|
Thanks To Our 2017 Spring Summit & Scramble Sponsors
|
|
SCHOLARSHIP
HOLE SPONSORS
|
|
|
The MWFPA News Bulletin is underwritten in part by Bug Blocker Doors & Screens
|
Just 2 Weeks Until MWFPA's Spring Summit & Scramble
|
Golf Is Our Favorite Course!
 This yearly event generates critical financial support to fund MWFPA's Scholarship Program and provides a unique business development and networking opportunity in a gorgeous outdoor setting. Last year over 200 golfers participated in this event and we awarded over $3,000 in cash prizes.
There are still opportunities to promote your company by sponsoring: a golf hole, the evening reception, cash prizes, lunch, and donating items for drawings and goodie bags.*
All sponsors will be recognized with signage at the event, on our website, and in our bi-monthly e-bulletin. The sooner you sponsor the longer your logo is displayed.
 Get your foursome together and join us!
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.
*If your company plans to bring a door prize, please contact
brian.deschane@mwfpa.org, or phone 608-255-9946 in advance of the event so your contribution can be included on the appropriate signage. A MINIMUM of 225 ITEMS MOST BE DONATED.
Top of Page
|
 |
Educational GMO Outreach Included In Omnibus Spending Bill
|
Congress has allocated funds to help the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fight misconceptions about genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
About $3 million for "consumer outreach and education regarding agricultural biotechnology" was included in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, according to
The Washington Post.
The allocation is part of FDA's $2.8 billion budget. The money will be used to help consumers understand the environmental, nutritional, economic, humanitarian and safety impacts of using biotechnology, or GMOs, in agriculture.
FDA will collaborate with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its GMO outreach. Budget language also requires the agencies to include the publication and distribution of science-based information, according to
The Washington Post.
Although dozens of scientific studies show GMOs are safe to eat, less than half-39 percent-of adults believe GMOs aren't as healthy as conventionally grown foods, according to a Pew Research Study.
Top of Page
|
|
Gottlieb Confirmed To Lead FDA
|
The U.S. Senate voted 57-42 in a mostly party-line vote to confirm Scott Gottlieb as the new commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
During his confirmation hearings, Gottlieb said he would implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) "in the proper way," and appeared to favor postponing the Nutrition Facts Panel changes slated for next summer.
One of the food industry's priorities is to delay new nutrition labeling requirements that are set to take effect in 2018 until 2021 to line up with GMO disclosure regulations due out from the Ag Department. Gottlieb has indicated that he is open to the idea.
Read more
here.
Top of Page
|
MN Budget Talks Breakdown, Legislature Passes, Gov. Vetoes Budget Bills
|
Budget negotiations have broken down temporarily
between MN Gov. Dayton and House and Senate Republicans.
The Republican-led Legislature sent half of its budget bills to the governor last week and plans to send the other budget bills to him today. On May 12, he vetoed five omnibus bills - agriculture, state government, environment, health and human services, and E-12 education. He has indicated he will veto the additional omnibus bills relating to taxes, transportation, higher education, judiciary/public safety and jobs within hours of receiving them.
Negotiations are expected to start again today to resolve the differences on how to allocate the remaining $1.5 billion surplus in the general fund prior to the May 22 constitutional adjournment. Budgets must be finalized for the two-year cycle beginning July 1, 2017. All budget bills must be passed and signed by June 30 to avoid a government shutdown that would start July 1.
MWFPA will continue to monitor developments and report back to its membership.
|
|
IL Session Days Wane, Legislature Talks Grand Bargain
|
The IL General Assembly has about two weeks of scheduled session days before its May 31st adjournment. Several legislative issues are still pending as talks on the Senate's "grand bargain" package of revenue and reform bills were renewed last week.
The Senate ultimately passed one of the grand bargain bills (SB 10) that is intended to reduce borrowing costs for home rule municipalities by allowing the revenue source for the borrowing to be secured by the lender.
Statehouse observes maintain the grand bargain still lacks sufficient bipartisan support for passage at this time. As previously reported, each bill within the grand bargain framework must pass, or the entire package fails.
Both the House and Senate convene this week and while the package
remains fluid, talks are ongoing and changes to workers' compensation, property tax freeze and the tax omnibus bill are likely between now and May 31st.
|
Finance Committee Continues Voting On WI State Budget
|
The WI Legislature's Joint Finance Committee (JFC)
last Friday concluded its second week of debating and voting on provisions in the 2017-19 biennial state budget.
JFC plans to meet each Tuesday and Thursday in May and June until their work is finished.
