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August 1, 2024 Issue

Ag Addressed At RNC

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson of Pennsylvania and Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, ranking member on the Senate Agriculture Committee, both offered their views on the state of the farm bill and the impact of the upcoming election at a Politico/CNN event at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Thompson suggested the upcoming election "wouldn't change how he or other Hill Republicans approach the farm bill negotiation process in the coming months, highlighting the bipartisan proposals he included in the House committee's package," Politico said in a report based on the event it held with CNN. MORE

Source: Constitution Partners

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What Biden Bombshell Means for Ag

Harris said Sunday she intends to win the nomination, giving her the responsibility to decide the Democratic Party’s biggest priorities. And if you’re anything like us here at Morning Ag, your first question might be: What does this all mean for agriculture? The vice president’s track record as a California attorney general, U.S. senator and Biden’s second-in-command gives us limited clues about how she might lead. Though her native California ranks first in agricultural production, Harris hasn’t been too vocal on any federal ag policy. MORE

Source: Constitution Partners

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Farm Bill Extension 'Won't Stop the Hemorrhaging'

When it comes to the agriculture economic climate, U.S. farmers are facing a “perfect storm,” Minnesota farmer Dana Allen-Tully recently told members of the House Agriculture Committee. “Though I don’t think it will be fully understood until early next year, when farmers are unable to secure loans because they can’t cash flow — plummeting crop prices, high cost of production, doubling interest rates, natural disasters and tightening credit are some of the key culprits,” said Allen-Tully, who operates a diversified row crop and dairy farm and serves as president of the Minnesota Corn Growers. MORE

Source: Constitution Partners

Economic Growth Quickens, Rising at 2.8% Rate in Second Quarter

The U.S. economy accelerated in the second quarter as consumers increased their spending, businesses invested more in equipment and stocked inventories, and inflation cooled. Gross domestic product—the value of all goods and services produced in the U.S., adjusted for inflation and seasonality—rose at an annual rate of 2.8% for April through June to $22.9 trillion, the Commerce Department said Thursday. MORE

Source: WMC

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Why Manufacturing Workers Are Among the Happiest

Job satisfaction varies widely across sectors, the manufacturing industry stands out. Surveys from The Manufacturing Institute indicate that over 80% of manufacturing workers express satisfaction with their jobs, a notable contrast to broader workforce trends where many sectors report declining satisfaction in specific subcomponents. This overall contentment is further emphasized by Deloitte’s findings, which highlight the benefits of positive workplace practices such as employee involvement in decision-making, robust training programs, and stringent health and safety measures. One of the primary drivers of job satisfaction in manufacturing is the work environment. MORE

$200 Million Greenhouse Emissions Food Systems Grant Announced by Walz, EPA

Hoping to combat the effects of climate change, Gov. Tim Walz visited The Food Group in New Hope to announce a $200 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cut climate pollution from Minnesota's food systems. The grants will be aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota’s food systems. The funding was awarded as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law by President Biden in 2022. MORE

Source: Fluence Media

How Did MN Legislators Vote?

The Minnesota Chamber tracks hundreds of bills during each legislative session, to ensure that policymakers understand how their proposals impact Minnesota’s economy and the state’s ability to make Minnesota a more affordable place to live, work, grow and expand a business. The Chamber scores votes on bills or amendments that illustrate this impact. The following votes were cast in the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions. MORE

Source: MN Chamber

Consumer Brands Applauds Process Behind MN EPR Law

Minnesota passed an extended producer responsibility bill earlier this year, the only such legislation adopted by a state since 2022. John Hewitt, Consumer Brands' vice president of packaging sustainability and head of state affairs, applauded the process behind the bill and noted that the legislation concentrates on infrastructure and recycling needs while devoting less attention to secondary issues. MORE

Source: CBA

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Spending Federal Funds in WI: What Voters Need to Know About the Aug. 13 Referendums

A pair of questions on Wisconsin’s Aug. 13 ballot would give state legislators more control over how federal money is spent in the state. If approved by a majority of voters statewide, the Republican-backed proposals would amend the Wisconsin Constitution to limit the governor’s power to spend federal funds unilaterally in specific instances. The proposals would work in tandem. One would require legislative approval before Wisconsin’s governor could expend federal money earmarked for the state. The other would bar future Legislatures from giving that power away. MORE

Source: WisPolitics

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Gov. Evers and WisDOT Announce Funds Supporting Farming and Agriculture

Governor Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced Wednesday $50 million of funding to support Wisconsin farmers, producers and agricultural industries. The money will be used for state investments across 28 counties to improve rural roads and bridges critical to efficiently moving and transporting products, crops and livestock across the state. Evers noted the importance of supporting the nearly $105 billion agricultural industry in Wisconsin. MORE

Source: WMC

Broadband Task Force Pushing for More State Investment

The Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access is pushing for more state funding to expand broadband in Wisconsin, arguing “federal funds alone won’t solve internet access issues” for state residents. The task force on Friday issued its fourth annual report, providing an update for ongoing state efforts around improving internet access as well as preparations for the more than $1 billion Wisconsin is receiving through the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, or BEAD. MORE

Source: WMC

Nutrition, The New FDA Agenda and The Food Industry

A reorganized US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prioritized nutrition and has a broad and aggressive nutrition-focused agenda planned for the last half of this year, which will impact consumer packaged food companies of all sizes, as well as the food industry as a whole. In an address at the IFT FIRST Annual Event and Expo in Chicago earlier this month, James Jones, FDA Deputy Commissioner of Human Foods said nutrition, along with food safety, now top the list of priorities at the FDA. MORE

Source: Constitution Partners

Nutrition Facts labels Have a Complicated Legacy: A Historian Explains the Science and Politics of Translating Food into Info

The Nutrition Facts label, that black and white information box found on nearly every packaged food product in the U.S. since 1994, has recently become an icon for consumer transparency.

From Apple's "Privacy Nutrition Labels" that disclose how smartphone apps handle user data, to a "Garment Facts" label that standardizes ethical disclosures on clothing, policy advocates across industries invoke "Nutrition Facts" as a model for empowering consumers and enabling socially responsible markets. They argue that intuitive information fixes could solve a wide range of market-driven social ills. Yet this familiar, everyday product label actually has a complicated legacy. MORE

Source: CLFP

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Federal Government Takes a Big Step in Phasing Out Single-Use Food Containers

The federal government intends to give the shift away from single-use plastic foodservice containers a major shove by phasing out its purchase of one-and-done cups, clamshells and other petroleum-based packaging. MORE

Source: CLFP

How Technology is Transforming the Food Industry

Our food consumption habits have evolved significantly since the beginning of the century. While technology is not typically associated with food discussions, there is a noticeable shift as more people rely on subscription boxes, delivery apps and meal-prep services. MORE

Source: CLFP

Market for Fermented Foods, Drinks to Grow Sharply by 2032

The global market for fermented foods and beverages is valued at nearly $575 billion and expected to reach over $989 billion by 2032, according to Statista. Reshma Patel of Yakult UK noted that consumer awareness of gut health has increased in recent years. MORE

Source: CBA

Fairchild Systems Named a 2023 Great 8 Dealer

Fairchild Systems, a division of Fairchild Equipment, is proud to announce that it has been named one of the top 8 dealers, receiving the prestigious 2023 Great 8 Dealer Award for Wholesale Pallet Rack Products (WPRP). This esteemed recognition highlights Fairchild Systems’ unwavering commitment to excellence, outstanding performance, and dedication to providing top-notch services in the Material Handling Industry. MORE