much affected farmers ultimately recover.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Farmers with unpaid Hansen-Mueller grain should verify delivery records immediately and file indemnity claims promptly, as coverage rules vary widely by state.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
Export volumes remain positive year-to-date, but weaker soybean loadings and slowing wheat movement hint at early bottlenecks in global demand or river logistics. Farmers should watch basis levels and freight conditions as export competition heats up.
October 28, 2025 10:58 AM
·
Farmers who rely on H-2A workers will see a few key changes to speed up the process and make it fairer. On the ground, producers say labor issues create shortfalls in otherwise productive harvests.
October 27, 2025 01:36 PM
·
John Appel with the Farmers Business Network (FBN) joins us for a closer look at the 2026 Crop Protection Market Outlook Report.
October 27, 2025 01:00 PM
·
Industry leaders representing more than 40 nations gathered to discuss the future of ethanol and other corn-based products.
October 27, 2025 12:44 PM
·
Farmers display a unique optimism — planting with the expectation that weather, basis, and prices will improve by harvest — asserting that the profession is an identity, not just a job.
October 27, 2025 12:12 PM
·
Imported lean beef continues to play a critical role in U.S. hamburger and ground-beef production, with any added volume from Argentina serving as a supplement — not a market overhaul.
October 27, 2025 11:51 AM
·
R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard joins Market Day Report for his insight on the USDA’s plan to strengthen the U.S. beef industry.
October 24, 2025 01:28 PM
·
For our Countdown to Convention with Culver’s, we explore how the sea of FFA blue impacts local businesses.
October 24, 2025 11:58 AM
·
RFD-TV Markets Expert Tony St. James breaks down the USDA’s newly unveiled plan to rebuild the US beef herd and the industry’s spectrum of responses to it.
October 23, 2025 03:06 PM
·
