|
|
The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Bug Blocker Doors & Screens
|
Friday/Weckel Scholarships Deadline April 27
|
Undergraduate students attending, or planning to attend, UW Madison, Platteville or River Falls and majoring in agriculture or food science are eligible for
Friday/Weckel scholarships. Applications are due by April 27, 2018.
Information and applications can be downloaded from the MWFPA
website, or by contacting Brian Elliott at:
[email protected], or by calling 608-255-9946.
Top of Page
|
|
House Speaker Paul Ryan Of WI To Retire
|
 Last Wed., House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced he will not seek re-election and will retire from Congress after this year.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana are among the expected contenders congressional observers see as most likely to replace him. Ryan has endorsed McCarthy.
Ryan has begun to push back on pressure from some Republicans that he step down from his leadership position before the election to help unify the party. Ryan told Chuck Todd, host of NBC's "Meet the Press," that he can continue to be effective despite announcing that he would retire at year's end.
With his announcement, Congress loses a a good leader who served the people of WI and the country well. He was a devoted public servant and MWFPA looks forward to continuing to work with him through the end of his term. We wish him and his family nothing but well wishes for the future.
|
House Ag Committee To Begin Farm Bill Debate
|
The House Agriculture Committe debate on the 2018 Farm Bill is scheduled to start Wednesday. According to a list of highlights from the bill's language, the legislation would change the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to include canned dried, frozen, or pureed in addition to fresh fruits and vegetables. MWFPA supports this provision.
For more on the complexities involved in producing the farm bill, see this article and video from The Packer.
|
AMS To Monitor Specialty Crop Impacts Of Chinese Tariffs
|
USDA says they're prepared to measure how potential Chinese tariffs would impact specialty crops.
Chief Economist Rob Johansson says while there aren't futures markets for specialty crops, the department can rely on the Ag Marketing Service to analyze an impact on prices. "We know what the trade value is going to China because they're certainly tracked through our trade data and we know what it will mean if we face a 25 percent tariff on some of those commodities. We'll use the tools that we would normally use in any kind of trade dispute."
AMS Specialty Crop News says that while they haven't seen any major swings to market prices since the tariff announcement, West Coast shippers might be the first to be impacted since they're closer in proximity.
More than 120 products would be subject to Chinese tariffs including apples, cherries, cranberries and ginseng.
|
Perdue Says Expect Improvements To H-2A
|
U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue expects some type of improvements to the H-2A visa program with current immigration reform efforts stalled.
"We're hopeful we can get a regulatory fix over H-2A. While it's not the ideal, we hope until we can get a legislative fix that will suffice."
The H-2A guestworker program allows agricultural employers to hire workers from other countries on temporary work permits for agricultural jobs that last ten months or less. Aagricultural and food processing concerns have assertion that the H-2A visa program does not adequately meet employers' labor needs.
While in Michigan during his "Back to Our Roots" RV tour, Perdue said USDA is in serious negotiations with the Departments of State, Labor, and Homeland Security over a modernized, revised, and improved H-2A program for seasonal workers. "To make the H-2A program much more workable, much more amenable to producers, decreasing the onerous problems they had with all the reporting and advertising and the filing that made it somewhat unworkable."
He says while it doesn't solve year-round labor shortages in agriculture, it does provide a source of legal season farm labor.
Perdue says the administration wants to see a legal farm worker program in immigration legislation that moves through Congress.
|
 |
|
WI Legislature Ends Session; Business, Ag Fare Well
|
 Legislative activity for the WI 2017-18 Legislative Session has ended except for a small amount of committee work. Legislators will now focus on legislative & budget items for next session and the November elections.
Generally speaking, the business and agriculture community fared well this session with the passage of the high capacity well bill, Wisconsin Act 100; a major tort reform bill, WI Act 235; the Industrial Hemp bill, WI Act 100; an update to the Agriculture Producer Security Program, WI Act 155; and an attempt to reign in state bureaucracy with WI Act 57.
MWFPA has compiled the list of bills on which the association registered and worked this session. It s s in the "
Members Only" section of our website. If you have any questions, please give us a call at 608-255-9946.
