CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Temecula
April 4
CAWG Winegrape Day in the Capitol, Sacramento
April 4
CAWG Foundation Wine Reception, Sacramento
April 5
CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Sacramento
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CHEERS to a Successful Symposium!
Thank you to all of the CAWG members who attended, supported, helped organize and presented at the 24th annual Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. We hope the event was valuable for you and your business. Upcoming issues of The Crush will include articles about specific Unified sessions.
PHOTOS
ARTICLES
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Pete Downs Honored with the Rich Smith Distinguished Service Award
Edgar B. "Pete" Downs, president of Family Winemakers of California, was honored with the Rich Smith Distinguished Service Award
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The award recognizes an individual who has made major contributions to the American grape and wine industry while demonstrating Rich Smith's passion, commitment and other qualities.
Downs received the award during a presentation by the Smith family at the Family Winemakers of California board meeting on Jan. 23. Additional recognition took place at the Winegrape Growers of America (WGA) Leadership Luncheon on Jan. 24, held during the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. The award is co-sponsored by WGA, National Grape & Wine Initiative and WineAmerica.
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Government Relations Capitol Report
LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS RESIDENT WORKER PERMIT PROGRAM
Assemblymembers Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) and Devon Mathis (R-Visalia) this week introduced legislation to address critical labor shortages facing California's agricultural and service industries.
The goal of AB 1885 (California Resident Worker Program and Economic Stabilization Act) is to establish a model for the implementation of a resident worker permit program. Through a process created by the bill, California would work with the federal government to allow all current unauthorized workers in California's agriculture and service industries to remain working in California until Congress enacts immigration reform policy.
"We can no longer afford to wait on Washington. This labor shortage has become an economic urgency," Garcia said at a press conference this week.
Sen. Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres) is a coauthor of the bill and said, "We should explore all options to ensure we avoid worker shortages, while recognizing the necessity to address immigration reform on the federal level."
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Gov. Brown Delivers Final State of the State Address
During his 16th and final state of the state address on Thursday to lawmakers, Gov. Jerry Brown said California is "prospering" and "setting the pace for America," but also said there is much more to do. He touched on numerous topics, including bipartisan measures, cap-and-trade legislation, last year's natural disasters, climate change, the gas tax, higher education, crime and public safety. He also spoke about his two infrastructure projects: California WaterFix and high-speed rail.
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PD/GWSS Board: Chair Ends Term, New Officers Elected
Pierce's Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (PD/GWSS) Board Chair Pam Bond was recognized last week after ending her term. The board also elected the following officers:
-Chair: Ryan Metzler,
owner of Fruita del Sol in Fresno.
-Vice chair: Keith Horn, vice president of vineyard operations and grower relations for Constellation Brands for California and Washington.
-Treasurer: Domonic Rossini, Fratello Farming in Denair.
-New member: Trey Irwin, vice president of agriculture at Tejon Ranch Company in Kern County.
Metzler and Irwin have also served as directors on the CAWG board. CAWG congratulates the new officers and thanks all members of the PD/GWSS board for their service and leadership in the industry.
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CAWG Members Slated to Speak at State Board of Food and Agriculture Meetings in Clarksburg, Sebastopol
The California State Board of Food and Agriculture is hosting meetings - open to the public - to discuss agricultural issues impacting the Delta region and Sonoma County.
>CLARKSBURG / JAN. 31: CAWG member Stephen Heringer is among the invited speakers. Topics include the importance of Delta agriculture, agri-tourism and environmental restoration efforts. Board members will also tour the Delta region with Delta Protection Commission staff.
>SEBASTOPOL / FEB. 1: CAWG members Karissa Kruse (Sonoma County Winegrowers) and Gladys Horiuchi (Wine Institute) are among the invited speakers. Topics include the impacts of the October wildfires on local agricultural production. Board members will also tour wildfire impacted areas with Sonoma County staff.
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California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance Releases First Annual Report
The Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing annual report is an update on statistics and progress in grower and vintner adoption for sustainable practices. The report highlights the accomplishments of the 127 wineries and 1,099 vineyards in California that are Certified Sustainable. In 2017, the certification program saw a 46 percent growth in the number of certified vineyards and 20 percent growth in the number of certified wineries.
