CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Santa Rosa
November 15, 2016
Webinar: Crop Insurance
November 16, 2016
Webinar: Winegrape Grower's Guide to Solar
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.
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Petition Opposes New DPR Regulations Restricting Pesticide Use Near Schools
As reported in the Oct. 6 issue of eNews, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released new regulations restricting pesticide use near schools. If adopted, the regulations will apply to pesticide applications within a quarter mile of a "school site," which includes K-12 schools, day care centers and employer-sponsored child care centers.
California's strict regulatory environment provides ample protections and has functioned without incident for many years. DPR provided no meaningful justification for the new rule, which is extremely restrictive and would delay or prohibit pesticide applications with no evidence that
safety is improved. In July 2015, CAWG participated in a DPR workshop regarding pesticide use near schools and signed onto a letter with a coalition of agricultural interests opposed to any changes to the current law. The letter stated in part, "[DPR's] own database, scientific reports, risk evaluations and risk management measures argue convincingly against the adoption of additional regulations."
The California Farm Bureau Federation's Farm Team has developed a petition opposing the new DPR regulations. CAWG encourages members to sign the petition. For any questions, please call the CAWG office at (916) 379-8995.
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AB 1513: Back Pay Deadline is Dec. 15
AB 1513, passed last year, specified how nonproductive time should be paid to piece-rate workers. The law additionally provided a safe harbor provision for employers facing retroactive liability for back pay to piece-rate workers before the law's enactment. Under AB 1513, employers had until July 28 to notify the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) of their intention to opt into the safe harbor provision. Back payments are required for the time period of July 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2015 and
all payments must be completed no later than Dec. 15, 2016. If former employees cannot be located - even after using "due diligence" in trying to find them - the employer will have to send their payments to the Labor Commissioner (unpaid wage fund). More information is posted online.
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CAWG, NGWI Staff Departures
CAWG Director of Government Relations Tyler Blackney has accepted a position in Wine Institute's state government relations office in Sacramento. His last day is Nov. 11. CAWG wishes Tyler the best in this excellent career opportunity. He has been a tremendous asset to CAWG over the past year, working tirelessly to represent members on legislative and regulatory issues. Fortunately, Tyler will remain a part of California's wine industry and winegrape growing community.
In addition, Camron King is stepping down as president of the National Grape
and Wine Initiative, effective Nov. 11. He announced that he is leaving
to join Sterling Caviar as its new president. NGWI chair John Aguirre said
that the NGWI board will discuss plans to fill the position in the coming
weeks.
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Opinion editorial
Growing Produce, Oct. 31
Oct. 28, Federal Register
Steve McIntyre (CAWG member) is a pioneer in sustainability, a founding member of the Central Coast Vineyard Team and one of the originators of Sustainability in Practice.
Napa Valley Register, Oct. 27
Concerned about water rights, vineyard owners attempt to reach understanding.
Oct. 27, Wines & Vines
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Ag and Business Groups Ask Federal Court to Overturn Controversial WOTUS Rule
Citing regulatory overreach, dozens of agricultural, business and municipal groups filed a brief on Nov. 1 asking the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to vacate the U.S. EPA's and Army Corps of Engineers' "waters of the U.S." (WOTUS) rule. The 100-page brief details the substance of the coalition's allegations, including how the rule violates the limits of the Clean Water Act and the Constitution. Additional briefs are expected to be filed in the coming months and oral arguments are slated to begin after March 2017.
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New Oversight Committee Report Finds Politicizing of WOTUS Rulemaking
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released a report on Oct. 27 detailing findings from its two-year investigation into the WOTUS rulemaking process. The report shows how pressure from the White House and EPA led to a rulemaking that was a case study in legal shortcuts, predetermined conclusions and politically motivated timelines. "The Obama administration prioritized politics over policy by rushing through a legally and scientifically deficient rule," the committee chair said. "This report illustrates the many ways in which the White House and EPA abused their authority to advance one of their top regulatory priorities."
