In western Iowa, a picturesque scene of cows grazing in a recently harvested corn field was captured by Jared Strong of the Iowa Capital Dispatch. It’s a serene image that showcases the beauty of the rural landscape in the heart of America.
State regulators have fined a cattle farmer in northeast Iowa for endangering a creek and groundwater. The farmer, who is facing financial difficulties and is currently awaiting sentencing in federal court, received the penalty.
According to an order from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Michael Butikofer, who is 54 years old, manages an open feedlot located south of Farmersburg in Clayton County. The feedlot has the capacity to house over 1,700 cattle.
During a facility inspection in March 2023, a DNR officer found that manure had overflowed from a storage basin at Fawn Hollow and entered an underground tiling inlet that leads to Howard Creek. The amount of manure spilled was not specified. To address the issue, Butikofer removed the inlet.
The officer observed that the manure stockpiles were situated dangerously close to a water well and a sinkhole. It is worth mentioning that the cattle operation is located in the Driftless Area, where the bedrock is porous, making it more vulnerable to groundwater contamination.
Two sinkholes were situated too close to a confinement building that had been converted from an open feedlot structure.
As per the DNR’s mandate, Butikofer has been directed to pay a fine of $4,000 and ensure that the manure and bedding stockpiles are maintained at a minimum distance of 400 feet from sinkholes and wells. Additionally, he must verify that there is no possibility of manure discharging from the property again.
According to Brian Jergenson, a senior environmental specialist for the DNR, Butikofer now has less than 1,000 cattle at the site and has changed the confinement building back to an open feedlot building. Despite the decision, Butikofer still has the option to appeal.
Legal troubles
In December, Butikofer admitted guilt to three federal criminal charges: theft of livestock, wire fraud, and false bankruptcy declaration. His sentencing is scheduled for October, and he could face a maximum of 30 years in prison.
According to court records, Butikofer earns a living by raising cattle on behalf of others. However, in recent years, he found himself struggling to make payments on his debts. To make ends meet, he resorted to selling cattle that did not belong to him and using the money to pay his debts.
During the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, he faced allegations of fraudulently acquiring over $200,000 in emergency aid funds. Additionally, he was accused of utilizing a part of his federal disaster loan to pay for a bankruptcy attorney. In 2022, he was alleged to have made false statements regarding his finances during the bankruptcy proceedings.
In 2020, a federal judge ruled that Butikofer must pay three ex-employees approximately $250,000 for mistreatment and unpaid wages. This ruling is independent of his recent criminal prosecution.
In 2018, Butikofer hired a group of men from South Africa on a temporary basis. However, the men later filed a lawsuit against him in the following year, claiming that Butikofer subjected them to verbal abuse and physical threats.
The Iowa Capital Dispatch reported that a cattle farmer, who is facing a potential prison sentence, has been fined by the DNR.