Top of Page
|
|
WI Food Industry Reps Discuss "Be Bold" Report
|
 |
|
|
MWFPA's Nick George during a recent panel discussion.
|
If Wisconsin's food manufacturing industry is to realize its full economic potential, it needs more attention including a reliable regulatory environment, a skilled workforce and recognition of the industry's importance to the state's economy and quality of life.
Those are the key conclusions from a joint study,
Be Bold III: Accelerate Wisconsin, released by Competitive Wisconsin and Deloitte Consulting.
Watch a panel discussion participated in by MWFPA President Nick George and other representatives of the Wisconsin food manufacturing industry as they address the study's findings relative to regulatory and workforce reforms.
Top of Page
|
Register Now for MWFPA Spring Summit & Scramble
|
Register Today for MWFPA's
Spring Summit & Scramble!
This is a Members-Only event.
On Wednesday evening, May 31st, a reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. in the Double Cut Grill at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center.
The shotgun style golf tournament will be played at Trapper's Turn May 31st, starting at 7:50 am followed by lunch, awards and cash prizes. Register now! This event fills up fast!
 Last year over 200 golfers participated in this event and over $3,000 in cash prizes were awarded.
The Spring Summit & Scramble offers many opportunities to promote your company by sponsoring:
- A hole
- Wednesday evening reception
- Cash prizes
- Lunch
- Donating items for drawings and goodie bags*
 All sponsors will be recognized with signage at the event, on our website, our social networking pages, and in our bi-monthly e-bulletin. The sooner you sponsor the longer your logo is displayed.
This year's golf outing will again afford participants the opportunity to help raise money for MWFPA Scholarships. In 2018 MWFPA will award 16 $1,000 scholarships to the children of MWFPA member company employees.
LODGING:
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Kalahari,
(608) 254-5466. When you call
be sure to indicate that you are with MWFPA. Reservations are limited, so book early!!
*
A MINIMUM of 225 ITEMS MUST BE DONATED. If your company plans to bring a door prize, please contact
[email protected], or phone 608-255-9946 in advance of the event so your contribution can be included on the appropriate signage.
|
|
MI Cherry and Apple Producer Equipment Online Auction
|
An online equipment auction for Cherry Growers Inc. of Grawn, MI featuring over 1,000 items is set to open April 12 at 10:00 a.m. and will begin closing April 25 & 26 each day.
Items in the sale include all plant equipment from raw receiving through washing, grading, pitters, de-stemming, IQF, juice presses, HTST, extractors, canning, liquid filling, 3-effect evaporator, stainless processing and storage, packaging, palletizing, bright stack, metal detection, forklifts, parts, maintenance, vehicles, lab and all support etc.
In order to bid online, you must register for the sale through BidSpotter by clicking on the links above and hitting the blue "Sign Up to Bid" button.
Equipment inspections are available anytime before the auction. Otherwise public inspections are taking place April 20, 23 or 24th from 9AM - 4PM onsite. View the auction brochure here.
Questions regarding the auction sale, equipment inspections or registration process can be directed to:
Top of Page
|
|
2018 Food & AG Business National Conference Registration Open
|
You're invited to the 2018 Food & Agribusiness National Conference hosted by Faegre Baker Daniels on
Thurs., May 17, 2018 at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot, 225 Third Avenue South Minneapolis, MN. The event opens with registration at 7:45 a.m. and closes with a networking reception beginning at 4:45 p.m.
This dynamic, full-day conference will feature engaging plenary sessions and interactive panel discussions on a wide range of topics relevant to these crucial industries. Speakers include national industry leaders, in-house counsel, business executives and regulatory professionals from global, market-leading companies in agricultural production and food processing and marketing. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in multiple breakout sessions and to network.
Breakout session topics include:
- Food and Ag M&A: What's on the Menu for 2018
- Consumer Class Action Litigation: What's Next?
- Organic Supply Chain: Challenges, Validation and Verification
- Website and Social Media Best Practices
- FSMA Update: The Latest Regulations and FDA Inspections
- Ag Product Dealer and Distributor Laws: Updates and Best Practices
- TPP, NAFTA and the Effect on International Ag Trade
- Transparent Food - Are Consumers Receiving What They Order?
- Environmental Update: Navigating the New Regulatory Landscape
- Government Investigations and Enforcement: What to Expect
- E-commerce: Regulatory and Liability Implications of Selling Food Online
- High-Tech Crop Damage Analysis: Field History, Drones and Satellites
For more information, including a detailed agenda and information about CLE credits, please visit the event website.