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Statewide Water Conservation Just Above 18 Percent in September
According to a State Water Resources Control Board
press release, statewide water savings for September was 18.3 percent (116,703 acre-feet or 38 billion gallons). This is almost a 1 percent increase from August, but well below the 26.2 percent savings in September 2015. The cumulative average savings for June 2015 through September 2016 is 23 percent, compared with the same months in 2013. Statewide average per person water use for September 2016 was 105.9 residential gallons per capita per day. The State Water Board is looking at certain suppliers where conservation levels have dropped and where there are extremely high levels of per-capita use.
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California Water Data Challenge Seeks Innovative Tools to Help with Drought
California state agencies and the White House Council on Environmental Quality have teamed up to launch the California Water Data Challenge. The competition aims to create innovative, data-based tools that help address California's ongoing drought and water challenges. Individuals and teams are invited to develop apps, websites, data visualizations and other tools. Entries must be submitted by Dec. 5.
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Water Articles and Resources
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers claims it's a violation of the CWA, while John Duarte says it's government overreach.
Growing Produce, Oct. 31
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FINAL CALL! Join Us in Santa Rosa for a Regional Wine Reception and Dinner
WINE | FOOD | NETWORKING
All CAWG members are invited to attend this
Nov. 10 event at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek in Santa Rosa.
REGISTER ONLINE: For CAWG members registering online,
click here. Please call the office at 916-379-8995 for member ID and password.
REGISTER USING FORM: click
here for form.
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Unified Symposium: 80 Days Away!
REGISTRATION
Register online or by phone. To register by phone, call 888-559-9530 or 781-688-8229. **
If you are a CAWG member and have not received your Unified code, contact CAWG at 916-379-8995** CAWG members receive a $200 discount before Jan. 17.
SESSIONS
Click on the link to see session information and speakers.
Hotel information and FAQs are posted on Unified's website. Attendees may also visit the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau website for additional hotels.
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Seminar: "Complex Relationships - Farm Labor Contractors and Employees"
Guadalupe Sandoval, managing director of the California Farm Labor Contractor Association, is the guest speaker at this seminar hosted by the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety.
WHERE:
UC Davis Center for Health and the Environment, Old Davis Road, Davis
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Webinar: Federal Crop Insurance Program
Presenting will be Greg Merrill, senior vice president and director of crop insurance services with Pan American Insurance Agency, Inc.
CONTACT:
CAWG Manager of Member Relations Natalie Collins at natalie@cawg.org or 916.379.8995.
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Webinar: Winegrape Grower's Guide to Solar
Presenting will be Daryl Franks, western area sales manager with SunPower.
WHEN:
Nov. 16 / 11 a.m. to noon
CONTACT:
CAWG Manager of Member Relations Natalie Collins at natalie@cawg.org or 916.379.8995.
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UCD Viticulture and Enology: On the Road in Madera County
UC Davis is starting its 2016-17 On the Road educational events this month. Advance registration is required.
WHEN: Nov. 16 / 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
WHERE:
Hampton Inn and Suites, 3254 Airport Dr., Madera
COST: $30 per person (includes light breakfast and lunch)
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Current Issues in Vineyard Health
Topics include grapevine pinot gris virus, PD-resistant winegrape program, viruses in vineyards, pest and disease research from Napa and red blotch disease.
WHEN:
Nov. 29 / 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: UCD Conference Center, 550 Alumni Lane, Davis
COST: $190 (includes lunch and course materials).
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2016 Recent Advances in Viticulture and Enology (RAVE)
The UC Davis Department of Viticulture & Enology presents its semi-annual program to highlight many of its current grape and wine research projects. Register soon!
WHEN:
Dec. 9 / 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE: UCD Activities & Rec Center, Davis
COST: $225 (includes breakfast, lunch and materials).
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2016 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium
This event draws researchers from around the world, with the goal of finding solutions to Pierce's disease and its vectors. The symposium will also include reports and presentations on other winegrape pests and diseases, reflecting the expanding focus of the PD/GWSS Board. It is a valuable event for researchers and winegrape growers to interact and find out about the latest research and activities.
WHEN: Dec. 13-14
WHERE: San Diego
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