CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Santa Rosa
January 24-26, 2017
Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, 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
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AB 1066: ACT NOW! Call State Senators and Assembly Members
THE LATEST ON THE BILL
The bill is currently pending on the Senate floor, where it is expected to come to a vote next Monday, Aug. 22. The bill is backed by special interest labor organizations, including the UFW.
SUPPORTERS TURN UP THE HEAT
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), UFW and other leaders have been doing a full court press to pass AB 1066. A group of UFW supporters were in Sacramento this week for a 24-hour fasting and to lobby for the bill. Gonzalez has been pushing the bill with a news conference, as well as frequent posts on her Twitter account using #AB1066 and #fastingforfarmworkers.
TAKE ACTION AND ASK FOR A NO VOTE
CAWG members are strongly encouraged to reach out to their senators and assembly members to ask them to vote NO on the bill.
Click
here
to go to the CAWG Action Center.
RELATED ARTICLES
Op ed by Jeff Merwin, president of the Yolo County Farm Bureau. Sacramento Bee, Aug. 17
Pending legislation that would expand overtime requirements for ag employees could reduce work hours and compensation for those employees, according to organizations that oppose the bill. Ag Alert, Aug. 17
Op ed by grower Joe Scoto of Scoto Brothers Farming in Merced. Merced Sun-Star, Aug. 15
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It's Official! European Grapevine Moth Eradicated from California
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced today that the European grapevine moth (EGVM) has been eradicated from California and is lifting the federal quarantine on 446 square miles of Napa and Sonoma counties that have been under regulation since June 2010. APHIS and the CDFA have conducted extensive survey, control and regulatory efforts for over three years and found no EGVM in this last quarantined area. This means the United States is free from this pest and unrestricted movement of grapes and other host commodities from these areas can resume.
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NGWI-Supported Tree and Trunk Disease Project
From the National Grape and Wine Initiative newsletter (July 2016):
NGWI is highlighting work that has been conducted on the NGWI-supported Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) project - "New Detection, Research and Extension Tools for Managing Wood-Canker Diseases of Fruit and Nut Crops." Project leaders Drs. Kenda Baumgartner (USDA-ARS) and Themis Michailides (UC Davis-Kearney) have organized a trans-disciplinary team to develop diagnostic tools measures to reduce the impact of diseases including Eutypa and Botryosphaeria. The project has numerous facets including development of new detection tools, investigating disease resistance, development of new extension tools to adopt preventative practices and an economics piece for assistance in decision making about implementation of practices or treatment measures. The project has partners from throughout the wine and grape industries and NGWI has continued to work with researchers and their teams to provide feedback and resources. The project's website provides numerous resources, valuable information and project updates.
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Fresno County Crop Report: Grapes No. 2
The recently released 2015 Fresno County crop report shows the total value of agriculture produced in the county was $6.61 billion, down 6.55 percent from 2014. Grapes held the No. 2 spot, behind almonds, with a total gross production value of $896,295,000. For winegrapes (crushed), production was 751,000 tons, $298 per unit, totaling $223,798,000. The numbers for 2014 were 643,000 tons, $380 per unit, totaling $244,340,000. Acreage increased slightly, from 58,714 in 2014 to 60,213 in 2015. The report also highlights pest detection activities for pests such as European grapevine moth and glassy-winged sharpshooter.
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Survey: Input Needed for Updates to California's Ag Vision 2030
Several years ago, the California State Board of Food and Agriculture began a strategic planning process for the state's agriculture and food system that led to
California Agricultural Vision
. Ag Vision was motivated by numerous challenges facing the agriculture industry. The report identified a dozen strategies and corresponding action items to ensure long-term prosperity for California agriculture. The board is now revisiting those strategies and challenges in light of the changes that have had an impact on agriculture since the report was first drafted. Individuals are encouraged to complete an eight-question survey to provide important opinions and insight. The survey must be completed by Aug. 26.
