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Thanksgiving Reflections on the American Food and Agriculture Industry
The Thanksgiving season is the perfect time to reflect on food production and security in the United States and to give thanks to the agriculture laborers who work so hard every day to make sure all forms of safe, nutritious food are available to all Americans. In that spirit, let’s reflect on the critical issues that have faced the agriculture industry this year. MORE
Source: Constitution Partners
Congress Advances Farm Bill Extension
American farmers will continue to have access to certain federal conservation and farm safety net programs in 2024 after Congress advanced a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill. President Joe Biden signed into law on Nov. 16 a continuing resolution that averted a federal government shutdown on Nov. 17 and a year-end cliff for a package of farm programs. The U.S. Senate on Nov. 15 voted 87-11 to pass the measure, which passed the U.S. House a day earlier on a 336-95 vote. MORE
Source: Constitution Partners
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Biden Signs Temporary Spending Bill that Heads off a Government Shutdown
President Biden signed a short-term government funding bill on Thursday, avoiding a potential government shutdown and pushing into next year debates about wartime funding for Ukraine and Israel. MORE
Source: MN Chamber
Bill Introduced to Strengthen Meat Labeling Laws
A new bill introduced by Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) seeks to force imitation meat products to be more clearly labeled. The Real Marketing Edible Artificials Truthfully (Real MEAT) Act would require the word “imitation” to immediately proceed the name of the food on a label. If a product does not comply, it would be deemed misbranded under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. MORE
Source: MBS
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Legislation Introduced to Boost Exports of Specialty Crops
Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and ranking member Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, have introduced legislation intended to boost specialty crop exports. The Specialty Crops Reporting on Opportunities and Promotion Act responds to continued high tariffs, burdensome labeling requirements and other trade barriers that restrict U.S. products from accessing foreign markets, threatening rural communities and agricultural producers who depend on customers overseas, according to a news release. MORE
Source: Constitution Partners
FDA Proposes to Ban Brominated Vegetable Oil and is Investigating other Food Additives
The FDA recently announced that it has proposed to revoke the regulation that allows use of brominated vegetable oil in food. It also announced that it will review the three other food additives that were recently banned in California: red dye 3, propylparaben, and potassium bromate. FDA’s review of red dye 3 is currently underway and a decision will be forthcoming. MORE
Source: Food NW
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Culotta Named TDA's 2023-2024 President | |
Jason Culotta was elected the Transportation Development Association’s 47th president at the TDA Annual Business Meeting earlier this month. He will serve a one-year term.
Jason is the president of the Midwest Food Products Association.
He is a longtime TDA board member, serving two stints representing different organizations.
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Thanksgiving Meal Costs Expected to Drop from Record Highs Of 2022
Midwestern families will have a cheaper meal on average at $58.66 for 10 people. The Northeast will have the most expensive meal on average at $64.38. With Thanksgiving 2023 looming, families can expect to pay less for Thanksgiving meals than they did in 2022, according to American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economists. The 38th annual Thanksgiving survey, released Wednesday, says the average 10-person Thanksgiving meal will cost $61.17, or just under $6.20 per person. That is a 4.5% decrease from 2022's record. MORE
Source: MBS
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Thanksgiving Trivia:
Have you ever wondered just where all of the Thanksgiving feast on your table comes from? According to a Nielsen report, Americans will eat 350 million pounds of turkey (46 million turkeys), 250 million pounds of potatoes, 57 million pounds of sweet potatoes, 80 million pounds of cranberry, and 28 million pies with pumpkin, pecan, and apple among the favorites. So what states are the leading producers? Here ya go! Turkey (Minnesota), potatoes (Idaho), sweet potatoes (North Carolina), green beans (Wisconsin), cranberries (Wisconsin), apples (Washington), pecans (Georgia), and sweet corn (Washington). Of course, we all know that Illinois is the grand pumpkin champion in the country, producing more than the next six states combined. And IMA member Campbell’s just released their “State of the Sides” showing each state’s favorite Thanksgiving side dish.
Source: IMA
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Wisconsin's Broadband Grant Requests are 5 Times Higher than Available Funds
PSC received 125 applications for $221.6M for $42M-ARP Broadband Infrastructure Grants, which prioritizes communities disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to a lack of broadband, "we must keep making meaningful state investments to prioritize and invest in the robust broadband infrastructure needed to meet our state's 21st-century needs," Evers said in a statement. JFC rejected Evers' $750M broadband budget earmark, said service providers were already at capacity. MORE
Source: WisPolitics
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During Arguments in WI Redistricting Case, Liberal Justices Ask How Court Could Draw Maps
Liberal members of the state Supreme Court asked attorneys how the court could redraw the state's political maps during oral arguments in Wisconsin's closely-watched redistricting case Tuesday, with some suggesting that justices should have broad leeway if they find the current Republican-drawn maps unconstitutional. MORE
Source: WisPolitics
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Wisconsin Governor Vetoes $2 Billion Tax Cut, Calls Republican Plan 'Completely Unserious'
Gov. Tony Evers on Monday vetoed a $2 billion Republican tax cut bill, calling it “completely unserious.” Evers' veto was expected, as he opposed the GOP plan from the moment it was introduced as a substitute to the Democratic governor's own workforce development package. “It is clear today Republicans remain disinterested in passing real solutions to the most pressing challenges facing our state,” Evers wrote. MORE
Source: WMC
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Gardeners Aren't Surprised as USDA Updates Key Map
A newly updated government map has many of the nation's gardeners rushing online, Googling what new plants they can grow in their mostly warming regions. It's called the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "plant hardiness zone map," and it's the national standard for gardeners and growers to figure out which plants are most likely to survive the coldest winter temperatures in their location. This week the map got its first update in more than a decade, and the outlook for many gardens looks warmer. The 2023 map is about 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the 2012 map across the contiguous U.S. MORE
Source: Constitution Partners
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Tyson Leaving ‘No Stone Unturned’ In Plans to Cut Costs, Improve the Business
After several processing plant closures this year, Tyson Foods on Monday indicated more cost cuts could be on the horizon as it navigates through a tough market backdrop in beef and pork. The meat giant is reviewing opportunities across segments to optimize production by relying on more efficient plants, President and CEO Donnie King said in an earnings call. “We are evaluating everything, leaving no stone unturned.” MORE
Source: MBS
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Sorting Solutions: Equipment Advances
Fuel Growth of Canning Operation
Amanda Salisbury loves sorters. In fact, she loves them with an unabashed affection that guided her career path. Salisbury, maintenance superintendent at McCall Farms in Effingham, South Carolina, became intrigued with TOMRA Food’s sorting technology as she was graduating from Sierra College in California. MORE
Source: ProduceProcessing.net
Key Technology Introduces New Features for Rotary Sizing and Grading Systems
Key Technology has introduced new features for its rotary sizing and grading systems. The new line enables fruit and vegetable processors and packers to mechanically size and grade product while removing small pieces, debris and other targeted material. MORE
Source: ProduceProcessing.net
Food Suppliers Feel the Pinch on Cold Storage
Construction is booming, but it may not be enough to meet the rapidly rising demand for warehouse space. Demand for cold storage has soared in recent years as consumers increasingly shop for online groceries and frozen food. Frozen food sales reached $72.2 billion in 2022, a 34% bump from 2019. MORE
Source: CLFP
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