CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Santa Rosa
January 24-26, 2017
Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Sacramento
January 25, 2017
WGA Leadership Luncheon, Sacramento
February 8-9, 2017
CAWG Leadership Forum, Sacramento
March 15, 2017
CAWG Winegrape Day in the Capitol, Sacramento
March 15, 2017
CWGGF Wine Reception, Sacramento
March 16, 2017
CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Sacramento
May 7 - 9, 2017
National Grape & Wine Policy Conference, Washington, D.C.
|
CAWG's preferred partner
for insurance products
for more than 16 years.
Group Workers' Comp
Wine Industry Package
Federal Crop Insurance
Employee Benefits
For more info:
888-640-0593
or
Paid Sponsorship
|
Country Insurance Company Providing the very best California crop insurance services
|
Want to advertise in
eNews? Call 916-379-8995
|
|
|
|
| |
Webinar: Overview of New Ag Overtime Requirements
With the signing of AB 1066 into law, CAWG understands there are a lot of questions about its potential impact and how it will affect agricultural operations in the future. This week CAWG members were invited to join a webinar hosted by Ag Council and presented by Steven Crass, an employment law attorney with Baker Manock & Jensen. Ag Council has posted
additional details about the new overtime requirements on its
labor page.
|
DPR Tightening Rules for Telone
DPR is updating the way Telone soil fumigant (
1,3-D dichloropropene) is managed and used in California. The new restrictions, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2017, include:
--An annual limit of 136,000 pounds within each six mile by six mile area known as a township (townships are used to track pesticide applications). Currently, township limits are between 90,250 and 180,500 pounds per year.
--Discontinuing the current practice of carrying forward or "banking" unused allocations of 1,3-D from one year for use in future years.
--A ban on the use of Telone during December, when weather conditions tend to make air concentrations higher.
>
ASSOCIATED PRESS ARTICLE
|
DPR Proposes Additional Protections for Pesticide Use Near Schools
DPR has released
proposed regulations regarding pesticide use near schools and child/daycare facilities. As part of the proposed regulations, certain pesticide applications would be heavily restricted within a quarter mile of school sites from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Western Plant Health Association commented that the proposal is restrictive, unnecessary and an example of Cal EPA pandering to anti-pesticide and anti-farmer interests. Public hearings have been scheduled to receive comments regarding the proposed changes.
WHEN: Nov. 15 / 6 p.m.
WHERE: Oxnard Performing Arts and Convention Center, 800 Hobson Way
WHEN: Nov. 16 / 6 p.m.
WHERE: Tulare Veterans Memorial Building, 1771 E. Tulare Avenue
|
Congressional Wine Caucus Members Learn More About Wines and Soils
Eleven legislators and more than 100 senior staff attended a Wine Institute educational event on Sept. 28, where they learned about how different soils affect wine. The organization hosted the event with members of the Congressional Wine Caucus and the Congressional Soils Caucus. Professors and graduate students from UC Davis, Oregon State University and Washington State University were on hand to explain the relationship between wine and the soil in which winegrapes are grown.
|
Lodi Winegrape Commission Announces New Executive Director
The Lodi Winegrape Commission has appointed Wendy Brannen as its new executive director. Brannen, who will assume her role on Oct. 24, has more than a decade of diverse experience in agriculture. She previously worked for the U.S. Apple Association and Vidalia Onion Committee. She replaces Camron King, who left in May to be the president of the National Grape and Wine Initiative.
|
GMO Educational Initiative Posts Answers to Top 10 Consumer Questions About GMOs
GMO Answers conducted a nationwide survey with the Opinion Research Council to gather consumers' top 10 questions related to GMOs. The No. 1 question: Do GMOs cause cancer? Other questions included: Have long term health studies been conducted on GMO crops? How much of our food in the U.S. is genetically modified? The GMO Answers initiative was created to do a more effective job communicating to the public about GMOs, biotechnology and how food is grown.
|
With harvest ending, weed control might not be top of mind at a lot of vineyards. But it should be, according to a UC weed science farm advisor.
Growing Produce, Oct. 1
Will this region within the Sonoma Coast soon be made an official American Viticultural Area?
Wine Enthusiast, Sept. 29
Just before Yosemite National Park, and north a few dozen miles, spreads a California wine region beginning to boil with renown.
Forbes, Sept. 27
|
Statewide Water Conservation Drops Below 18 Percent in August
According to a State Water Resources Control Board
press release
, statewide water savings for August was 17.7 percent (40.4 billion gallons), a significant drop from August 2015's 27 percent savings (63.5 billion gallons). The decline raises concerns that some water suppliers are abandoning their focus on conservation as California heads into a possible sixth drought year. The cumulative average savings for June 2015 through August 2016 is 23.3 percent, which equates to just over 2 million acre-feet (659 billion gallons).
|
Water Articles and Resources
The author takes a closer look at the 2015 crop statistics for California's top farm counties, and is astounded at how little impact the drought had on production.
