MWFPA Sporting Clays

Tuesday October 10th

mwfpa.org/events/2023-sporting-clays

Hosted at

Woods & Meadow Hunting Preserve

& Sporting Clays near Warrens, WI



Government Shutdown Averted with Little Time to Spare as Biden Signs before Midnight

The threat of a federal government shutdown suddenly lifted late Saturday as President Joe Biden signed a temporary funding bill to keep agencies open with little time to spare after Congress rushed to approve the bipartisan deal. The package drops aid to Ukraine, a White House priority opposed by a growing number of GOP lawmakers, but increases federal disaster assistance by $16 billion, meeting Biden’s full request. The bill funds government until Nov. 17. After chaotic days of turmoil in the House, Speaker Kevin McCarthy abruptly abandoned demands for steep spending cuts from his right flank and instead relied on Democrats to pass the bill. MORE

Source: WisPolitics

Congress Will Miss the Farm Bill Deadline in The Midst of a Likely Government Shutdown

In the midst of a likely government shutdown, Congress is missing another big deadline -- the farm bill. The massive legislation passed roughly every five years includes funding for food assistance, commodity support, crop insurance and conservation programs. As Congress appears likely to plow past the Sept. 30 deadline, agricultural policy experts and lawmakers say there shouldn’t be too much harm to critical programs, at least before the end of the year. MORE

Source: MBS

How Trump and Biden Killed the Free-Trade Consensus

The U.S. has turned sharply against free trade over the past two decades, shifting from an era in which members and presidents of both parties generally embraced one free-trade pact after another to one in which the forces of globalization are widely criticized, if not condemned. MORE

Source: Constitution Partners

Biden Admin Offers Migrant Crisis Help: Speeds Work Visas for Venezuelans Looking for Jobs

Offering a bit of relief to Chicago and other cities grappling with the migrant crisis, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday announced it will expedite work visas for Venezuelans seeking asylum in the United States. The decision — sought by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other Democratic leaders — will help a majority of migrants who have been bused to Chicago and flooded the city’s shelters as they await work authorization. The Biden Administration announcement will accelerate the processing of work authorizations and designate and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans for 18 months for those who were in the U.S. on or before July 31. MORE

Source: IMA

Bill Calls for The USDA To Buy More Fresh Produce from Growers and Distributors in U.S.

The Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act, legislation that would increase and improve USDA’s procurement of fresh fruits and vegetables, is now in the hopper with many supporters. The bill would order USDA to partner with growers, distributors, and food hubs to provide fresh, U.S.-grown fruits and vegetables to community organizations like schools, local food pantries, and youth organizations while prioritizing socially disadvantaged farmers and entities, regional food inequities, and local and regional food systems. MORE

Source: MBS

State Cannabis Regulators Urge Congress to Change Hemp & Cannabinoid Rules via Farm Bill

A group of state cannabis regulators is asking Congress to change laws around hemp and cannabinoids through the forthcoming 2023 Farm Bill, seeking to adjust the federal definition of the crop and modify rules around hemp-derived cannabinoids. The changes are needed, says the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA), because the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp nationwide, ‘inadvertently resulted in a thriving market for intoxicating cannabinoid products that are included (or claim to be included) within the definition of ‘hemp.’’ The 2018 Farm Bill defined hemp as cannabis containing less than 0.3 percent THC, but so far federal agencies have failed to establish a robust framework for how to regulate hemp-derived cannabinoids. MORE

Source: Fluence Media



Trade Data Shows Ukraine War Consolidated Political Blocs

The divisive effect of the Ukraine war has become visible in trade data as geopolitical blocs have conducted significantly less business with one another since early 2022. A new release by the World Trade Organization shows that both trade between as well as trade within blocs has suffered as sanctions and blockades in the aftermath of the Russian invasion have stood in the way of trade flows. Taking January 2022 as a starting point for an index calculation, the World Trade Report 2023 reveals that global trade between geopolitical blocs, for example between Western bloc countries in the Americas and Europe and Eastern bloc countries like China, Russia and Saudi Arabia, has decreased by more than 10% between the start and the end of last year alone. MORE

Source: Constitution Partners



MN Cost and Compliance Guide to the 2023 Legislative Session

The MN Chamber of Commerce has issued a guide to the many proposals that became law in the 2023 legislative session and will increase costs for businesses and employees.  Many new regulations on business practices were adopted, from how employers run their benefits to mandating the benefits they offer. Read here to better understand which costs will increase and how they will impact MN operations.