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Sonoma County Alliance Opposes Nov. 8 Ballot Measure Banning GMOs, Drafts White Paper
Following a presentation by Dr. Allison Van Eenennaam from UC Davis and a review of the Sonoma County Transgenic Contamination Prevention Ordinance that will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot, the Sonoma County Alliance executive committee voted to oppose the measure. The group, which opposed a similar ballot measure 10 years ago, joins the Sonoma County Farm Bureau in voting no. In a white paper explaining its opposition, the group states, "
This initiative fails the interests of the Sonoma County community in a number of ways. It fails to recognize the overwhelming scientific evidence that concludes there is no associated danger from genetically modified crops."
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EPA and DOT Finalize Greenhouse Gas and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Trucks
The U.S. EPA and U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) jointly finalized standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles that will improve fuel efficiency and cut carbon pollution, while bolstering energy security and spurring manufacturing innovation. The final phase two program promotes a new generation of cleaner, more fuel-efficient trucks by encouraging the wider application of currently available technologies and the development of new and advanced cost-effective technologies through model year 2027.
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An episode of Food Forecast visits two farmers in the Napa Valley who are battling shifts in the growing season and a limited water supply to create some of the best wines in the Napa Valley. ABC News/Good Morning America, Aug. 16
Solid wine sales growth in July came with a spike in direct-to-consumer wine shipments, according to the latest findings by Wines Vines Analytics.
Chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon retained the top two spots in varietal sales. Wines and Vines, Aug. 16
LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards kicked off its 2016 harvest, following an early, warm spring and consistent summer temperatures. The beginning of harvest signals the busiest and most stressful time for the industry, as winegrape growers keep one eye on their work in the vineyard and the other on the weather. PR Newswire, Aug. 16
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New Report: Drought's Economic Impact on Agriculture
UC Davis researchers recently released a report titled "Economic Analysis of the 2016 California Drought for Agriculture," which estimates the impacts of the drought on agriculture for 2014 and beyond. Economists use computer models and the latest estimates of water deliveries, well-pumping capacities and acres fallowed. The researchers use new satellite remote-sensing technologies to estimate fallowed acreage as the drought unfolds. As stated on the website, "California's agricultural powerhouse and its extensive water supply system have been challenged by recent years of drought. After four years of severely dry conditions, a wetter 2016 winter and spring helped California partially recover surface water storage and increased recharge to some aquifers. Nevertheless, statewide storage in reservoirs remains below historical average and groundwater remains in substantial overdraft in many areas."
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Water Articles and Resources
If you need a sign that the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is broken, look no further than San Luis Reservoir. Despite near-average precipitation this year and healthy storage in other north state reservoirs, San Luis is so precipitously low that deliveries were nearly shutoff in early August. Meanwhile Shasta Lake, the state's largest reservoir, sits at 109% of its historic average for the date. --Blog post by ACWA Executive Director Timothy Quinn, Aug. 17
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Video: UCCE Plant Pathologist Doug Gubler on Career, Retirement
Doug Gubler, Cooperative Extension plant pathologist and UC Davis lecturer, recently posted a farewell message online via California AgNet.
Gubler talks about the success of research projects on powdery mildew, canker disease, botrytis and other diseases. He gives thanks to fellow researchers, graduate students, PCAs and California's progressive grape growers. Read more about Gubler's achievements and career reflections in the current issue of American Vineyard.
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UCCE San Joaquin County Winegrape Crop Digest
The August 2016 issue of Field Notes includes an article (page 9) from UCCE viticulture advisor Paul Verdegaal. He writes about harvest, weather, powdery mildew, vineyard pests and demand for specific varieties.
Climate Smart Agriculture Webinar
Last month CDFA hosted a climate smart agriculture webinar in partnership with the Netherlands and the University of California's World Food Center addressing salinity in specialty crops within California's Central Valley and along coastal areas. The webinar - "The Challenges and Opportunities of Saline Agriculture - A Focus on Specialty Crops" - is available online with included presentations.
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AgSafe Pesticide Compliance Webinars
Eight webinars will cover the general practices of EPA and DPR pesticide compliance, as well as the comprehensive strategies and current regulation systems that go along with pest management. The hourlong webinars are scheduled between August and November.
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FREE California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance Webinars
Sustainable self-assessment and certification webinars
WHEN: Aug. 19: 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
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