Business Roundup: Farmers harvested hay from almost 63K of state-owned lands

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Wisconsin farmers harvested hay from almost 63-hundred acres of state-owned lands, under emergency provisions caused by this summer’s drought. Governor Scott Walker agreed to let farmers make hay on state lands, to help them generate much-needed feed supplies for their livestock. The D-N-R said it issued 286 hay-making permits, and five emergency grazing permits. Those permits expired at the end of August, to re-grow habitat and create more cover for this fall’s hunters. Meanwhile, the dry conditions continue in spite of more rainfall lately. For the first time this year, the U-S Drought Monitor says all of Wisconsin is abnormally dry or worse. But the “extreme” drought territory in far southern Wisconsin continues to get smaller. Only seven counties are in that category. Almost two dozen counties had an extremely drought status earlier this summer.

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Packaged fruit products sold in Wisconsin are being recalled, due to a possible health risk involving cantaloupe. Cut Fruit Express of Inver Grove Heights Minnesota is voluntarily recalling fruit packages with cantaloupe, due to possible salmonella contamination. One of Cut Fruit’s suppliers, D-F-I Marketing, ordered that its cantaloupe be recalled. Cut Fruit Express says it’s voluntarily recalling its packages as a precaution – and no illnesses been reported from its products. They were distributed through September fifth, and were sold in Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota. Customers are being urged not to eat the Cut Fruit cantaloupe. They’re being told to dispose of it, or take it back to the store where they bought it.

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A Wisconsin company that was shut down after a recall of its alcohol wipes now plans to re-open as a maker of cosmetics. The Triad Group of Hartland announced the move this week at a proceeding in federal bankruptcy court. C-E-O Eric Haertle said Triad was looking into the conversion of its 300-thousand-square-foot plant in Hartland to a cosmetics line. But he did not say what type of products would be made. Over 100 lawsuits and claims have been filed against Triad and its sister company, H-and-P Industries. That was after 11 people died as the possible result of using Triad’s alcohol wipes. U-S Marshals seized six-million-dollars of its products last year – and the Hartland plant has not re-opened since then. Triad and H-and-P filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year. And the company reached an agreement with the F-D-A to meet a series of conditions before re-opening its plant to make alcohol wipes and medicines. The conversion of the plant to cosmetics would not require Triad to meet those conditions. The F-D-A says Triad would not need the agency’s approval to open a cosmetics facility. Triad is expected to submit a financial re-organization plan to the bankruptcy court later this year.

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B-M-O Harris Bank plans to cut almost 75 jobs at two facilities in southern Wisconsin. The firm told state officials it would lay off 37 people at its Bank Mortgage Investment Management center in Cedarburg, and 37 others at a data center in Sun Prairie. Spokesman Jim Kappel said the affected employees mainly have data processing and underwriting functions. He said it’s part of a larger cut of 200 positions at B-M-O banks throughout its service region. B-M-O Harris acquired the former M-and-I Bank a year-and-a-half ago. Kappel said employees would get the chance to apply for other jobs within the firm. And those who are not kept will get severance pay and help in finding new jobs. Kappel said B-M-O Harris has hired over 350 people since acquiring M-and-I. Many are personal bankers, credit analysts, and service representatives.

Tags: news, wisconsin, business