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Thanks To Our Scramble Sponsors
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The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Bug Blocker Doors & Screens
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2015-16 MWFPA Scholarships Awarded
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The MWFPA Human Resources Committee has selected 14 applicants to each receive $1,000 in MWFPA Scholarships. The recipients and the companies with which their parents or guardians are employed, as well as their home city are as follows:
Sarah Bodden
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Del Monte, Beaver Dam, WI
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Andrea Brekken
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Seneca Foods, Lakeville, MN
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Nicole Carr
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Seneca Foods, Elmore, MN
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Macy Chapman
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Ball Corp., Westerville, OH
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Allissa Curson
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General Mills, Nya, MN
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Alyssa Eversman
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Lakeside, Plainview, MN
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Katherine Russell
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Chemtreat, Tomahawk, WI
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Erin Schoenbeck
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Seneca Foods, Baraboo, WI
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Nicole Schommer
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Seneca Foods, Hutchinson, MN
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Reilly Scott
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Reyco Systems, Inc. Moscow, ID
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Aimee Smahel
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Faribault Foods Hutchinson, MN
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Tristan Spakes
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Bush Brothers, Powell, TN
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Rachel Whitstone
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Foth, Green Bay, WI
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Madison Zartman
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Ball Corp., Logansport, IN
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Congratulations to the winners! Letters will be sent to all those who applied. Thanks to the HR Committee for all their time and effort in reviewing the various applications and selecting the finalists.
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WI Gov. Signs Implements of Husbandry Update Bill
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 WI Governor Scott Walker signed AB 113 into law to become 2015 WI Act 15. The measure
makes more than 20 adjustments to a 2014 law in an effort to clarify and make minor changes regarding the operation of agricultural commercial motor vehicles and implements of husbandry (IoH) on Wisconsin roadways.
Continue reading.
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IL Working Groups Begin Meeting On State Budget
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| With only weeks left before IL 2016 budget must be passed, a number of working groups have begun meeting to try and address key structural reforms articulated by Governor Bruce Rauner. Each working group includes two lawmakers from each of the four political caucuses along with key staff from the Rauner Administration. The working groups include Economic Growth (workers' compensation, minimum wage, tort reform, empowerment zones), Unemployment Insurance, Pension Reform, Budget Implementation, Capitol Infrastructure, Transforming Government (term limits, consolidate the Treasurer and Comptroller offices, and Taxpayer Protection (property tax freeze, tax reform). The Governor and lawmakers are working toward a possible grand bargain in which additional tax revenue or a hike in the minimum wage could be traded for major structural reforms that will encourage economic development and job growth. The state's temporary income tax increase expired at the end of 2014 forcing lawmakers to try and craft an FY16 budget with a reduction of $4 billion in tax revenue. If the General Assembly and Governor can strike a budget deal, then session would draw to a close on May 31. If a budget agreement proves elusive, then the session will extend into June and possibly beyond. The MWFPA continues working with agriculture commodity and business groups led by the Illinois Manufacturers Association and others in promoting policies that make it easier and more attractive to be a manufacturer in the Midwest, while attempting to minimize or eliminate those policies and issues that detract from the business of food processing.
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WI Budget Committee Continues Work This Week
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After taking a week off, the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee is planning to meet again next Tuesday and likely Thursday to continue its budget-writing work.
The important news this week will be the release of the Legislative Fiscal Bureau's new revenue estimates. Once those numbers are issued, legislative leaders will be able to formulate positions on large pieces of the budget like Medical Assistance and the UW System in addition to any potential tax relief.
Previously, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau announced that revenues to the state's Transportation Fund are projected to be up by $73.5 million compared to earlier estimates.
The increase in existing revenues provides some relief to legislators as they debate the Governor's proposal to increase bonding by $1.3 billion to finance the state highway program. Some legislators have called for reducing that level of bonding by as much as a half-billion dollars.
The committee's work should be completed by the end of May.
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The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp.
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 A federal judge has rejected the food industry's attempt to temporarily stop the state from implementing a law requiring labels on foods made with genetically modified ingredients (GMOs).
But U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss has not thrown the industry's case out altogether, meaning it is likely to go to trial.
Continue reading.
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The Obama administration and congressional Democrats are making a new push to raise the minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2020. Read more.
In WI Rep. Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) introduced legislation that would raise the minimum wage by over 100% to $15 an hour, index the minimum wage after that so it continues to increase, and eliminate a current prohibition on local units of government from imposing their own minimum wage in Wisconsin, which would likely lead to cities like Madison and Milwaukee passing even higher minimum wages within their municipal boundaries.
MWFPA opposes hikes in the minimum wage pointing to a recent study from the Employment Policies Institute, whose findings showed Wisconsin would lose 27,000 jobs if the minimum wage rises.
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Coalition Meets With Congressional Leaders
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MWFP President Nick George, MWFPA Board member Jon Brekken (Seneca Foods),U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Madelynn Mize and Al MIze of Del Monte.
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Recently eleven members of the American Fruit and Vegetable Processor & Grower Coalition (which is supported by MWFPA) met with two dozen Senators and Representatives in Washington, D.C. to discuss the equal treatment of fresh and processed vegetables in government food programs and federal GMO legislation.
