2023 MWFPA Convention

Register to Attend!

www.convention.mwfpa.org

Farm Bill at Farmfest

Members of the House Agriculture Committee joined Minnesota lawmakers at Minnesota Farmfest this week for a “listening session” aimed at allowing the state’s farmers to weigh in on what they would like to see in Congress’ next farm bill. It was House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson’s 51st such listening session outside the Beltway as he tries to reach an accord among competing agriculture interest who all want a larger share of the $1.5 trillion bill that will fund all of the nation’s farm programs as well as nutrition assistance programs like food stamps, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP.) There was no doubt that this was a farm-friendly gathering in southwestern Minnesota. Thompson told Minnesota farmers he organized the listening session to “bring your voice to the table in Washington.” MORE

Source: Fluence Media

Thompson Expects Extension for Farm Bill, Defends Nutrition Title

The nutrition title will remain part of the overall farm bill, but the legislation will require some type of extension before a new farm bill is passed, the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee said Monday. Touring more states this summer than a 1980s rock band on a reunion tour, Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Pa., held a farm-bill listening session at the Missouri State Fair. MORE

Source: MBS

Federal Government Announces New Sustainable Procurement Rule

Last week, the Biden Administration announced a new Sustainable Products and Services procurement rule, which requires federal government buyers to prioritize sustainable products and services and expands the categories of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ecolabel standards for federal purchasing to a series of new sectors. The proposed rule would update the government’s Federal Acquisition Regulation to focus on environmental and sustainability matters and require federal agencies to purchase sustainable products and services "to the maximum extent practicable."

The proposed rule will be open for public comment through October 2 at docket number FAR-2022-0006 on www.regulations.gov. MORE

Source: IL Sustainable Technology Center

U.S. Ag Exports Slow Down, But Imports Don’t

At the three-quarter point in the trade year, U.S. food and agricultural imports were nearly $7 billion larger than farm exports, $148.2 billion vs. $141.4 billion, according to USDA data released on Thursday. The agency has forecast a $17 billion food trade deficit for the 12 months ending on Sept. 30, due to a drop-off in corn, wheat, beef, and poultry exports, while demand remained strong for imports that include wine, coffee, beer, fresh fruits and vegetables, and distilled spirits. MORE

Source: MBS

U.S. Reps. Gallagher, Beyer: Introduce Bill to Reassert Congress’ Voice in Trade Policy

Rep. Gallagher (R-WI) and Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today re-introduced the Congressional Trade Authority Act. This bipartisan bill would require the president to submit to Congress any proposal to adjust imports in the interest of national security under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. “Congress’ penchant for ceding its constitutional authorities to the Executive Branch has left the institution weak and the country increasingly governed by executive fiat. MORE

Source: MBS

Tinplate Steel Tariffs Would Hurt Trade Policy

President Joe Biden's administration should heed the Consumer Brands Association's advice to reject a proposed tinplate steel tariff, writes James Bacchus, a former congressman and founder of the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization. With research from Consumer Brands finding the tariff would cost 40,000 US jobs, the proposal does not support President Biden's "worker-centric trade policy," adds Bacchus. MORE

Source: CBA

Injury and Illness Reporting Requirements to Increase Under New Department of Labor Rule

Food and beverage processing establishments with 100 or more employees will need to submit electronically to OSHA the information from Form 300-Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses and Form 301-Injury and Illness Incident Report once a year, according to a final rule announced by the U.S. Department of Labor, starting Jan. 1, 2024. MORE

Source: CLFP

Even with Marijuana Legalization, Many Workers are Still Subject to Employment THC Testing

“The big question for employers broadly is what areas of their drug-testing policy have to change from before,” said Lauryn Schothorst, director of workplace management and policy for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. “There’s this swirl going around about these technicalities. And most employers are trying to figure out whether they test for THC at all anymore, is it necessary, is the presence of marijuana the issue or are you looking at behaviors?” MORE

Source: MN Chamber

Fewer Americans Got Jobs in July Than Expected. But A Steady Market Suggests US May Avoid Recession

The job market has cooled over the summer. But it’s still strong enough to defy predictions that higher interest rates would tip the United States into recession. U.S. employers added 187,000 jobs last month, fewer than expected. But the unemployment rate dipped to 3.5% in a sign that the job market remains resilient. Hiring was up from 185,000 in June, a figure that the Labor Department revised down from an originally reported 209,000. MORE

Source: MBS

U.S. Farmers Are Facing a Tough Economy: Lower Crop Prices and Higher Interest Rates

A slowdown in the agricultural industry is "going to put a strain on farmers." But analysts say the rural economy in the Midwest and Great Plains is still doing well. The United States' agricultural economy had a good couple of years, with crop prices at record or near-record highs. But this year, as interest rates rise, banks are lending less money to farmers and agricultural equipment sales are falling. Farmers also have to deal with high costs for inputs like seeds and fertilizers. MORE

