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
|
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
|
|
|
|
| |
Legislative Session Ends; Focus Now on Governor to Veto AB 1066
T
he California State Legislature adjourned Aug. 31 after a hectic few days of voting. CAWG will provide updates on bills of interest to members in the coming days.
Our main focus is with AB 1066 and Gov. Jerry Brown. We have one final chance that this bill will be defeated with his veto. Brown has made no indication as to whether he will sign or veto the bill.
Thank you again to all of our members who took the time to contact legislators.
We encourage you to now contact the governor to urge him to VETO AB 1066.
CAWG featured in the following articles:
Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Aug. 30
AP/Napa Valley Register, Aug. 30
Lodi News-Sentinel, Aug. 30
Growing Produce, Aug. 30
Wine Business, Aug. 30
Wine Industry Advisor, Aug. 30
Western Farm Press, Aug. 29
|
California Farm Production Fell by $9.5 Billion in 2015
USDA's Economic Research Service has released PRELIMINARY agricultural production statistics for 2015 in California. This initial set of data indicates that production value was $47,071,513, a decline of $9.5 billion compared to 2014, which totaled $56,609,489
. According to CDFA, the numbers reflect drought impacts of 2015, changes in currency exchange rates, as well as global supply and demand. The preliminary value of grapes in 2015 was $4,954,220, compared to $5,239,693 in 2014 and $5,565,734 in 2013. These are preliminary numbers, and USDA will revise these figures over the next several months.
California's top five commodities in 2015:
Milk: $6.29 billion
Almonds: $5.33 billion
Grapes: $4.95 billion
Cattle, Calves: $3.39 billion
Lettuce: $2.25 billion
|
Research: How Many Workers are Employed in California Agriculture?
University of California researchers released on Aug. 23 an analysis of data from agricultural employers that suggests California has a stable agricultural workforce.
The objective was to provide a clearer picture of state's agricultural workforce by determining the actual number of wage and salary workers in agriculture.
Excerpt from abstract: In 2014, the average employment of hired workers in California crop and livestock agriculture, counting all occupations, rose by 10 percent to 410,900. However, although the state reports the number of jobs on farms regularly, it does not report the number of workers who fill these jobs. We analyzed all Social Security numbers reported by farm employers in 2014 and found two workers for each average or year-round equivalent farm job, making the total number of farmworkers employed in agriculture 829,300, or twice average employment. The data show that California has a remarkably stable farm workforce: most farmworkers are attached to one farm employer, often a labor contractor who moves them from farm to farm.
|
Monterey County Announces Program to Protect Farmworkers from Pesticide Exposure
Monterey County agricultural leaders, growers and farmworkers are collaborating on a new initiative that will provide additional pesticide safety protections for farmworkers. Announced Aug. 29 by Agricultural Commissioner Eric Lauritzen and the Farmworker Advisory Committee, the initiative launches a pilot program with five growers, including Scheid Vineyards, to enhance worker notification through warning signs when pesticides are used in the fields. Additionally, up to 50,000 farmworkers in Monterey County will receive information cards in Spanish advising them to call the agricultural commissioner's office if they suspect violations of safety rules. The cards also advise employers that it is illegal to retaliate against farmworkers who seek the help of the agricultural commissioner's office.
|
Powdery Mildew Research News
With powdery mildew a major problem for vineyards, some scientists are turning to gene editing as a solution to less effective pesticides. An article on the Genetic Literacy Project website highlights
Rutgers research that is using a technique that could remove or shut down the functions of genes that can make it easier for powdery mildew to attach and attack. Other genetic research highlighted in the article includes UC Davis, where researchers are looking at developing winegrapes resistant to Pierce's disease, and Cornell University, where they are using genetic modification to develop winegrapes resistant to grapevine fanleaf virus.
|
Cheers: September is California Wine Month!
A toast to our winegrape growers and all who contribute to the winegrape industry!
September marks the 12th annual California Wine Month, created by Wine Institute to honor the nation's top wine-producing state. Visit www.discovercaliforniawines.com for information about events and activities throughout the state.
|
A visa program designed to bring foreign guest farmworkers to the country cost farmers near San Luis Obispo hundreds of thousands of dollars when their workers showed up five weeks late.
The Desert Sun, Aug. 31
California agriculture has always evolved, but with recent events, including the overtime bill, it appears to be on the verge of particularly deep changes.
Sacramento Bee column, Aug. 30
Lodiwine.com, Aug. 25
Appellation Cornell newsletter, August issue
|
Workshops Scheduled to Discuss Long-Term Water Use Targets
The Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board have scheduled Northern and Southern California workshops to discuss long-term water use targets. Presenters will cover initial concepts for meeting one of the action items in the water conservation executive order signed by Gov. Brown this year.
A listen only webinar is available for those who are not able to attend. Click on the links below for details.
WHERE/WHEN:
|
California Water Commission Release WSIP Draft Regulations
Revised draft regulations for the Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP) were released on Aug. 29 and are available
online
. Also available are documents that will be incorporated by reference. WSIP is the process being used to distribute funds from Proposition 1 for the public benefits of eligible water storage projects. Prop 1 is the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014, a $7.5 billion water bond that will make needed investments in the state's water management systems. For more information about WSIP, click
here
.
|
Water Articles and Resources
ASEV's 67th annual meeting highlighted the excellent progress that has been made in vineyard irrigation management since the 1980s, and it hinted at exciting new developments yet to be fully realized.
Growing Produce, Aug. 27
|
UC Research Targets Adding Value to SJV Winegrapes
From Western Farm Press:
In an effort to perhaps put more value into the San Joaquin Valley's grape industry, University of California researchers are studying more than 50 winegrape varieties to see which ones can produce the tonnage and quality necessary to profitably make quality wines. The trial is at the UC Kearney Ag Research and Extension Center in Parlier. The studies couldn't come at a better time as the San Joaquin Valley grape industry has been challenged in recent years by lower returns, leading some to replace their vineyards with tree nuts because of their profitability.
|
Request for Lactobacillus Kunkeei Samples
A message from the UCD Viticulture and Enology Department:
We are looking for wine samples that have
Lactobacillus kunkeei
. If you have had a qPCR or Scorpion analysis that shows high levels of
Lb. kunkeei
, we would appreciate receiving a sample of the wine. A 50 ml sample will be plenty. If you want to know more about our interest in
Lb. kunkeei,
click
here
.
Send samples to:
Lucy Joseph
Department of Viticulture and Enology
RMI North Lab, 595 Hilgard Lane
University of California
Davis, CA 95616
|
Fresno State Holds Winegrape Crush Day
Fresno State winemaker Matt Brain and viticulture and enology students were crushing and processing winegrapes on Aug. 25 at the Fresno State Winery. The winery began its fall harvest in early August of 64 acres of winegrapes, including 10 varieties of white and red wine grapes that are managed year-round by staff and students. Fresno State opened the nation's first bonded, collegiate, commercial winery in 1997. Fresno State wines added 17 awards from competitions this year to give the winery more than 600 honors overall. The winery offers 18 types of red, wine, blush and specialty wines that are produced on campus and sold
online.
|
Free Webinar: Would You Survive a Regulator Dumpster Dive? Universal Waste and Hazardous Waste Regulations to Know
Webinar will review current waste management laws at state and federal levels, as well as the importance of having a universal hazardous waste program in place.
WHEN: Sept. 8 / 9-10 a.m. PT
|
AgSafe Pesticide Compliance Webinars
Eight hour-long 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 webinars are scheduled between now and Nov. 10.
|
2017 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium: Registration Opens Oct. 25 at 9 a.m.
|
|
| |
|
