FRI AM News: WisBusiness: the Podcast with Scott Suder, Wisconsin Paper Council; Talking Trade with Doug Rebout, Wisconsin Soybean Association

August 14, 2026

— This week’s episode of “WisBusiness: the Podcast” is with returning guest Scott Suder, president of the Wisconsin Paper Council.

Suder offers a snapshot of the state’s paper industry, as well as the outlook for the rest of 2026, calling it “stable and growing” with multiple recent high-profile projects.

“We have a huge presence and footprint here in Wisconsin; we’re the number one paper-producing state in the entire nation, we still hold that title proudly,” he said. “And you know, we’ve had some successes within the last three to five years.”

He pointed to two new $500 million paper mills being built by Georgia Pacific and Green Bay Packaging, arguing the companies chose Wisconsin for these investments based on the strength of its workforce and supply chain.

Suder also shares an update on an industry-led study developing a strategic roadmap for the state’s forest products sector.

The Wisconsin Forests FIRST initiative, fueled by a two-year $1 million state grant, is conducting research and data analysis to assess market conditions as well as growth opportunities. The effort’s strategic plan will be delivered by the end of 2028, with a goal of influencing policy decisions and sector investments going forward.

“And looking at investment strategies for the future, protecting the infrastructure we have, finding ways to enhance what we have in terms of our footprint, but also looking at workforce development efforts as well,” he said.

Suder stressed the importance of growing the industry and staying globally competitive.

“We want to keep, certainly for papermaking, our status as number one throughout the nation, but more importantly, we want to keep those jobs here and create even more jobs going forward,” he said.

Wisconsin’s forest products sector employs more than 56,000 workers, largely in paper and wood product manufacturing, according to state figures.

Part of that effort includes educating more residents about the opportunities presented by employment in the forest products sector, he said.

“These are great jobs, and you know, they can move very quickly up the employment ladder, and I think sometimes that’s not the impression that some individuals have, or they don’t have an impression of the forest industry at all,” he said. “And we need to turn that around, and we’re working to do that.”

Listen to the podcast here and see the full list of WisBusiness podcasts.

— In the latest episode of “Talking Trade,” Doug Rebout of the Wisconsin Soybean Association discusses the impact of tariffs and the Iran war on U.S. soybean farmers.

Rebout, who’s also chair of the DATCP board and partner of Roger Rebout & Sons Farms in Janesville, notes corn and soybean farmers in the area can’t easily adjust what their operations produce based on short-term trends.

“We know we’re going to have our good years, we know we’re going to have our bad years,” he said. “With farming, you can’t make major changes year to year on what we’re doing with crops.”

With China not buying as much of the U.S. soybean crop amid trade tensions, the industry is looking elsewhere for potential export markets, Rebout said.

“One of the things that’s really helped with that is the DeLong port in Milwaukee; having that here in Wisconsin has been huge for Wisconsin ag products,” he said, adding “it opens up another market taking it out the St. Lawrence Seaway, and kind of opens up that northern Africa, European, Ireland market a little bit for us.”

He argues “we need to look at more markets” rather than being so reliant on just one for the stability of the ag sector.

“And also more emphasis on just trying to find more domestic uses here in the U.S. so we’re not so reliant on trade,” he said.

Meanwhile, disruption of trade through the Strait of Hormuz is affecting the supply of fertilizer and other inputs for corn farming. While most farmers had already acquired what they needed for this year’s crop, the outlook for next year is more clouded, Rebout said.

“It’s going to be next year’s crop where we’re really going to be impacted, and even if the Strait opened up right now, the war stopped right now, it’s going to take six to seven months … to get it caught up,” he said.

Talking Trade is hosted by E.M Wasylik Associates Managing Director Ken Wasylik and M.E. Dey & Co. President and Managing Director Sandi Siegel and sponsored by the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Carroll University and Michael Best Strategies.

Watch the full episode here.

“Talking Trade” is now available in audio form on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. Subscribe and find more episodes here.

— DHS Secretary Kirsten Johnson says the agency is “deeply concerned about the lack of scientific evidence” in statements from federal officials, following President Donald Trump signing an executive order upending childhood vaccine recommendations.

The state Department of Health Services yesterday issued the statement from Johnson.

She says Trump’s order “does not change our approach” or previous statements, noting DHS continues to endorse vaccine schedules from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Johnson yesterday warned of potential impacts on the health of Wisconsin children from the order, which aims to space out certain childhood vaccines, running counter to recommendations from the medical community. That includes the MMR vaccine that covers measles, mumps and rubella.

“Health professionals and parents deserve accurate, credible information,” Johnson said. “There is no new scientific evidence that justifies changing recommendations that have, and continue to, protect children across the United States.”

Meanwhile, the measles outbreak in southwestern Wisconsin has now grown to 15 confirmed cases and six probable cases, as health officials say further spread is likely. The vast majority of those infected are unvaccinated.

For more of the most relevant health care news, reports on groundbreaking research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics and WisBusiness.com.

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— Wisconsin has received about $120,000 in administrative penalties from a $15.5 million settlement with mortgage servicer NewRez LLC, in addition to a smaller payout to consumers in the state.

The state Department of Financial Institutions this week announced Wisconsin and other state financial agencies across 47 states reached a settlement with the Pennsylvania company. It relates to the company “improperly” imposing “force-placed” insurance costs on borrowers with active homeowners’ insurance, according to DFI.

Force-placed insurance is often required when a homeowners’ policy is cancelled, delinquent or “insufficient” in coverage and if the borrower has failed to get replacement coverage, the agency says. DFI notes this is “usually significantly more costly” than if the borrower has their own policy.

NewRez worked with state regulators to “self-identify and proactively remediate” more than $4.5 million to impacted borrowers, according to the agency, while also paying the other $11 million for costs and penalties. Plus, the company will be required to do enhanced monitoring for loans that have force-placed insurance under the settlement.

A total of 33 affected consumers in the state were refunded about $29,000 in total, a DFI spokesperson said.

See the release.

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TOPICS

AGRIBUSINESS

– Southern rust detected in Wisconsin corn crop

BANKING

– Bank of America branch planned at Southgate Marketplace in Milwaukee

CONSTRUCTION

– UW-Milwaukee, State Fair Park get millions of dollars for construction projects

FOOD & BEVERAGE