Bloomberg View, Oct. 5
An op ed from the president/CEO of Yosemite Farm Credit about the state's water situation and the State Water Board's recent proposal.
Modesto Bee, Oct. 4
There were high hopes going into water year 2016. El Niño did show up, but it fell far short of lofty expectations. On Friday, water year 2016 ended with a whimper.
Los Angeles Times, Sept. 30
Last year at this time, forecasters had a pretty good idea of what was in store as California headed into the rainy season. This year, the forecast is even less certain.
Sacramento Bee, Sept. 29
Farm groups renewed their call for reform of CWA enforcement, following release of a report about how federal agencies overreach their authority to regulate farmland.
Ag Alert, Sept. 28
|
CAWG Board Election: Ballots Due Oct. 15
Official election ballots for the CAWG board of directors were mailed on Sept. 14. Votes will either re-elect or fill vacancies for six seats among three districts on the CAWG board. For CAWG districts 1, 3 and 4, members received a 2016 ballot, biographical information about the candidate(s), and a CAWG
director job description. We understand this is a very busy time of year, so thank you to all of the CAWG members for taking the time to participate in electing your district's leadership.
Ballots must be returned on or before Oct. 15, 2016 to be included in the ballot count.
|
California Wine Grape Growers Foundation Changes its Name
It's official! The foundation has changed its name to the CAWG Foundation to better reflect the connection with CAWG. The website has been updated with the new logo and new URL -
www.cawgfoundation.org
.
|
Shop AmazonSmile: An Easy Way to Support the CAWG Foundation
Costco is already stocking holiday gifts, so it must be time to start holiday shopping. Avoid the stores and crowds and shop online via
AmazonSmile. It's a simple and automatic way for you to support the CAWG Foundation, at no extra cost to you. When you shop, Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of the purchase price to the foundation
.
Eligible products are marked "Eligible for AmazonSmile donation" on their product detail pages. Happy shopping!
|
Study: Vineyard Soil Bacterial Diversity and Composition Revealed by 16S rRNA Genes: Differentiation by Vineyard Management
UC Davis researchers have published an
article in Soil Biology and Biochemistry describing how vineyard management practices influence soil resources, which determine shifts in soil-borne bacterial communities. Findings in this study suggest management practices in vineyard production systems directly influence soil microbial community structure, as mediated by shifts in soil resource pools.
|
Fact Sheet: What You Need to Know About Winery Use of Sulfur Dioxide
DPR has posted a revised fact sheet about the use of sulfur dioxide by wineries. According to the document, when wineries add sulfur dioxide (SO2) to wine as an antioxidant and preservative, the SO2 is not considered a pesticide. However, when sulfur dioxide is used to sanitize corks, barrels and equipment, the compound is legally classified a pesticide. Only an SO2 product registered as a pesticide with the U.S. EPA and DPR can be used to sanitize corks, barrels and equipment. Using unregistered SO2 for winery sanitation is against the law and subject to fines and penalties. California law requires that all agricultural operations file reports of their pesticide use. Wineries that use SO2 as a sanitizer must send a monthly summary PUR to their county ag commissioner.
|
Act Soon! Large Pump Overhaul Rebates
Qualifying customers can take advantage of PG&E's increased pump overhaul incentives and receive an extra 33 percent in rebates. Improving irrigation pump efficiency means gaining access to much-needed water deeper underground, saving energy and money and improving water distribution over crops.
|
|
UNIFIED WINE & GRAPE SYMPOSIUM
|
Unified Sponsorships and Ads: Act Now to Maximize on Your Benefit
The 2017 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Jan. 24-26, is an ideal way to promote your business.
Now is the time to t
ake advantage of great sponsorship and advertising opportunities that will
maximize your marketing dollars and exposure
.
For additional information, please visit the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium
website
or contact Jenny Devine at (916) 379-8995.
|
Napa Valley Grapegrowers Harvest Press Conference
The Napa Valley Grapegrowers will bring together industry experts to discuss Napa Valley's 2016 growing season, harvest, water use, labor, technology and other issues. Those who register can watch the conference online.
REGISTER
WHEN: Oct. 12 / 9:15 a.m.
|
UCCE Seminar: Vineyard Pest and Disease Management
UC Cooperative Extension is holding a seminar featuring more than a dozen UC speakers covering a range of important vineyard pest and disease management topics. It is approved for 4.5 hours DPR CE units (CCA units applied for).
WHEN:
Nov. 4 / 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE:
Veterans Memorial Building, 801 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo
COST:
$100 per person (includes refreshments and lunch)
|
|
| |
|