Source: MN Chamber

Report: Minnesota is in a 168,000-worker Hole

As Minnesota's baby boomers continue to ride off into the sunset, there won't be nearly enough workers to replace them when they retire, according to a new report. The study conducted by labor market analytics firm Lightcast paints a dire picture of the state's economy over the next decade as the current worker shortage turns into ‘an outright labor shortage crisis,’ the authors wrote. The state needs another 168,000 people in the labor force to fully recover from the massive shakeup caused by the pandemic, according to the report. MORE

Source: Fluence Media

Despite Concerns, Natural Resources Board Approves Changes That Seek to Protect Waterways

The policy-setting board for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources unanimously approved changes Wednesday to a policy that aims to protect the health of waterways, despite concerns from industry and municipal groups. The Wisconsin DNR changed its antidegradation policy for surface waters under a new rule. The policy oversees discharges from large livestock farms, industrial and municipal facilities under wastewater permits. MORE

Source: wpr.org

Wisconsin Assembly Republicans Pass Sweeping Redistricting Reform, But Likely Veto Awaits

Wisconsin's Republican-controlled Assembly passed a sweeping redistricting reform plan Thursday that takes the power of drawing maps out of the hands of lawmakers and gives it to nonpartisan staff. But Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has all-but promised to veto the bill that he called “bogus,” even though it largely resembled a nonpartisan redistricting plan he's pushed for years. MORE

Source: WMC

Manufacturers Investing in Green Packaging Solutions

The search for better, more sustainable packaging is a complicated and constant struggle for bakery and snack producers who want to ensure the quality and safety of foods while working toward sustainability goals. MORE

Source: CLFP

The Top 5 Benefits of AI for Food Manufacturing and the Supply Chain

The innovative benefits of artificial intelligence go well beyond the technology industry. This technology can transform a variety of industries, from health care to retail to education. Food manufacturing and the food supply chain is no exception to the benefits of this technology. MORE

Source: CLFP

California Legislature Passes Bill to Ban 4 Controversial Food Additives

The legislature of the state of California has passed a bill to ban four food ingredients that have met with controversy and claims that they negatively impact human health over the years. The four ingredients banned in Assembly Bill 48 are red dye No. 3, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil and propylparaben. MORE

Source: CLFP

The Key Trends Driving Snack Segment Growth

The snack category is growing quickly, and manufacturers are evolving offerings to meet emerging consumer demands. Salty snack sales grew nearly 16% in 2022 to reach $28 billion, according to the market researcher Circana, and are projected to reach $38 billion by 2028, according to Mintel. MORE 

Source: CLFP

Investors Temper Their Appetite for Cultivated Meat

Venture investment in cultivated-meat startups is flagging for the second year in a row, as high upfront costs and ongoing challenges have soured funders on animal-free lab-grown proteins. Driving the news: The challenges facing a prominent startup, Eat Just, represents the broader issues impacting the space. Flashback: Eat Just was the first in the world to begin selling its lab-grown chicken product. But it's burning through cash and potentially considering the sale of its flagship Singapore production facility, sources told Axios Pro last week. MORE

Source: MBS



US Employers Expect to See Biggest Jump in Healthcare Costs in a Decade Next Year

Employers in the U.S. are expecting to see the largest increase in healthcare costs in a decade in 2024 according to forecasts from healthcare benefit consultants – although workers may avoid some of the increase due to the tight labor market. Benefit consultants from Mercer, Aon and Willis Towers Watson see employers’ healthcare costs jumping by a range of 5.4% to 8.5% in 2024 because of medical inflation, high demand for expensive weight-loss drugs and the wider availability of high-priced gene therapies. MORE

Source: WMC

The Cold Reality: Why America's Cold Storage Capacity is Running Low

It's apparent even from the store's shelf space that the consumer sentiment has shifted rapidly towards preservative-free, fresh and frozen foods. As consumers, we are now in a golden age of food innovation. Brands large and small are responding to our desires with creativity and originality. MORE

Source: CLFP

RFID on Packaging Gains Traction

Radio-frequency identification has been popular in retail and transportation logistics, but RFID manufacturers see use by food processors significantly overtaking those two industries. Food safety and waste are two areas where RFID can play an important role. While the Food Safety Modernization Act does not require RFID for food traceability, RFID manufacturers see this as a logical solution because of the detailed histories contained on the RFID tags. MORE

Source: Food NW



Innovation Center to Spur Development of Hygienic Food Processing Solutions

A new innovation center launched by Charlottetown Metal Products and FPS Food Process Solutions on Prince Edward Island, Canada, will focus on the development of hygienic food processing solutions. MORE

Source: ProduceProcessing.net

View 2023 MWFPA Sponsorship Opportunities - HERE

UP NEXT! October 10 - Sporting Clays Classic Presented by Brakebush

Registration available - HERE

Woods & Meadow Hunting Preserve

Warrens, Wisconsin

https://www.woodsandmeadow.com

Sign up for an OSHA 10-Hour Class Held at the Kalahari Later in Nov

• Register for Class I (Pre Convention) - November 27 & 28
• Register for Class II (Post Convention) - November 30 & December 1

November 28 - 2023 Processing Crops Conference - Reserve Your Seat (Free)!

November 28 - Allergens Seminar at the Kalahari - Register!

November 28 - 30 - 2023 MWFPA Convention & Expo

Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells

• Booth/Exhibitor Registration is ongoing - see the show site below to view confirmed exhibitors!
• General Attendee Registration is live!
• Visit the MWFPA Convention Website

FOLLOW MIDWEST FOOD

PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION

ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

#MWFPA #MWFPA23