CAWG PAC fundraiser, Goehring Vineyards, Inc., Lodi
July 17
CAWG PAC Golf Tournament, Napa
July 17
CAWG Awards of Excellence Program and Dinner, Napa
July 18
CAWG Summer Conference, Napa
July 19
CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Napa
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There's Still Time to Register! We Look Forward to Seeing You in Napa!
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JULY 17 / CAWG PAC Golf Tournament
-7:30 a.m. registration and warm-ups
-8:30 a.m. shotgun start
JULY 17 / Awards of Excellence Program & Dinner
-Leader of the Year: Al Scheid, Scheid Vineyards
-Grower of the Year: Bradford & Randall Lange, LangeTwins Family Winery & Vineyards
JULY 18 / Speaker Program
-The Economy and Wine
-H-2A: How to Make it Work for You (new session!)
-The View from Washington, D.C.
-Lessons in Entrepreneurship and Branding
LODGING
If you missed the reservation deadline for Silverado Resort & Spa, CAWG has provided a list of other nearby hotels on the website.
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EPA, Army Move to Rescind 2015 WOTUS Rule
The EPA announced on June 27 a proposal to withdraw the Obama administration's "waters of the U.S." policy. EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers are proposing a rule to repeal the Clean Water Rule and re-codify the identical regulatory text that was in place prior to the 2015 Clean Water Rule.
"We are taking significant action to return power to the states and provide regulatory certainty to our nation's farmers and businesses,"
said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. When finalized, the action would provide certainty in the interim, pending a second rulemaking in which the agencies will engage in a substantive re-evaluation of the definition of WOTUS. The proposed rule would be implemented in accordance with Supreme Court decisions and agency guidance.
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Government Relations Capitol Report
Gov. Brown on Tuesday signed the 2017-18 state budget. The $183 billion spending plan includes a much-needed $5 million one-year budget augmentation for the Pierce's Disease/ Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Program. The funds will be used to combat and minimize the statewide impact of Pierce's disease and its vectors in California. The program has received no state funding since 2011.
CAWG pushed to secure the budget augmentation in the state Senate and Assembly. Thirty lawmakers signed a bipartisan and bicameral
letter to the budget committees
asking for the funding. Additionally, Assemblymembers Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) and Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) testified in support of the augmentation. Assemblymembers Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), and Jay Obernolte (R-Big Bear Lake) and Sens. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles), Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama), and Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) worked closely with CAWG and led the efforts in the Legislature.
Our goal now is to advocate for the state to continue investing in this program in future budget years.
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Glyphosate to be Listed Under Prop 65
Glyphosate will be added to California's list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer
effective July 7
, according to the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). The effective date had been delayed due to the pending case Monsanto v. OEHHA, but Monsanto's attempt to block the listing was unsuccessful in trial court. Products such as Roundup will continue to be sold, but now with the Prop 65 warning.
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Winegrapes No. 6 in Monterey County, Up 28.5 Percent From 2015
Winegrapes were the sixth top crop in Monterey County last year
. The 2016 crop value was $239 million, up from $185 million in 2015. Chardonnay was the top white grape variety (16,767 harvested acres; 55,800 tons; $73.7 million total value), followed by pinot gris (1,292 harvested acres; 6,100 tons; $7.4 million total value) and riesling (1,714 harvested acres; 6,630 tons; $6.9 million total value). Pinot noir was the top red grape variety (8,762 harvested acres; 40,600 tons; $77.1 million total value), followed by cabernet sauvignon (4,989 harvested acres; 18,100 tons; $23.9 million total value) and merlot (5,151 harvested acres; 17,100 tons; $18.5 million total value). The crop report features a special section on the economic evolution of Monterey County wine and its nine AVAs.
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Winegrapes No. 2 in Santa Barbara County, Up $45 Million From 2015
Winegrapes surpassed broccoli as the No. 2 most valuable commodity in Santa Barbara County in 2016. Gross production value of $151 million increased by $45 million compared to 2015, due to a dramatic increase in production and price per ton. The top five varieties were chardonnay (7,720 harvested acres; 36,747 tons; $53.5 million total value); pinot noir (5,571 harvested acres; 16,212 tons; $43.2 million total value); and syrah (1,930 harvested acres; 5,674 tons; $14.4 million total value); grenache (495 harvested acres; 2,020 tons; $4.949 million total value); and sauvignon blanc (830 harvested acres; 3,644 tons; $4.919 million).