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North Coast Wildfire Impact Study Released
The Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University this week released preliminary findings of its wildfire impact study of the North Coast wine industry. The findings were based on a survey of more than 200 vineyard and winery stakeholders plus early analysis of available economic data. CAWG and other industry groups will be involved with phase two of the study.
AMONG THE RESULTS:
--99.8 percent of vineyard acres in the North Coast region are reported as unaffected by the wildfires.
--99.5 percent of the total crop was recovered (calculations based on 2016 Crush Report).
--90 percent of affected wineries and grape growers reported that vineyards would not need to be replanted or replaced (and of those that do, most would be less than 10 acres).
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Final Reminder: Crop Insurance Deadline is Jan. 31
If you are planning to purchase winegrape crop insurance, you must
sign up no later than Jan. 31
to have coverage for the 2018 crop year.
For more information, visit the
CAWG website
or contact Greg Merrill at Pan American Insurance Agency at (559) 492-5384.
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VINEYARDS & WINE
Reports on California, Argentina, Chile, France, Spain, Italy, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Published by Ciatti Company
IMMIGRATION / LABOR
White House fact sheet on border security, DACA legalization, extended family chain migration and canceling the visa lottery.
White House, Jan. 25
The Idaho Senate has voted in favor of legislation to expand the state's current program that allows inmate labor to be used by Idaho farmers.
The Spokesman-Review, Jan. 24
OTHER
Bipartisan legislation introduced this week in the House and Senate will help to facilitate the deployment of broadband internet across rural America - including ranchland and cropland, where broadband connectivity is increasingly essential for production agriculture.
AgNet West, Jan. 25
USDA, Jan. 24
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The U.S. Supreme Court decided this week on jurisdiction for Clean Water Act litigation. In a unanimous decision, it ruled that challenges to EPA's regulation defining "waters of the U.S." (WOTUS) must be filed in federal district court, not federal appeals court.
"This Supreme Court decision brings greater clarity to an important issue that has bogged down the litigation over this and other Clean Water Act regulations for years," said American Farm Bureau Federation counsel Ellen Steen in a news release. "That is a positive result, but it also creates uncertainty and confusion in the short term, because the 6th Circuit must soon lift its nationwide stay of the 2015 rule."
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If a Disaster Strikes, Are You Prepared?
With wildfires, erosion, heavy winter storms and flooding, the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is
urging all Californians to look at their risks and take steps to be prepared for a potential disaster. Cal OES has number of plans, guidance materials, support information, videos and other resources to assist in development of an all-encompassing preparedness program.
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Videos and Presentations from Pete Christensen Wine Grape Short Course
Winegrape growers and vintners who were not able to attend this Dec. 12-13 program can now view videos and PowerPoint presentations online. Dr. Kaan Kurtural moderated the program, which included nearly 20 experts speaking about irrigation, weed and pest control, soil, pruning, disease management, technology and mechanization, canopy management and more.
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Request for Auction Items for CAWG Foundation Wine Reception on April 4
Numerous items are needed for the silent auction at this year's CAWG Foundation Wine Reception, which serves as the main annual fundraiser for the foundation's scholarship fund. Items can be wine, gift baskets, vacation home trips, weekend getaways, autographed memorabilia, concert tickets, sporting event tickets and more.
If you would like to donate items, please contact Carolee Williams at 916-379-8995 or [email protected].
Thank you!
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UCCE 66th Annual Lodi Grape Day
Event features luncheon speech by retiring farm advisor Paul Verdegaal.
WHEN: Feb. 6, 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (retirement gathering 1:30-3:30 p.m.)
WHERE: 125 South Hutchins Street, Lodi
UCCE Grape Day - Sonoma County
WHEN: Feb. 8, 7-11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building, 1351 Maple Ave.
COST: $42 (includes breakfast)
Cal Poly Wine and Viticulture Winemaker Showcase (Dinner and Auction)
The department's largest student-run fundraising event of the year. All of the money raised will support professional development opportunities for students in the department, including attendance at Unified.
WHEN: March 9 / 6-9 p.m.
WHERE: Oyster Ridge, Santa Margarita
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