The meetings were set up by AFVPGC lobbyist Denise Bode of Cornerstone Government Affairs and included meetings with key members of Congress including several from MN, IL, and WI.
Among the topics discussed: making the All Forms Pilot program - passed in the last Farm Bill - permanent and to support the Safe and Accurate Food Labelling Act of 2015, introduced last month by Reps. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., and G. K. Butterfield, D-N.C.
This year's lobbying effort was joined by Kelly Poulson of the American Frozen Food Institute and Rich Tavoletti of the Canned Food Alliance, and Sean Reilly of the Can Manufacturers Institute.
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Register Now For Spring Summit & Scramble!
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This is a Members-Only event.
On Wednesday evening, June 3rd, a reception will be held from 5-7 pm at the Hilton Garden Inn.
The shotgun style golf tournament will be played at Trapper's Turn June 4th, starting at 8:00 am followed by lunch, awards and cash prizes. Register early! This event fills up fast.
Last year over 200 golfers participated in this event and we awarded over $3,000 in cash prizes. The Spring Summit & Scramble offers many opportunities to promote your company* by sponsoring:
- A hole
- Wednesday evening reception
- Cash prizes
- Lunch
- Donating items for drawings and goodie bags
All sponsors will be recognized with signage at the event, on our website and social networking pages, and in our bi-monthly e-bulletin. The sooner you sponsor the longer your logo is displayed. This year's golf outing will again afford participants the opportunity to help raise money for MWFPA Scholarships. In 2015 MWFPA will award 14 $1,000 scholarships to the children of MWFPA member company employees. LODGING: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Garden Inn, (608) 253-1100 at a rate of $129.00 per night plus room tax. Call direct or make your reservations online. Be sure to indicate that you are with MWFPA.
The cut-off date for the block rate is May 3, so make your reservation NOW!
*If your company plans to bring a door prize, please contact
brian.deschane@mwfpa.org, or phone 608-255-9946 in advance of the event so your contribution can be included on the appropriate signage.
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GMA FSMA Inspections Webinar Set For May 19
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Manufacturer facility inspections will change drastically upon the final implementation of FSMA regulations this fall. Early FSMA preparation is vital to effectively managing these upcoming industry-changing regulations.
Start preparing today and register for the May 19th GMA webinar, FSMA Inspections: Get Ready Now or Get Cited Later! Attendees will learn how inspections are expected to change, consequences to non-compliance, FSMA preparation planning tips and more.
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WI Economic Development Corp Looking For Exhibitors
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The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
invites you to join the state In Wisconsin® Exhibit.
WEDC is offering complimentary
inclusion
to qualified companies interested in participating in the InWisconsin Exhibit. Around 15 total companies will be invited as Booth Guests, at no additional charge, within the 20'x30' InWisconsin Exhibit.
Take advantage of complimentary booth inclusion for industry networking and business development. The In Wisconsin® Exhibit introduces 20,000+ attendees to Wisconsin companies.
IFT exhibitors are typically ingredient, contract, or supply chain companies serving the food industry.
Choose one of these featured areas:
- Ingredients and Additives
- Organic, Non-GMO, Grass-Fed or Gluten-Free
- Supply Chain and Food Safety Services
- Farm, Factory, Fork and Export
- Fruit and Vegetable Processing or Co-packing
- Research and Product Development
APPLY TODAY ONLINE AT:
www.etouches.com/esurvey/iftboothguest
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Registration Now Open For Food Safety Preventative Controls Forum October 19-22, 2015
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| Think Asia, Think Hong Kong Seeks Food Processors For One-On-One Business Meetings |
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is organizing an event in Chicago on June 10, 2015 called "Think Asia, Think Hong Kong."
The Council is bringing 6 business delegations from Hong Kong and China (100+ companies) representing 6 different industries. In addition to attending TATHK, they will also do some company visits and participate in One-on-One Business Matching meetings with local companies. They are looking to meet with food & wine producers, food processing companies, food packaging companies, etc. for both sourcing AND selling opportunities.
If your company would like to participate, please click here for more information.
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May 13, 2015: MWFPA Safety Committee, 10 a.m. MWFPA Offices, Madison, WI.
June 4, 2015:
Spring Summit & Scramble. Trappers Turn Golf Course, Wisconsin Dells, WI.
October 6, 2015:
Sporting Clays Challenge. Whispering Emerald Ridge Game Farm, N3954 640th St., Menomonie, WI.
October 19-22, 2015:
AFFI/MWFPA Food Safety Preventative Controls Forum, Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva, WI.
Register.
December 1-3, 2015 -
MWFPA 111th Annual Convention and 88th Processing Crops Conference. KI Convention Center, Green Bay, WI.
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Other Educational Opportunities
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May 6-7, 2015: IRC Research and Technology Forum, Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI. Technical sessions covering topics including: welding procedures and practices, mechanical integrity, experiences with stainless piping, and others. For information and registration, click here.
May 7, 2015:
Allergens & Food Processing Workshop, U of M, Continuing Education Center, St. Paul, MN
. For more information and registration click here.
If you have any questions about the workshop or registration, please feel free to reach out to Jennifer Pierquet at Jennifer.pierquet@state.mn.us.
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