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 | July 1, 2011 | |
| The MWFPA Bulletin is underwritten in part by Focus on Energy | | |
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MWFPA Comments on Plan to Regulate Farm Vehicles | |
MWFPA has submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) initiative to regulate farm vehicles as commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) The FMCSA regulates all motor carrier vehicles and safety standards, including drivers and vehicle equipment.
In its comments, MWFPA stressed that any effort to generally define implements of husbandry as commercial motor vehicles could have a significant negative impact on the fruit and vegetable industry. It noted that a "one size fits all" approach to transporting methods will not make the roads or the industry safer.
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Klobuchar Asked To Reconsider School Breakfast Plan | |
In a letter to U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of MN, MWFPA has requested her support for an agriculture bill provision requiring the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reconsider its school breakfast proposal. Klobuchar is a member of the Senate agriculture committee.
 In June the U.S. House of Representatives approved the USDA appropriations bill and included a provision preventing USDA from forcing schools to limit servings of starchy vegetables (potatoes, sweet corn, peas and lima beans) to one cup per week at the estimated increased cost of $6.8 billion over five years.
MWFPA expressed opposition to the proposed rule and its negative impact on the fruit and vegetable industry when comments were sought last April. MWFPA has also contacted other members of the Senate from IL, MN and WI requesting their support for the House provision.
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| The MWFPA Bulletin is underwritten in part by Bug Blocker Doors & Screens | | |
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| WI Budget Signed, Redistricting, Recalls On Horizon | |
Gov. Walker has signed WI's $66 billion state budget into law. The enactment balances the budget and provides a $300 million structural surplus. Legislators now head back to their districts for the summer recess. Neither house is scheduled to be on the floor until September. However, with recall elections on the horizon and the possibility of the GOP losing control of the State Senate because of those elections, the Legislature could be called back prior to August to take up a redistricting bill.
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WI DNR Repeals Airbourne Particle Standards | |
At its June meeting, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) voted unanimously to grant the Great Lakes Legal Foundation's (GLLF) petition to repeal the total suspended particulates (TSP) standard.
Since 1987, the EPA has recognized that the TSP standards no longer serve a useful purpose. Large size particulate matter is regulated under the fugitive dust rule, and smaller particles are regulated under the PM10 and PM2.5 standards, rendering the TSP standards redundant and outdated.
However, in Wisconsin, the TSP standards remained in place, imposing unnecessary and substantial compliance costs on Wisconsin businesses. The GLLF drafted the petition on behalf of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC). GLLF is a non-profit legal foundation dedicated to preserving economic liberties and challenging government regulations.
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| IL Set to Study Business Taxes | |
IL House and Senate Democratic leaders plan to hold hearings this summer to review the business tax structure in Illinois. The committee is to examine the increase in corporate taxes passed in January as well as tax exemptions given to corporations.
The joint effort will be led by State Rep. John Bradley(D-Marion) and State Sen. Toi Hutchinson(D-Olympia Fields). Speaker Madigan said he expects the review to involve key groups and leaders representing businesses big and small throughout the state. MWFPA is waiting for more details to emerge about the impending review. The first hearing could be scheduled for the middle of July.
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Quinn Signs State Budget | |
IL Gov. Quinn signed into law a $32.9 billion state budget late Thursday. Quinn signed the budget with only a few hours before a midnight deadline to get a spending plan in place. Quinn, who introduced a nearly $36 billion budget, made cuts totaling $336 million. IL lawmakers now will have to act on Quinn's reductions and line-item vetoes. The General Assembly is due back in October for the fall veto session.
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MN State Government Shutdown | |
The State of Minnesota government is shutting down. Democrat Gov. Dayton and Republicans who control the Minnesota House and Senate were unable to agree on how to address the state's two-year $5 billion deficit --despite a week of marathon negotiations aimed at producing such an agreement. Republicans want to limit the budget to $34 billion, and reject tax increases. Dayton's proposed $35.8 billion budget includes a $1.8 billion tax increase on the state's highest earners.
The shutdown is expected to impact some businesses and have an effect on the Minnesota economy. On Wednesday a judge ruled on what government services should remain open during a shutdown. The judge ordered that more than a third of state employees remain at work during a shutdown to deliver essential services.
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MWFPA Annual Report Available | | |
MWFPA's 2010 annual report is now available for onli ne viewing or download. To view a copy online, click on the image at right.
The report provides a snapshot of MWFPA's 2010 successes and highlights the many services provided by MWFPA over the year.
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Ecolab Receives IFT Innovation Award | | |
MWFPA associate member Ecolab Food & Beverage recently received an Innovation Award at the annual Institute of Food Technologists Food Expo in New Orleans for its sanitation product Exelerate ZTF.
The award recognizes outstanding innovation in products, ingredients, applications, equipment, instruments, technology and services. Congratulations Ecolab!
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Welcome New Association Members! | | |
Join us in welcoming our newest members to the Association! Please visit their websites by clicking on the company name to learn more about them.
AceCo Precision Industrial Knives (try again, the previous link didn't work correctly)
Hansen-Rice Inc
The Payroll Company
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SMT Food & Beverage Seeks Process Engineer | |
SMT Food & Beverage Systems is currently seeking an experienced process engineer. The position provides full control over projects - developing bidding information, doing line layouts, specifying and sourcing components, and supervising installation crews.
SMT Food & Beverage Systems provides turn-key processing and packaging equipment solutions. Its customers range from giants like Anheuser-Busch, Campbell's, Gatorade, MillerCoors and Nestle, to family run operations and craft breweries. They are located in the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point Triad of North Carolina.
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| MWFPA Calendar of Events | |
November 29-Dec. 1, 2011: MWFPA 107th Annual Convention and 84th Annual Processing Crops Conference, Wisconsin Dells, WI, Kalahari Resort and Convention Center. Mark your calendars now! Don't miss this invaluable opportunity to gain exclusive insights from some of the industry's most innovative and knowledgeable representatives and to make meaningful contacts with clients, prospects and referral sources.
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| MWFPA Educational Opportunities | | July 19-20, 2011: Industrial Refrigeration & Energy Efficiency. Tomah Hospitality Hotel (formerly Holiday Inn), Tomah, WI. Improve the performance and operational costs of your refrigeration systems. Participants will gain knowledge to effectively understand refrigeration systems and apply those principles to the design, construction and operational efficiency of their refrigeration systems. To register, go to www.mastersacademy.biz. Course attendees can earn 1.6 CEU's for attending.
September 12-14, 2011: GMA-FMI Sustainability Summit
Scottsdale, Ariz. Join other socially and environmentally conscious executives at the FMI-GMA Sustainability Summit - your opportunity to gain the resources needed to accelerate sustainability programs within your company. Programs and activities for the summit are designed specifically for the food and consumer products industry by your industry peers. For more information, click here.
September 13-15, 2011: Process Hazard Analysis (Emphasizing Ammonia Refrigeration Systems)
The Pyle Center, 702 Langdon Street, Madison, WI. Learn how you can achieve a high-quality process hazard analysis for your ammonia refrigeration systems. To enroll or find additional information about this course, click here.
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The MWFPA News Bulletin is published twice monthly or as developments warrant, and is intended for a general audience of manufacturers and suppliers of food and agricultural products. |
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