As with most years, there are several of the governor's budget proposals that JFC decides to drastically change or reject entirely. Among the contentious issues prominent in this budget cycle is transportation funding.
|
MWFPA Committee To Discuss MN Wastewater Issues
|
The MWFPA Environmental Committee and interested stakeholders have scheduled a meeting at MN Pollution Control Agency to discuss wastewater issues. They will meet on May 18, 2017. The meeting will be with Jeff Stollenwerk, Aaron Luckstein, Jeff Udd of the MPCA Water Division.
The purpose of the meeting is to strengthen communications with the Department and identify issues that the MPCA and industry can address. Items to be discussed at this meeting include:
- Irrigation Issues
- Groundwater Monitoring Plan
- Nitrogen Loading Limits on Irrigation Fields
- Chemical Review and approval for chemicals used and water permit concerns
|
Medical Fee Schedule Proposal Submitted to WI Worker's Comp Panel
|
The management side of the WI
Worker's Compensation Advisory Council put forward a plan recently to reduce medical costs for worker's compensation procedures, along with other reforms to the worker's compensation law.
Employers have long sought relief from high medical costs for worker's compensation injuries, which currently sit 39% above average. The plan put forward this week has as its main cost containment strategy a fee schedule for worker's compensation, capping how much medical providers can charge for procedures. 44 states utilize a similar strategy.
The second pillar of the plan is the ability for employers to direct care of injured workers to appropriate medical providers. Currently employers do not have the ability to direct workers to specific providers in Wisconsin. Organized labor also put forward their suggested changes to the worker's compensation law. Going forward, the council will negotiate an agreed- bill to submit to the legislature for consideration.
|
|
WI State Assembly GOP Releases Transportation Proposal
|
 On May 4, WI State Assembly Republicans released a transportation budget proposal.
The proposal, authored by Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield), would raise new transportation revenue by applying the sales tax to gasoline and eventually lower the state's income tax to a flat 3.95% rate.
The transportation side of the plan would also reduce the state's "minimum markup" on the sale of petroleum products and reduce the gas tax by 4.8 cents per gallon as sales tax would be added to gasoline, resulting in a net $300 million that would be used to reduce borrowing for highway projects in the state budget.
The tax plan would eliminate the state's capital gains exclusion - including the 60% exclusion for farmers. The funds would be used to help buy down the state's four income tax brackets over 12 years, ultimately collapsing them to one rate in 2029.
Governor Walker has stated his opposition to raising taxes on the sale of gasoline, and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald announced a different plan to offset transportation borrowing with general fund money. Much more discussion on the budget's transportation and tax packages will occur in the weeks to come as the Joint Finance Committee process plays out.
The co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee mentioned the possibility of removing transportation from the state budget and taking the issue up in a separate bill. Funding of state's roads and highways is one of the most contentious issue facing lawmakers during the ongoing 2017-19 biennial budget debate. Read an overview of the Assembly GOP proposal here.
Top of Page
|
|
Guest Article: Contain Costs By Reducing Injury Severity
|
 In the workplace, each severe injury presents a challenge for both workers and their employers.
By reducing injury severity, preventive strategies can give employers greater control over the resulting costs. This also allows companies to save indirect costs such as lost productivity, temporary labor and overtime, and workplace accommodations.
Read this
article from MWFPA Associate Member
BIOKENETIX on the importance of taking preemptive measures to reduce the impact on your bottom line.
|
MWFPA Offers Exclusive Property & Casualty Insurance Program For Members
|
 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/.
Top of Page
|
|
MWFPA Events You Won't Want To Miss
|
|
May 31 - June 1, 2017:
MWFPA Spring Summit & Scramble.Trappers Turn Golf Course, Wisconsin Dells, WI
October 5, 2017:
MWFPA Sporting Clay Challenge. Milford Hills Hunt Club,
Johnson Creek, WI.
November 28 - 30, 2017:
MWFPA 113th Annual Convention and 90th Processing Crops Conference. Mayo Civic Center, Rochester, MN.
|
|
Other Educational Opportunities
|
May 30, 31 and June 1, 2017:
FMSA: From Legalese to Implementation - A Preventive Controls Qualified Individual Training
One of the key parts of FSMA is the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis and Risk-based Preventive Controls for Human Food regulation (referred to as the Preventive Controls for Human Food regulation).
This course, developed by Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance, is the standardized curriculum recognized by FDA: successfully completing this course is one way to meet the requirements for a "preventive controls qualified individual" and receive a PCQI Certificate. Even those who do not currently need to have this designation will benefit from this course as it will cover one of the main components of FSMA and how it is being practically implemented.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
612-626-6626
|
|
|
