Thanks to Our 2015 MWFPA Convention
Sponosors
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The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Bug Blocker Doors & Screens
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FDA Releases Food Produce Rules
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The final versions of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety, Foreign Supplier Verification, and Third Party Accreditation rules have been released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The focus of these rules is to help ensure a safe food supply and prevent foodborne illness, thereby protecting both consumers and food companies. Understanding these rules will be imperative to proper implementation of the Preventive Controls rule which was released on September 17th, and the FSMA regulations as a whole are expected to have a significant and lasting impact on the way food companies operate.
The FDA has finalized five of the seven major FSMA rules. The remaining two rules, Sanitary Transportation and Intentional Adulteration, are scheduled for release in spring 2016.
The changes are part of the 2011 FSMA, a sweeping package of food safety reforms governing produce safety, preventive controls for food produced in facilities, and the safety of imported food.
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Congress To Focus On Big-Ticket Matters
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 Big-ticket legislative matters will be the focus of Congress this week ahead of its planned Thanksgiving recess.
Surface transportation program authorization expires on Friday, and House and Senate conferees will work early in the week to resolve a handful of differences between the Senate and House bill versions.
MWFPA joined a coalition of food and agriculture organizations supporting changes recommended by Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Wis) to the surface transportation program to increase current truck weight limits from 80,000 pounds to 91,000 for trucks equipped with six axles rather than the typical five.
House and Senate appropriators will be working this week on an omnibus 2016 fiscal year spending package that both meets the conditions of the bipartisan budget deal signed into law three weeks ago, and that can pass both chambers while avoiding a Presidential veto over policy riders.
Capitol Hill insiders expect Republicans to propose a number of spending bill riders (or amendments) that address contentious energy and environmental policies, including one restricting funding to implement the final Waters of the U.S. rule.
The continuing resolution currently funding the federal government expires on December 11. The alternatives to passing an omnibus bill by then are a federal government shutdown or yet another short-term extension.
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Bill Expanding School Snack Program To Include All Forms Of Fruits And Vegetables Introduced In Congress
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 The "Fruit and Vegetable Access for Children Act" (S. 2243), has been introduced by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and would expand the fresh fruit and vegetable elementary school snack program by permitting schools to serve all forms of fruits and vegetables including frozen, canned, dried, puréed and fresh. The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.) and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.)
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The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp.
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Rauner, Madigan Budget Meeting Delayed
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A highly-anticipated meeting on the state budget between Gov. Bruce Rauner, House Speaker Michael Madigan and other legislative leaders has been postponed so Madigan can attend a family funeral.
The meeting was supposed to take place on Wednesday be streamed publicly, was moved to Dec. 1 to accommodate Madigan's family obligation.
A letter signed by the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and the Technology and Manufacturing Association was sent last week urging Rauner and the four legislative leaders who would be in attendance to hold the meeting in private.
The groups acknowleged that real negotiations happen behind closed doors, and the hope is that the leaders and the governor would have frank and open discussions and find a compromise, which is only done in private meetings.
Rauner had downplayed the meeting earlier this month telling a crowd in Rock Island that he didn't expect it to result in a budget agreement.
The state budget crisis continues into its fifth month as the first-year Republican governor and Democrats who control the Legislature remain deadlocked. Some lawmakers predict the budget impasse could continue past January.
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Judge Rules WI DNR Overreached On Well Permits
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 An Outagamie County Circuit Court judge has ruled that the WI DNR improperly imposed high-capacity well monitoring requirements on a dairy because the agency lacked specific authority from the WI legislature. This is an important ruling for growers, processors and other high cap well owners.
New Chester Dairy sought DNR approval to construct two high capacity wells for its dairy operation in the Town of New Chester. DNR conditioned its approval on New Chester Dairy installing groundwater monitoring wells, collecting data, and submitting that data to the agency.
However, nothing under the high capacity well statutes provides DNR the authority to impose such conditions. The DNR and Clean Wisconsin asserted that the agency has virtually unlimited authority to impose the conditions under its general duties provisions.
This issue is about how a condition in one permit leads to similar conditions in subsequent permits. Permit by permit, an agency will regulate an entire industrial sector, sometimes, as here, without necessary statutory authority.
This decision came about as a result of the Great Lakes Legal Foundation filing as an intervenor on behalf of Midwest Food Processors Association, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, Dairy Business Association, and the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association.
