Grower Meetings (Federal Policy Outlook), Yountville and Lodi
Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Sacramento
January 25
WGA Leadership Luncheon, Sacramento
February 8-9
CAWG Leadership Forum, Sacramento
March 15
CAWG Winegrape Day in the Capitol, Sacramento
March 15
CAWG Foundation Wine Reception, Sacramento
March 16
CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Sacramento
May 7-9
National Grape & Wine Policy Conference, Washington, D.C.
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Grower Meetings: Federal Policy Update and Outlook Under the Trump Administration
The 115th Congress is now in session and 2017 looks to be a very active year for federal legislation. The incoming Trump administration and the Republican controlled Congress have signaled their intent to advance an aggressive policy agenda that will be of interest to the agricultural community. Representatives from CAWG's federal lobbying team will provide an inside view of the unfolding policy agenda under the new administration at the following grower meetings.
TUESDAY, JAN. 10
Yountville Community Center
6516 Washington St., Yountville
8 a.m. - Registration, coffee and pastries
8:30
-10 a.m. - Meeting
In partnership with the Napa Valley Grapegrowers
Burgundy Hall
Lodi Grape Festival Grounds
413 E. Lockeford St., Lodi
2 p.m. - Registration, wine and cheese
2:30-4 p.m. - Meeting
In partnership with the Lodi District Grape Growers
Topics:
- Tax reform
- Trade policy and wine exports
- Immigration and farm labor
- Farm bill: research, pest and disease control and eradication...and more
- Water infrastructure
- Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule
Presenters:
Louie Perry and Jim Richards of Cornerstone Government Affairs. >
BIOS
RSVP:
RSVP to Natalie Collins
natalie@cawg.org or (916) 379-8995.
CAWG members may register online by signing in with their username and password
here
. The meetings are free to CAWG members.
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State Assembly Leadership Announced
California State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) announced on Dec. 27 the lineup of committee chairs and Democratic leadership.
Click
here for full list of committee chairs.
-Speaker Pro Tempore: Kevin Mullin (D-San Mateo)
-Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore: Autumn Burke (D-Inglewood)
-Majority Leader: Ian Calderon (D-Whittier)
-Assistant Majority Leader: Rob Bonta (D-Oakland)
-Majority Whip: Raul Bocanegra (D-San Fernando Valley)
-Assistant Majority Whip: Todd Gloria (D-San Diego)
-Assistant Majority Whip: Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara)
-Democratic Caucus Chair: Mike Gipson (D-Carson)
-Agriculture Chair: Anna Caballero (D-Salinas)
-Appropriations Chair: Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego)
-Banking and Finance chair: Matthew Dababneh (D-Encino)
-Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Chair: Bill Quirk (D-Hayward)
-Governmental Organization Chair: Adam Gray (D-Merced)
-Labor and Employment Chair: Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond)
-Natural Resources Chair: Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens)
-Water, Parks, and Wildlife Chair: Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella)
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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 2017 crop year. Whether you are new to crop insurance or you have been purchasing it for many years, CAWG is committed to bringing you the most current information possible. To help in your decision-making process, listen to a recording of
CAWG's crop insurance webinar
or contact Greg Merrill at
Pan American
at (559) 492-5384. CAWG is proud to endorse the services of
Pan American
and encourages members to contact the agency for insurance needs.
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PD/GWSS Board Releases Proceedings from Symposium
Pierce's disease, red blotch, vine mealybugs and grapevine leafroll were highlighted at the 2016 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium last month. More than 40 reports and abstracts about research, technologies and mechanisms related to these pests and diseases are now available online.
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CalAgPlate Benefits Ag Education and Leadership Efforts
Through the 2016 California Special Interest Plate (CalAgPlate) grant program, CDFA has awarded $257,000 to four organizations that enhance agricultural education and leadership opportunities for students, teachers and youth. The CalAgPlate program is funded with proceeds generated through the sale of specialized, agriculture-themed license plates through the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). To purchase a CalAgPlate for personal and/or business vehicles, visit the
DMV website
.
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To register by phone, call 888-559-9530 or 781-688-8229. If you are a CAWG member and need your Unified code, contact CAWG at
916-379-8995.
Register today to attend the keynote speaker luncheon featuring Eric Asimov, noted New York Times wine critic, columnist and book author. Cost is $75.
Daily/hourly schedule
Don't miss out - several valuable opportunities are still available! Visit the Unified website or discuss with Jenny Devine at (916) 379-8995.
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Questions remain about how to comply with the day of rest requirement.
Western Growers Association, Jan. 3
A new law - SB 683 - authorizes the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to license a university-associated nonprofit mutual benefit corporation that can sell the university's wine in bulk to winemakers.
