Farm advocates claim price gouging on meat and poultry in California is spreading across the country, including in Iowa, which is the nation's largest hog producer.

California passed a law banning the use of gestation crates for raising hogs, and producers said it increased production costs which are rippling across the country to Iowa. Iowa has similar regulations on gestation crates.

The agriculture advocacy group Farm Action has issued a report which shows in addition to blaming the California law, corporate meat producers also continue to use supply chain disruptions as an excuse to price-gouge.

Joe Maxwell, chief strategy officer for Farm Action, offered as evidence a 20% hike in California pork prices.

"It's just a part of their doing business now," Maxwell pointed out. "They find excuses in the markets to gouge that consumer. And one thing we want to be very clear on is that the consumer knows it's not the farmer. The farmer's getting squeezed just as much as is the consumer."

Iowa is the nation's leading hog producer, but still lost $32 per hog in 2023, a number experts said could grow this year. They blamed increased demand but have also come under scrutiny for trying to meet demand by raising hogs in large confinements, which are known to cause environmental damage.

Farm Action is the same group which, not long after the official end of the pandemic, asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate egg prices, which had tripled in some cases. The group researched U.S. Department of Agriculture data and said the numbers did not justify the price hike.

Producers said other factors are driving up prices, including inflation and animal illness.

Maxwell added corporate food producers have positioned themselves to have outsize control over the market.

"They've got that control over the farmer, not unlike oil companies have over oil fields," Maxwell argued. "They now have that control because there are very few buyers of farmers' commodities, so they have that control over the farmer, the producer."

Iowa produces almost 50 million hogs a year. It costs nearly $4 billion a year just to feed them.

Tax season is here and North Carolinians should find the relevant financial documents to ensure filing their returns is as smooth as possible.

Important documents include W2s from employers or 1099s for independent contractors. People should track deductions like property taxes, charitable donations and mortgage interest as well.

Joe Mecca, vice president of communication for Coastal Credit Union, said it is important to remember other, smaller sources of income.

"One of the things that people need to remember to get is a 1099 from your financial institution," Mecca emphasized. "You may have interest or dividend income from different types of accounts that you might have. Similarly, if you've got a brokerage account, you may receive a 1099 form from them."

Mecca noted the form is typically available online. Other important documents include those involving the sale of a home, education expenses, and state and local tax refunds. People can find resources for doing their taxes online at the IRS website. Credit union members have access to discounts for tax services from TurboTax and H-and-R Block.

Mecca recommended while people have the documents out, they can also prepare their financial future.

"This is a great time of year for people to take a look at their overall financial picture," Mecca advised. "Start planning ahead for some of the expenses that they may have in the coming year or some things that they might want to save for in terms of retirement or education."

Mecca added people might also consider working with a financial adviser. Taxes are due April 15.

Seven members of Oregon's congressional delegation have signed a letter demanding protection for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, to enable the federal agency to continue its work.

The Department of Government Efficiency closed the bureau earlier this month.

Jagjit Nagra, executive director of the group Oregon Consumer Justice, said the bureau plays a key role in protecting Oregonians from deception and overcharges by banks and other financial institutions. He argued the oversight is especially important to prevent predatory lending for large purchases like mortgages and student loans.

"When you take away that enforcement mechanism, you're basically giving Wall Street the chance to say, 'Oh, OK, now we can do more of whatever we want,'" Nagra contended.

The bureau was created in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and since then, Nagra adds, the agency has returned $21 billion to consumers. Nagra stressed without the bureau, Oregonians will have less protection against hidden fees and financial scams, among other things.

Critics of the bureau said it has lacked accountability and its regulations stifle financial innovation. Nagra countered the Great Recession, along with other banking, savings and lending scandals, showed the nation needs oversight and strong enforcement of consumer financial protection laws.

"The CFPB never gets in the way of those businesses doing the right thing," Nagra pointed out. "The CFPB goes after businesses and other organizations that are defrauding consumers, that are cheating consumers."

The letter, signed by Oregon Democrats, charged big financial institutions, which the bureau was created to regulate, have prioritized dismantling it. Nagra added consumer protection should not be a partisan issue because everyone is a consumer. He emphasized the need for a united consumer voice.

Scams are on the rise in the wake of the Los Angeles fires, according to a warning on social media from the Pasadena Police Department - so experts have some tips on how to avoid becoming a victim.

There have been reports of people pretending to be fire victims, approaching shoppers in store checkout lines and asking if they'll purchase items for them.

Kathy Stokes is director of fraud prevention programs with the AARP Fraud Watch Network.

"People will tell you that they're in need, and could you buy them baby formula?" said Stokes. "They'll take the baby formula to the next store, let's say it's a Target - then they'll go to a different Target and return it."

Lots of Go Fund Me pages have popped up after the fires - but experts say the safest way to help is to go through a trusted, established charity.

Several websites will help you verify whether a charity is legitimate - including Charity Watch, Charity Navigator, or Give.org, which is run by the Better Business Bureau.

There are also reports of people pretending to be from FEMA, or from insurance companies.

Some may offer to help speed up your claim - but then use your personal information to file a false claim or steal your identity.

Stokes said fake contractors may show up on your street with a truck and materials, and offer to help you rebuild on the cheap.

"If you're in a desperate situation, and you may not think to check credentials, or to try to get other companies to bid on the project, you may end up paying for something up front," said Stokes, "and then they go away, or they do a shoddy job."

Stokes said homeowners also need to be wary of people offering pennies on the dollar for real estate in the wake of the blazes.