Read MWFPA's news release on the decision
here.
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WI Committee Releases Highway Bonding Funds
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Approval of $350 million in new bonding was granted by the WI Legislature's Joint Finance Committee to reduce delays in a range of highway projects.
Approval for the new "contingent bonds" was granted in an unusual 10-6 vote, with four of the the committee's Democratic members joined with all six Assembly Republicans to approve the new spending over the objection of all six Senate Republicans. The high reliance on bonding has strong opposition from Senate Republicans.
One-half of the bonding will be paid for from the state's Transportation Fund; the other half will be covered by the state's General Fund. By approving bonding for both years, the committee avoids having to dispute these issues again in 2016. The approved plan spends $200 million in the current state fiscal year and the balance in the second year. This is beyond the $500 million in transportation bonding approved earlier by the full Legislature.
MWFPA supported the move. Read the association's memorandum of support here.
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MWFPA Convention Offers Comfort, Cuisine & Creativity As Part of Companion/Spouse Tour
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A spouse/companion tour of the Green Bay area has been planned for Wednesday, December 2, 2105, to enhance MWFPA's 111th annual convention program and provide attendees with comfort, cuisine and creativity.
 A bus will depart the Hyatt on Main at 8:30 a.m. and tour participants will start the day at 9:00 a.m. nurturing and enhancing their well-being with a 30 minute massage at the Elite Aesthetics Wellness Spa. The therapists use a variety of hands-on methods and specific techniques for pain relief, relaxation and to stimulate and tone the body for better health.
 This will followed at Noon with lunch at the Black & Tan Grille located in the historical Bellin Building in downtown Green Bay. The Black & Tan Grille is known not only for its setting --- though the views of both the Fox River and downtown Green Bay make it unique --- but also for its contemporary American cuisine.
 The day will round out at 1:30 p.m. with a visit to The Art Garage where tour guests will take part in creating their own work of art. A non-profit community gallery, the 55,000 square foot facility- and former home of a Green Bay canning company - is located in the historic Olde Main Street District of Green Bay. Its mission is to encourage an appreciation for and participation in the visual, performing and literary arts.
The tour concludes arriving at the Hyatt on Main at 4:00 p.m.
Download a registration form here. There are many other things to do and see in Green Bay. Download our suggested places to be in Green Bay here.
SPONSORSHIP OF THIS EVENT IS STILL AVAILABLE
4 Easy Ways to Register for the Convention 
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MWFPA Events You Won't Want To Miss
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November 19, 2015 - Industrial Energy Efficiency Workshop. Cascade Meadow Wetlands and Environmental Center, 2900 19th Street NW, Rochester, Minnesota. Organized by the Institute for Industrial Productivity (IIP) in partnership with the Midwest Food Processors Association and the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, this workshop is intended to help improve Minnesota's existing energy efficiency programs and policies. To register, click here. There is no cost to attend this event.
December 1-3, 2015 -
MWFPA 111th Annual Convention and 88th Processing Crops Conference. KI Convention Center, Green Bay, WI.
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Other Educational Opportunities
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February 15-19, 2016: Industrial Refrigeration Workshop, Charlotte, North Carolina.
This one-week course is intended for those who make decisions such as the purchase of new components, and the enlargement or modification of the plant. Manufacturers of components learn how their products fit into the entire system
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A thread running through the course is the design of a refrigerated distribution center utilizing an ammonia refrigeration system. New technologies available in ammonia refrigeration reducing the ammonia charge will be explored over the course of the workshop. For more information, click here.
May 3-4, 2016: Dryer Technology. Madison Concourse Hotel,
One West Dayton Street, Madison, WI 53703. Expand your knowledge of dryer fundamentals and learn how to apply proven methods to solve problems, and improve energy efficiency and your operations. This course will focus on continuous drying of particulate materials from foods to inorganic chemicals.
For more information, or to enroll, click
here.
May 5, 2016:
Atomization and Spray Technology: Focus on Spray Drying Course.
Madison Concourse Hotel, One West Dayton Street, Madison, WI 53703. Learn about various types of atomizers, as well as how an atomizer works, and how to select an atomizer for specific applications. This course will focus on atomization methods, functions, designs, atomizer performance, and much more. Upon completion of this course, you will be able to compare different atomizers and select the right one for your application. In addition, you will be able to calculate droplet size, cone angle, and other spray characteristics. For enrollment and other information, click
here.
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