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Register to Golf at the
June 1 MWFPA Scramble at Trappers Turn!
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Biden ends COVID National Emergency after Congress Acts
The U.S. national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic ended Monday as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring it to a close after three years — weeks before it was set to expire alongside a separate public health emergency. MORE
Source: MN Chamber
The 2023 Farm Bill: Impacts, What to Expect, And How to Prepare
The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, commonly known as the Farm Bill, has nearly run its course. With a five-year lifespan, the bill is set to expire on Sept. 30, meaning Congress is working to draft new legislation. Hearings and negotiations are underway to assess the 2018 Farm Bill's effects and gather feedback for the upcoming version. This significant piece of legislation is passed every five years to adapt to changing economic conditions and meet the needs of the agriculture industry. MORE
Source: MBS
Optimism For the Farm Bill — And for The Influence of The Minnesota Delegation
Recently I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., with a group of Minnesota Farm Bureau members to meet with elected officials as farm bill discussions get underway. The farm bill is a piece of legislation that at its core provides food security for everyone in our country through programming like nutrition assistance, crop insurance and conservation practices. With the next farm bill expected to be renewed in 2023, our elected officials in D.C. can shape the future of our agricultural industry. After conversations with the Minnesota congressional delegation, we were able to see firsthand the influential position they hold in the decision-making process of this legislation. MORE
Source: MBS
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Crop Insurance and Next Farm Bill
Crop insurance has become the biggest safety net for commodity producers -- despite talk about disaster programs -- leading at least some economists to question whether crop insurance has become too costly or taken the risk out of farming. Congress is on break this week, but crop insurance and disaster aid for farmers was the focus Tuesday of a panel discussion by economists hosted by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) in Washington, D.C. Economists serving as fellows for AEI have been some of the crop-insurance program's biggest critics in recent years, including their most recent report released Monday, "What Harm Is Done by the Federal Crop Insurance Program Today?" MORE
Source: MBS
Vetoed But Not Forgotten: What’s Next For WOTUS?
The fate of the Biden administration’s signature water rule remains unclear even after the president’s second-ever veto issued a stern rebuke to Congress this week. Republican lawmakers pushed almost immediately for a veto override targeting the “waters of the U.S.,” or WOTUS, rule on Thursday in the hours after President Joe Biden nixed a resolution that would roll it back. While Congress almost certainly lacks the votes for such an effort, enraged GOP members lashed out at the White House. “Once again, President Biden has chosen to side with far-left environmental activists over everyday Americans, as well as majorities in both Houses of Congress,” said House Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.). “This veto is just the latest regulatory assault on America’s families, farmers, small businesses, builders, and entire communities already suffering under the President’s disastrous policies of the last two years.” MORE
Source: MBS
A Dive into The Deep Waters Of WOTUS
Monday, March 20, was a significant date in at least one respect: it was the day when the revised Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule took effect. At least it did in 48 states. The exceptions are Idaho and Texas. That’s because a U.S District Court judge in Galveston, TX, has upheld a challenge to the new rules in those states. WOTUS struck down in two states (farmprogress.com). Judge Jeffrey Vincent Brown of the Southern Texas District Court ruled that the two states had argued persuasively that the new regulations threatened their sovereign rights and could cause irreparable harm. But the judge also held that other courts should decide on the rules’ validity across the nation. For a short history: the Clean Water Act (CWA) passed by Congress in 1972 authorized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate the cleanliness of the waters of the United States. MORE
Source: MBS
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Federal Officials Must Steel Themselves Against Tariff Proposal
Stocking the pantry has become significantly more expensive over the past two years. The attempts by domestic steel manufacturers, such as Ohio manufacturer Cleveland-Cliffs, to impose costly steel tariffs will only worsen this already difficult situation. Americans are already paying almost 15% more to purchase canned fruit and vegetables than last year. By petitioning the Biden administration to slap tariffs on foreign tinplate steel, these companies will push the prices of canned goods even higher. Tinplate steel is used for packaging the canned goods and household products consumers use daily, from bug spray and cleaners to canned ravioli and tuna. The companies’ argument in favor of tariffs is fatally flawed and their petition to raise tariffs is cronyism at its worst. MORE
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US Farmers Expect to Plant More Corn and Soybean Acreage
WASHINGTON, Mar. 31, 2023 Producers surveyed across the United States intend to plant 92.0 million acres of corn in 2023, up 4% from last year, according to the Prospective Plantings report released today by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Planted acreage intentions for corn are up or unchanged in 40 of the 48 estimating states. The largest increase is expected in North Dakota, where producers intend to plant 800,000 more acres than in 2022.
