TopofPageMidwest Food Processors Association News Bulletin  - July 17, 2015   
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IL Senate Passes One-Month Budget, Overrides Some Vetoes
IL Capitol

The Democratic-led Illinois Senate on Wednesday passed the temporary one-month budget that the House passed last week. The $2.3 billion spending plan covers "essential" services and adds payroll for all 64,500 state workers.

 

The measure now goes to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. He opposes a temporary budget during a spending standoff between the governor and Democratic majorities in the General Assembly.  

 

The state has been operating without a budget for nearly three weeks after Rauner vetoed a spending plan Democrats sent him that was more than $3 billion short. Rauner wants spending cuts and business reforms; Democrats say they need to fund vital services with a tax increase, along with cuts. 

 

The Senate also voted to override the Governor's veto on five of the nine budget bills that originated in the Senate. The measures range from year-long funding for State Police to Public Health, DCFS and other agency operations. Republicans repeated several times that the overall spending measures spend $4 billion more than what's expected to be brought in.

 

The House has fifteen days to vote on an override. Speaker Michael Madigan said he won't call the House originated budget bills vetoed by the Governor because they didn't have the necessary 71 votes. The House will meet Tuesday next week.

 

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WI Gov. Walker Signs State Budget

Wisconsin Capitol

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed a new, two-year state budget into law just prior to the announcement of his candidacy for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

 

The budget also contains a partial repeal of the state's prevailing wage law which sets a minimum pay rate for laborers working on public construction projects. It will no longer apply to projects overseen by local units of government, but remains for state projects.

 

Walker used his line item veto to make more than 100 changes to the bill before signing it. Those vetoes further reduce spending by $45 million over the next two years.

 

Among items of interest in the $73 billion budget:

 

The state will borrow $850 million for road projects, down from Walker's $1.3 billion proposal. This could mean delays for some major highway projects and resurfacing and reconstruction work.

 

Factory and retail employees will be allowed to volunteer to work seven straight days, a change from current state law that says those workers must get at least 24 consecutive hours of rest for every seven-day stretch.

 

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The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp.

U.S. House Ag Committee Moves GMO Bill To Floor
US House of Reps

The House Agriculture Committee sent to the House floor a bill to prohibit states from forcing food companies to note the presence of genetically modified organisms - GMOs - in their products.

 

H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 was first introduced by Reps. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), and has evolved through bipartisan discussions between the Agriculture Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee.   

 

Supporting the move were MN Democratic Reps. Collin Peterson and Tim Walz while Rick Nolan opposed.

 

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MWFPA And Cheese Makers Collaborate On Training Program

The Midwest Food Processors Association (MWFPA), in cooperation with the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the University of Wisconsin School of Business, have joined together to offer a custom management and leadership training program for managers and supervisors in the dairy and food manufacturing industries.  Read more here.    

MWFPA's Palmby Appointed To WI DATCP Board

Congratulations to Paul Palmby, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Seneca Foods Corp., on his appointment by Gov. Walker as an agriculture representative on the WI Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). He will serve for the term ending May 1, 2021.

 

Paul has served on the Board of Directors of the Midwest Food Processors Association, Northwest Food Processors Association, the American Frozen Food Institute and Wisconsin FFA Foundation.  

 

He has also served as board member and Chairman of the Board for the Wisconsin FFA Sponsor's Board as well as the Produce for Better Health Foundation. He served two appointments by Secretary of Agriculture Ann Venneman and Secretary Mike Johanns to USDA's Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee from 2002-2006 and currently serves on the Board of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce.

 

The DATCP board is a 9-member citizen board which establishes policy for DATCP.  The Governor appoints board members for staggered 6-year terms, subject to confirmation by the WI State Senate.  The board meets approximately once a month and reviews major policy issues related to agricultural programs and approves all rules.

 

MWFPA Partners In PACK EXPO Las Vegas

In 2015, the Midwest Food Processors Association will be a proud Partner of PACK EXPO Las Vegas, Nevada, September 28-30, 2015 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  

 

Participating in the Partner Program allows us to promote and support our members, while you find the solutions, connections and insights needed to stay competitive in the marketplace.

 

Attending PACK EXPO Las Vegas opens doors to:

  1. INSIGHTS-from industry leaders, in convenient and free education sessions.

  2. INTERACTION-with 1,800+ suppliers andd forward-thinking peers. Plug into the energy that comes from walking the show floor with 30,000+ fellow professionals.

  3. INSPIRATION-from seeing machinery in action and getting away from "business as usual." The outside perspective you get at PACK EXPO is essential to solving problems, identifying best practices and staying ahead.

  4. INNOVATION-the kind that leads to winning breakthroughs. You'll see the most advanced technologies for enhancing production from the beginning to end.

 And because it wouldn't be Las Vegas without it... 

 

ENTERTAINMENT-The PACK gives BACKā„¢ event will feature an unforgettable performance from the legendary rock band, Chicago!

 

Register Now!

 
Registration Now Open For Food Safety Preventative Controls Forum October 19-22, 2015
Registration is now open for the 2015 Food Safety Preventive Controls Forum sponsored by AFFI and the Midwest Food Processors Association, scheduled for Oct. 19-22 at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wis.

Presented by top experts these two Forums, one and one half day food safety workshops, will address fundamental Food Safety Modernization Act requirements and provide guidance on how these requirements can be blended into existing in-plant food safety programs.
   

MWFPA Partners On Food Expo       

   

MWFPA is a proud partner of Process Expo 2015. This event features expertise at every link in the supply chain in the form of exhibits and the education from the nation's leading academics. See what PROCESS EXPO has to offer for your business.

 

Register Now!  

    

MWFPA Partners On Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit     

   

MWFPA is a proud partner in the 10th Annual Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit being held in Minneapolis September 30 - October 2, 2014.

 

The Oilseed and Grain Trade Summit provides unique and valuable perspectives, such as the relationship between geopolitics, global trade and agriculture!

  

For more information, to the summit website.  REGISTER by June 30, 2015 to receive an early bird rate of $800!

   
MWFPA Events
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.

October 28-29, 2015:  MWFPA HACCP Seminar, LaCrosse, WI.

December 1-3, 2015 - MWFPA 111th Annual Convention and 88th Processing Crops Conference.  KI Convention Center, Green Bay, WI.
 
Other Educational Opportunities

July 22, 2015: Foodborne Illness Outbreak Training. Continuing Education and Conference Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Food Safety and Defense Task Force.  

 

This training will cover a foodborne illness outbreak investigation from beginning to end. Topics will include epidemiological investigation, traceback record collection, and recall best practices. Insights will be shared by industry and government experts. For more information and registration materials, click here.  

 

September 14-18, 2015: Design of Ammonia Refrigeration Systems for Peak Performance and Efficiency. Pyle Center,702 Langdon Street, Madison, WI.  Gain an understanding of  

refrigeration design principles and practices.  Attendees will learn techniques to size and properly lay out system components and design safer, more efficient systems.  For more information and registration materials, click here.

September 23-25, 2015:  Process Hazard Analysis (Emphasizing
Ammonia Refrigeration Systems)Pyle Center, 702 Langdon Street, Madison, WI.Gain an overview of PHA methodologies identified by OSHA in the PSM standard and focus on the most commonly applied PHA methodology forammonia refrigeration systems.  For more information and registration materials, click here.
  
Midwest Food Processors Assoc. | | brian.elliott@mwfpa.org | http://www.mwfpa.org
4600 American Pkwy.
Suite 210
Madison, WI 53718