Sacramento Bee, Jan. 1
The unit filters rainwater captured onsite to be used for tank and equipment cleaning in the winery.
Wine Business, Dec. 29
Petrucci was a dedicated yet humble professor who guided Fresno State's viticulture and enology program to international prominence.
Fresno Bee, Dec. 28
Op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) about America's immigration policy.
New York Times, Dec. 28
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Valadao Introduces Legislation to Improve Western Water Reliability
On the first day of the new session, Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) introduced a major new water bill in the House that aims to bring additional drought relief to Central Valley farmers and communities. The Gaining Responsibility on Water (GROW) Act of 2017 "will enact policies to expand our water infrastructure and allow for more water conveyance while protecting the water rights of users across the state," Valadao stated in a press release. Original cosponsors of the bill include California Reps. Ken Calvert, Paul Cook, Duncan Hunter, Darrell Issa, Stephen Knight, Doug LaMalfa, Kevin McCarthy, Tom McClintock, Devin Nunes, Dana Rohrabacher, Edward Royce and Mimi Walters.
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DWR Releases SGMA-Related Publications
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has issued an interim update to its Bulletin 118 series, "California's Groundwater." The publication provides up-to-date information on groundwater basins subject to critical conditions of overdraft, groundwater basin boundaries and basin prioritization - information that is essential to the successful implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). DWR has also published best management practices, a series of five documents that provide regulatory clarification, technical guidance and general examples to assist groundwater sustainability agencies and inform local agencies and stakeholders.
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Statewide Snowpack Below Average, But Wettest Months Ahead
The water content of the statewide snowpack remains below average for early January, despite significant snowfall in the Sierra at the start of the year. Statewide readings from electronic sensors (105 stations throughout the Sierra Nevada) indicate water content of 7.2 inches, 70 percent of the Jan. 3 average. However, a series of heavy storms this week and next week should boost the snowpack. State climatologist Mike Anderson said about half of California's annual rainfall occurs in December, January and February and about two-thirds of the annual total arrives during December through March.
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Water Articles and Resources
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UC Releases New Cost Study for Growing Winegrapes in Northern San Joaquin County
The University of California Agricultural Issues Center has released a new study on the cost and returns of establishing a vineyard and producing winegrapes in Northern San Joaquin Valley. The study focuses
on a hypothetical grower-owned and operated 200-acre cabernet sauvignon vineyard located in Crush District 11. The study's authors describe the assumptions used to identify current costs for establishment and production of winegrapes, material inputs and cash and non-cash overhead.
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Reminder: Employers Required to Electronically File and Pay to EDD
With the new E-file and E-pay mandate (AB 1245), employers are now required to electronically submit employment tax returns, wage reports and payroll tax deposits to the Employment Development Department (EDD). AB 1245 will be phased-in over a two-year period:
Jan. 1, 2017 for employers with 10 or more employees and Jan. 1, 2018 for all employers.
Information, tutorials, materials and other resources are available online.
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Videocast: Silicon Valley Bank's State of the Wine Industry 2017
Silicon Valley Bank's annual wine industry report will be unveiled during a live videocast on Jan. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Panelists discussing the report's findings include Rob McMillan, executive vice president and founder of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) Wine Division; Amy Hoopes, president of Wente Vineyards; Dan Leese, president of V2 Wine Group; and Paul Mabray, vice president of social media and reputation at Avero, LLC. The report is based on SVB's in-depth survey of wine industry experts and insiders, third-party research, and McMillan's industry insights.
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2017 Ag Employer / FLC 9-Hour Seminar Series
The California Farm Labor Contractors Association is hosting a series of continuing education seminars covering several topics: new labor laws, wage and hour requirements, harassment and discrimination laws, Cal/OSHA requirements, posting and notification requirements, worker transportation issues, effective management and best practices.
Various locations and dates starting in January.
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65th Annual Lodi Grape Day
Half-day seminar will feature presentations on high cordon machine pruned trellis trials, trellis system evaluation for mechanization, vine mealybug control and grapevine trunk disease management. Luncheon speaker is Dale Stratton with Constellation Brands.
WHEN: Feb. 7, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
WHERE: 125 South Hutchins Street, Lodi
COST: $25 for lunch
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Challenges and Strategies in Ag Labor Management Seminar
This seminar will provide valuable information and strategies to help deal with ag labor management, legal and regulatory issues.
Hosted by UC Cooperative Extension, in collaboration with the California Farm Labor Contractor Association, Zenith Insurance and Wilson Creek Winery and Vineyards.
WHEN: Feb. 1
WHERE: Wilson Creek Winery and Vineyards, Temecula
COST: $80 before Jan. 20
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