— This week’s episode of “WisBusiness: the Podcast” is with Kevin Krentz, president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.
Krentz discusses post-pandemic trends in the state’s agriculture industry, including price fluctuations, ripple effects of the war in Ukraine, workforce challenges, commodity production levels and more.
“In regards to the higher prices that we received, that was quickly offset by some of the expenses that we had to dish out to get that crop into the ground,” he said. “We had a wet spring that pushed some of the plantings back a bit, but throughout the year overall, we had a very good year.”
He explained field conditions dried out late last year, leading to a “beautiful fall for harvest” with crop totals “well above average” across the state.
Krentz also highlights supply chain issues that continue to affect the state’s ag industry, despite significant improvement in this area.
“We continue to have challenges with getting product here, getting parts, getting fertilizer, getting all of that, and getting those ships in and out of port,” he said. “Now we’ve made a huge amount of recovery from that, but those continue.”
Listen to the podcast here: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/wisbusiness-the-podcast-with-kevin-krentz-wisconsin-farm-bureau-federation/
See the full list of WisBusiness.com podcasts: https://www.wisbusiness.com/category/podcast/
— Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel says Wisconsinites can expect to see a GOP presidential primary debate hosted in Milwaukee in 2024.
McDaniel, fresh off her reelection, spoke at a press conference yesterday with the RNC Host Committee and elected officials to kick off organizing the national convention set for July 15-18 next year.
McDaniel called Milwaukee the “perfect place” for the convention.
“You really do have a city that shines, and I am so excited to bring the world into Milwaukee — not just for the Republican Party — but to help businesses and business owners and to highlight a bipartisan effort to do great things for this urban community,” McDaniel said.
Former RNC Chair and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, chair of the RNC Host Committee, said the committee is “far ahead of schedule” on fundraising, and has already exceeded its financial goal for the first quarter. He declined to say exactly how much the committee had raised.
Priebus said he and McDaniel had raised more money than any two chairs in the history of either party.
“We’re not going to limp into the finish line on money. That’s not going to happen,” Priebus said.
Dem Mayor Cavalier Johnson at the press conference said Milwaukee is ready to welcome big conventions and events to the city.
“The 2024 Republican National Convention sends a message to convention planners all across the United States that Milwaukee must be on their radar,” Johnson said.
See more from the press conference at WisPolitics.com: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/thu-pm-update-fair-courts-america-launches-500k-tv-buy-for-kelly-two-groups-spending-money-to-boost-knodl-in-8th-sd
— A Milwaukee-based financial tech startup called Upwardli says it will use $2 million in new funding to add staff and improve product features.
The company yesterday announced the seed funding round, which was led by Omaha-based firm investment Dundee Venture Capital.
Upwardli’s credit building platform, launched late last year, helps users without a social security number or a U.S. credit file to establish and build a credit score. The company’s release notes nearly 50 million U.S. residents don’t currently have a credit score, with immigrants and Gen Z disproportionately represented in that number.
“The lack of established credit created barriers to accessing needed financial services,” CEO and co-founder Aaron Gregory said in the release. “For credit-based products, it’s a total mess. Our credit system creates a chicken-and-egg problem that exacerbates these barriers and penalizes those just starting their financial life.”
The investment round will support new hires and additional product features aimed at boosting credit scores more quickly, according to the release. Meanwhile, company leaders aim to expand partnerships with financial institutions to link their platform with the larger companies’ products.
Dundee Venture Capital Principal Catherine Williams, who recently joined the company’s board of directors, calls Upwardli an “excellent example of an innovative fintech company” helping underserved populations.
“Paired with their unique data and product capabilities, Upwardli is poised to deliver innovative credit products to customer segments where existing solutions are unavailable or prohibitively expensive,” she said in a statement.
— Seven harbor maintenance and improvement projects around Wisconsin are getting about $5.3 million in new grant funding.