Source: MBS

South Would Be Hit Hardest by USDA Crop Subsidy Update

Growers in the U.S. South could lose $1.4 billion in farm subsidies over the next decade if Congress decides to align payments more closely with the crops they produce, said an analysis by Republicans on the Senate Agriculture Committee. “A mandatory base acre update would create winners and losers … and most certainly complicate efforts to pass a new farm bill,” said the analysis. Base acres, an arcane topic outside of agriculture, are lands eligible for crop subsidies. MORE

Source: MBS



Siting Solar Farms a Hot Topic at Minnesota Farmfest

“Is taking land that can produce corn and soybeans and other food and instead using it to generate electricity acceptable? Land use for green energy such as solar and wind farms is an area where there is a lot of room for discussion, agreed members of a Minnesota rural issues panel at Farmfest near Redwood Falls, Minnesota, on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. Siting large solar arrays, in particular, has become a hot issue in some greater Minnesota counties. … State Rep. Paul Anderson, a Republican who farms near Starbuck, Minnesota, said the ‘scales got tipped’ by government incentives for wind and solar projects. … [Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen] said there is a property rights issue to consider, but taking good farmland out of production is a concern.” MORE

Source: Fluence Media

Wisconsin Lawsuit Asks New Liberal Supreme Court to Toss GOP-drawn Maps

A lawsuit filed Wednesday asks Wisconsin’s newly liberal-controlled state Supreme Court to throw out Republican-drawn legislative maps as unconstitutional, the latest legal challenge of many nationwide that could upset political boundary lines before the 2024 election. The long-promised action is backed by Democrats and was filed by a coalition of law firms and voting rights advocacy groups. It comes the day after the Wisconsin Supreme Court flipped from a conservative to liberal majority, with the start of the term of a justice who said that the Republican maps were “rigged” and should be reviewed. MORE

Source: WisPolitics

Southern Wisconsin to Welcome New 353 Area Code in September

A new area code is coming to southwestern Wisconsin. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) announced Tuesday that customers in the 608 area code overlay region may be assigned a number in the 353 area code when they request new service or an additional line beginning Sept. 15. This area includes communities such as Madison, Beloit, Janesville, La Crosse, Middleton, Monroe, Platteville, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, and Wisconsin Dells. MORE

Source: WMC

Former Top FDA Official Joins Startup Technology Company

Former Food and Drug Administration official Frank Yiannas has joined startup Internet of Things technology company Wiliot as a strategic advisor. Yiannas served as deputy commissioner of food policy and response for the FDA. He resigned in January ahead of sweeping changes announced by the federal agency aimed at countering criticism of its organizational structure. MORER

EAD MORE

Source:  ProduceProcessing.net



3 Reasons to Focus More on Cyber Resilience than Compliance

To say our country is at war with cyber criminals is an understatement. The onslaught of attacks is relentless, and the numbers are staggering. Last year, 800,944 cybercrime-related complaints — or nearly 2,200 per day — were reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. While the number of complaints dipped by 5%, the dollar value of potential losses skyrocketed 48% to $10.2 billion. MORE

Source: CLFP

Tyson's Pitch Contest Winners to Help Company Upcycle

Tyson Foods' pitch competition this year focused on upcycling, and the four winning startups will help the company progress toward its goal of "responsibly producing food for a growing world," said John R. Tyson, president of Tyson Ventures and chief financial officer of Tyson Foods. MORE

Source: CBA

How to Monetize Food Waste While Improving the Planet

Over one-third of the world's food, or 1.3 billion tons, is wasted every year. More than 65% of that loss occurs at the production, postharvest handling and storage phases – prior to even getting to the retailer or consumer. This waste has a huge environmental cost. In fact, it's estimated that food waste is responsible for 3.3 billion tons of GHG emissions annually. MORE

Source: CLFP



Sustainability Drives Food and Beverage Packaging Innovation

Advances in packaging lines, equipment and materials in the food & beverage industry can give processors an edge in a variety of ways. Whether processors are looking to meet the needs of the environmentally conscious consumer, stand out in the marketplace as a trailblazer or eek out that last little bit of productivity from their packaging lines, the innovative mindset of the industry can help meet those needs. MORE

Source: CLFP

What's Next in Food and Beverage Plant Technology?

The digital revolution is here; robotics use is on the rise and automation has already arrived in force. So where, pray tell, will the innovative minds in the food and beverage industry take us in the future? What advances will revolutionize operations down the road, leaving plant managers and engineers to wonder how the industry ever managed to produce high-quality, safe food in the years prior? MORE

Source: CLFP

View 2023 MWFPA Sponsorship Opportunities - HERE!

Upcoming 2023 Raw Products Committee Haltvick Meetings

• West Madison ARS - September 7

SAVE THE DATE! October 10 - Sporting Clays Classic

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

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