Registration Fee:
Standard Registration: $395/person
Faegre Baker Daniels Clients: Complimentary
Continental breakfast, lunch and a networking reception are included in the registration fee. Space is limited.
Top of Page
|
|
|
MWFPA Member Lakeside Acquires Riverside Foods
|
 Congratulations to our processor member - Lakeside Foods - upon their acquisition of Riverside Foods in Two Rivers, WI!
Lakeside recently announced that it had acquired Riverside Foods,
an innovator in frozen appetizers and seafood. As part of the agreement, Riverside Foods will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Lakeside Foods.
Riverside is a producer of cheese appetizers, specialty frozen vegetable and seafood products for the foodservice/restaurant industry under the brand names of Kettle Brau™(beer battered products), Trivers'™ (cheese curds and cookies), Super Samplers™ (combo fried mushrooms, onion rings and cheese curds), Smokehouse™ (smoke-flavored products) and Riverside (frozen fish and seafood).
A growing force as a supplier to the foodservice industry, Riverside sells to distributors throughout the Midwest as well as directly to select major national restaurant chains.
Congratulations again!
Top of Page
|
|
MWFPA Events You Won't Want To Miss
|
May 30 - 31, 2018: MWFPA Spring Summit & Scramble. Trappers Turn Golf Course, Wisconsin Dells, WI
October 11, 2018: MWFPA Sporting Clay Challenge. Caribou Gun Club, 30649 380th Street, Le Sueur, MN.
November 27 - 29, 2018: MWFPA 114th Annual Convention and 91st Processing Crops Conference. Kalhari Resort & Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI.
Top of Page
|
Other Educational Opportunities
|
April 23-26, 2018:
Midwest Better Process Control School.
University of WI Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St, Madison, WI. 7:30 am - 5:00 pm, April 23-25, and 7:30 - noon, April 26. The Better Process Control School provides the food industry with qualified personnel to meet FDA and USDA regulations under 21 CFR 113 and 114.
All processing of thermally processed low-acid or acidified foods which are packaged in hermetically-sealed containers must have certain critical operations supervised by a qualified person.
Registration, course information and a link to online registration is here: https://foodsafety.wisc.edu. Registrations are now being accepted. Early registration deadline is Monday, April 9.
Please contact Dr. Barbara Ingham, University of Wisconsin, with questions: [email protected]
April 26, 2018: Learning S.E.E. Sell Efficiency Effectively, Focus on Energy, Lambeau Field Conference Center, 1265 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay, WI. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. This workshop features highlights from the weeklong Efficiency Sales Professional™ (ESP™) Boot Camp, including: reframing the benefits of efficiency so that they can be measured with the yardsticks that your customers are already using to measure their own success; developing concise and compelling communication tools that really engage decision-makers; migrating the discussion from the "bits, bytes and blinking lights" of your offering to prospect-specific messages that motivate project approvals; and much more. Click here for more information.
May 9-10, 2018: IRC Research & Technology Forum. University of WI Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI. Wednesday May 9, 2018 8:00 am - 4:45 pm & Thursday May 10, 2018 8:00 am - 12:00 pm. An opportunity to update and expand your knowledge of industrial refrigeration systems.The fee is $149. On the registration page, be sure to select the appropriate event with the radio button since there is more than one currently listed.
September 30 - October 2, 2018:
10th Annual Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit, Hyatt Regency, Minneapolis, MN.
Register
by June 30, 2018 to receive an early bird rate of $800! Click here to register.
Top of Page
|
|
Check Out MWFPA's Customized Property & Casualty Insurance For Members Only
|
The Midwest Food Products Association is pleased to announce that
its members now have access to an exclusive insurance program that is written specifically for our industry. With assistance from the risk management firm Hays Companies, this program offers a customized Property and Casualty insurance program.
The program offers a complete insurance program for all business types, from processor to manufacturers, logistics to wholesaler and anything in between. No market segment is excluded, and no organization is too large or too small.
Learn more about what the MWFPA Insurance Program can do for you by visiting the program's website:
https://mwfpa.haysprograms.com/.
For more information about the program, contact: Brad Van Swol at:Email:
[email protected]; Phone: (414) 290-3581
|
|
|