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USTR Holds NAFTA Hearings in D.C.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) held
public hearings
this week on the renegotiation of NAFTA. More than 150 witnesses representing a wide range of industries - including agriculture - were scheduled to testify between June 27 and June 29. The hearings followed USTR's
90-day notification
to Congress on May 18 regarding intent to renegotiate NAFTA.
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New Documentary Addresses Misinformation and Fear About GMOs
"The survival of our species has always depended on advances in agriculture" is the opening line in a trailer for a new documentary on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and food. With support from the nonprofit scientific society Institute of Food Technologists, "Food Evolution" explores the fear, distrust, confusion and controversy surrounding GMOs. The goal of the pro-science/pro-data film is to promote a more science-based conversation about food. It features experts on both sides of the GMO debate - including scientists, farmers and activists.
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Article includes a 4-minute news video featuring Brad Goehring talking about the labor shortage.
Huffington Post, June 26
A WSU virologist has discovered a block of grenache vines are stunted and sickly because they suffer from a damaging syndrome caused by tobacco ringspot virus.
Growing Produce, June 26
Commercial wine is the nation's oldest wine competition. Winners were for red, white, sparkling, best value, pink, dessert and winery of the year.
CDFA, June 22
A brief about substantial changes to the BOE based on new legislation: AB 102 (Taxpayer Transparency and Fairness Act of 2017).
Moss Adams, June 2017
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Federal Agencies Give Thumbs Up to Proposed Delta Tunnels
Jerry Brown won crucial early approval from federal wildlife officials this week for his controversial $16 billion proposal to re-engineer the north-south water system with massive tunnels. The
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the
National Marine Fisheries Service issued lengthy biological opinions for the California WaterFix, stating
that the project "is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence" of threatened or endangered species and "is not likely to destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat."
Op ed by John Garamendi.
Sacramento Bee, June 28
Los Angeles Times, June 26
ABC News/AP, June 26
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Water Articles and Resources
Op ed by Danny Merkley, California Farm Bureau Federation's director of water resources.
Ag Alert, June 28
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2017 GEELA Awards Accepting Applications
The Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) is California's most prestigious environmental honor. The program recognizes individuals, organizations and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made notable contributions in conserving California's resources, protecting and enhancing our environment, building public-private partnerships and strengthening the state's economy. Applications will be accepted through Aug. 11. Recipients will be chosen from five categories: 1) climate change, 2) ecosystem and land use stewardship, 3) environmental education, 4) sustainable practices, communities or facilities, and 5) waste reduction. The awards program is administered by the California Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with several agencies, including the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
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ARE Update: Trump and Migration + Pesticide Applications Near Schools
"President Trump and U.S. Migration After 100 Days"
Trump issued four executive orders dealing with immigration since taking office, setting in motion plans to build a wall on the 2,000-mile Mexico-U.S. border, increase deportations, reduce refugee admissions and protect U.S. workers. The EOs signaled a new era in migration policy that emphasizes enforcement against unauthorized foreigners and protections for U.S. worker.
"State Introduces Additional Requirements for Pesticide Applications Near Schools"
DPR will require growers to notify public schools and licensed daycare centers annually of pesticides that may be used within one-quarter mile and prohibits some applications on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The regulation is scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2018. While notification costs in total are small on average, they are highly heterogeneous across growers. The economic impact of the prohibition on certain classes of applications is unclear. Insufficient information is available on the potential benefits of the regulation to determine whether it is socially desirable.
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Support the CAWG PAC! Join Us on July 11 in Lodi and July 17 in Napa
A strong CAWG PAC is imperative to our political agenda and goals.
Join us at these upcoming
events:
July 11:
Fundraiser at Goehring Vineyards in Lodi.
July 17: Golf tournament at Silverado Resort golf course.
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State of Agriculture / Crushing It: How the Wine Industry is Influencing Agriculture
WHEN: Aug. 3 / 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE: Hyatt Regency Sacramento, 1209 L Street
Luncheon will feature CAWG President John Aguirre as keynote speaker and a panel of Sacramento-area wine industry experts who will share their experiences and perspectives about winegrape grower and wine industry issues. Order tickets by July 14 to get early discount: members are $75 and non-members are $100.
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