Gov. Tony Evers and the state Department of Transportation yesterday announced the grants, aimed at promoting water freight activity and economic development. Funding comes from the state’s long-running Harbor Assistance Program, first established in 1979.
Recipients include:
*Perch Point LLC and Port Milwaukee, which are getting a $540,000 award to build a dock wall to support transportation along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
*Port of Green Bay, which is getting $1 million to stabilize the existing shoreline and construct a dock wall for a new property on the Fox River.
*Hanke Terminals of La Crosse, which is getting $200,000 for dock wall repairs.
*Briess Industries Inc. in Manitowoc, with a $1 million grant to dredge the bottom of the Manitowoc River to expand options for transporting farm goods.
*U.S. Venture Inc. in Green Bay, which will use its $200,000 in funding to dredge the bed of the Fox River to support continued petroleum imports to northeastern Wisconsin.
*FJ Robers of La Crosse, with a $1.17 million grant. Funds will go toward repairing and constructing a new dock wall for a bulk commodity facility.
*And Holcim US Green Bay Terminal, which is getting $1.2 million to dredge the Fox River bed and build a new docking facility for receiving cement shipments.
See the release: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/3454e5c
— The Wisconsin Workforce Development Association is hosting its annual Talent Development Conference April 11-12 in La Crosse.
This year’s event, focused on solutions to workforce challenges, will feature more than a dozen speakers representing businesses, state agencies and other organizations. Rebecca Ryan, the founder of NEXT Generation Consulting in Madison, will give a keynote address.
See more on the event here: https://www.wwda.org/tdcon23
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report … </b></i>
— In the next five years, health officials aim to enact “foundational shifts” in the state’s public health system to reduce disparities and boost community involvement in decision-making.
<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i>
Sign up here: http://forms.gle/o8FtqTLviGJPja8C9
#TOP STORIES#
# Wisconsin dairy groups say new trade dispute could lead to more serious action against Canada over dairy policy
# RNC team plans to book all 50,000 convention visitors in Wisconsin hotels
# Northwestern Mutual plans $500 million upgrade to its HQ, will bring 2,000 Franklin employees downtown
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Wisconsin sheep and goat inventories down from 2022
– State farm groups share biennial budget priorities
# CONSTRUCTION
– Northwestern Mutual plans $500M headquarters renovation
# ECONOMY
– Wisconsin employers offer flexible hours, more benefits, to keep ahead
# EDUCATION
– One of UW System’s longest-serving chancellors takes out-of-state job
# ENVIRONMENT
– Hunters will see more opportunities to hunt black bears this fall
# HEALTH CARE
– Search warrant: Nurse suspected of disconnecting oxygen tube from son on ventilator
– Man operating 24 Wisconsin nursing homes charged with health care fraud
# NONPROFIT
– Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County in need of more mentors
# POLITICS
– Baldwin wants to ensure fairness for Wisconsin dairy producers
– Milwaukee may be site of Republican presidential primary debate
– Milwaukee to host GOP presidential debate, as well as 2024 convention
# REAL ESTATE
– Appleton affordable housing project could use $1M in ARPA money
– Northwestern Mutual plans $500 million downtown campus project
– Northwestern Mutual to exit Franklin campus, move thousands of jobs downtown under $500M project
– CEO says Northwestern Mutual’s rebuilt North Office Building will bolster company’s culture
– Milwaukee apartment portfolio sells for more than $80 million
# RETAIL
– Kohl’s names Tom Kingsbury permanent CEO
# SPORTS
– Brett Favre’s ‘Bountygate’ game-worn Vikings jersey up for auction
# TRANSPORTATION
– Tribe in northern Wisconsin blocks road in land dispute, stranding non-Native residents
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
Milwaukee Repertory Theater: Hosts the Next Narrative™ Monologue Competition Milwaukee Regionals
Zilber Family Foundation: Awards $3.9 million in grants to Milwaukee nonprofits
