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Harvest Problems Crop Up in Turner Grain President’s Bankruptcy Case

2 min read

It looks like the 50-50 partnership has gone bad between farmer Keith Wilkison and Dale C. Bartlett, the president of Turner Grain Merchandising Inc. of Brinkley.

Wilkison has asked for an emergency hearing in Bartlett’s personal bankruptcy case so Wilkison can harvest more than 400 acres in Lee County.

But we understand that the issue was close to settling late last week, and Wilkison will be given the OK to harvest the crop. If the case isn’t settled, a hearing is set for Wednesday in front of U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Audrey Evans.

Anyway, there are 360 acres of rice and 50 acres of beans that will be ready to combine possibly next week, according to Wilkison’s motion. The value of the crop is estimated at $400,000.

The problem, Wilkison told the court, is that Bartlett has indicated that someone else will harvest the crop — and now denies the partnership ever existed. The partnership agreement wasn’t in writing.

Wilkison said that he believes that if Bartlett harvests the crop, Wilkison won’t receive his share of the 2014 proceeds or the $200,000 for the 2013 crop that is still being held by the partnership.

Wilkison also is a plaintiff in one of the several lawsuits against Turner Grain.

Bartlett filed under Chapter 12 of the bankruptcy code, which is designated for “family farmers” with a regular annual income. Under Chapter 12, debtors propose a repayment plan and make installments to creditors over three to five years.

His filing listed up to $10 million in debt and assets between $1 million and $10 million.

A more detailed filing is expected later this week.

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