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If realized, the planted area of corn in Arizona and Idaho will be the largest on record.
Soybean growers intend to plant 87.5 million acres in 2023, up slightly from last year. Acreage increases from last year of 100,000 or more are expected in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Record high acreage is expected in Illinois, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The Prospective Plantings report provides the first official, survey-based estimates of U.S. farmers’ 2023 planting intentions. NASS’s acreage estimates are based on surveys conducted during the first two weeks of March from a sample of nearly 73,000 farm operators across the nation. MORE
Source: MBS
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Protasiewicz Beats Kelly in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race
Liberal candidate Janet Protasiewicz defeated her conservative opponent Dan Kelly Tuesday to fill a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the Associated Press projects. Protasiewicz will fill the seat left open by retiring conservative Justice Patience Roggensack. The AP called the race in Protasiewicz's favor shortly before 9 p.m., less than an hour after polls closed. Roggensack had served on the Supreme Court since 2003 and was chief justice from 2015 to 2021. MORE
Source: WMC
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Ocean Spray asks, "What's Your Power Flavor?" | |
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Ocean Spray is highlighting its Ocean Spray Blends line and its 16 varieties with the omnichannel "What's Your Power Flavor" campaign. The spots will bring "brand purpose to life in a unique and ownable way," said Trinh Lee, Ocean Spray's vice president of next generation beverages and omnichannel marketing.
MORE
Source: CBA
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From Recreational Marijuana to Free School Lunch: Where the Big Issues Stand with 6 Weeks of Minnesota’s Legislative Session to Go
With six weeks to go in Minnesota’s legislative session, DFLers who narrowly control state government with their first “trifecta” since 2014 have a list of early accomplishments such as cementing abortion rights in state law and passing a carbon-free energy mandate. MORE
Source: MN Chamber
Southern Minnesota Pork Plant Likely to Close, laying off 1,000
A pork processing plant in southern Minnesota is poised to shut down and permanently lay off more than 1,000 people if a new owner for the Windom operation can't soon be found. The move reflects challenging economic conditions for portions of the pork industry. HyLife Foods filed notice with the state this week that its efforts to turn the business around have been unsuccessful. MORE
Source: MN AgriGrowth
Legislators Work Out Details of Paid Leave Mandate
Schothorst said she thinks the Legislature will need to draw more from the surplus to get the program going, perhaps as much as $1 billion. She also said that an addendum to the fiscal note to determine how much the program will cost cities and counties, and in turn their taxpayers, is pending. MORE
Source: MN Chamber
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Job Growth Totals 236,000 in March, Near Expectations as Hiring Pace Slows
Nonfarm payrolls growth in March was about in line with expectations, but showed signs that the jobs picture is in the early stages of a slowdown. The Labor Department reported Friday that payrolls grew by 236,000 for the month, compared to the Dow Jones estimate for 238,000 and below the upwardly revised 326,000 in February. The unemployment rate ticked lower to 3.5%, against expectations that it would hold at 3.6%. MORE
Source: WMC
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Top 150 Frozen Foods Processors Report
Consumers continue to turn to frozen foods for convenience, nutrition and value. Frozen foods sales increased by about 8% overall in 2022, and were 31% over 2019 pre-pandemic levels, according to NielsenIQ. Globally, the frozen food market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 6%, climbing to $600 billion by 2032, according to a report by Future Market Insights. North America is estimated to account for one-third of the global frozen food market, projected to grow at a 3.5% CAGR. MORE
Source: CLFP
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McCain Foods Investing $600 Million in Alberta Processing Facility
McCain Foods, a global frozen food company headquartered in Canada, is doubling the size of its processing plant and output in Coaldale, Alberta. The $600 million investment is expected to create 260 jobs and create two new, state-of-the-art production lines.
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“The development in Alberta marks our largest global investment in our 65-year history, totaling $600 million, while underscoring our commitment to the future of agriculture and innovation in Canada,” Max Koeune, president and CEO of McCain Foods, said in a news release. “This will fuel continued growth for the business, allowing us to serve key markets further by bringing customers high quality potatoes that begin with our dedicated local farming community.” McCain Foods, the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato specialties, has operated a processing facility in Coaldale since 2000. The plant currently employs 225 people and works with potato farmers across Southern Alberta. MORE
Source: ProduceProcessing.net
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Tyson Announces New Employee Well-being Program
As part of its new health-and-wellness campaign, Tyson announced a new digital tool designed to improve the health of its 120,000 US workers. Tyson is utilizing a technology platform provided by Bellevue, Wash.-based Limeade, which is accessible to employees as part of the meat and poultry company’s new “Living Well at Tyson Foods” health and well-being program. Using the Limeade app, employees can access resources such as health-focused educational material, information about preventative health activities to take full advantage of Tyson’s health and well-being benefit programs. MORE
Source: CBA
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Conagra's Q3 Results Spur Lift in Profit Outlook
Conagra Brands' fiscal third-quarter organic sales increased 6.1% and adjusted gross margins rose more than 4 percentage points year over year, prompting a raise in its full-year profit outlook while CEO Sean Connolly said he is not anticipating the need for additional pricing action in 2023 at this time. MORE
Source: CBA
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FDA Urged to Reduce Americans’ Sodium Consumption by Setting 10-yr Reduction Targets
Sodium reduction could curb hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes. Americans are consuming about 50 percent more sodium than government guidelines recommend, putting them at increased risk of hypertension, heart attacks, and stroke. Having set short-term limits, the Food and Drug Administration could help further by setting and finalizing longer term voluntary sodium reduction targets for different categories of foods, according to a petition today filed with the agency by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest. MORE
Source: MBS
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Recall Roundup: Microbial Contamination and Undeclared Allergens
This week, New Food looks at what food products have been recalled in the US and Canada, including a recall due to the presence of a “dangerous” bacteria in hot sauce. MORE
Source: Constitution Partners
Leaner Times for Food Processors may Call for Stretching the Life of Existing Equipment
The first quarter of 2023 is already over. We've been on quite a ride these last few years. While the volatility we may have anticipated coming into the new year hasn't panned out the way we might have expected it to, there are always forces dictating how we think and plan for the future. MORE
Source: CLFP
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Food Processing Distributor Nelson-Jameson Announces Expansion of Senior Leadership
The Nelson-Jameson Family of Companies has announced new leadership positions across marketing, sales and operations as part of a companywide expansion. The 75+-year-old family-owned company, known for providing the food and beverage industry with everything they need to manufacture safe, high-quality products, is implementing new strategies to achieve forward-looking goals. By welcoming new leaders and promoting three internal leaders to new positions, the organization will continue its growth trajectory while better serving customers and supporting employees in their career development. MORE
Hydrite Looks Ahead in Assisting Local Charitable Campaign
Hydrite Helps is partnering with Feeding America to pack 1,000+ holiday meal boxes for those in need in the Greater MKE area! Please reach out to Erin.Egstad@Hydrite.com with any questions.
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