CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Napa
July 17
CAWG Summer Conference, Napa
July 17
CAWG Awards of Excellence Program and Dinner, Napa
July 18
CAWG PAC Golf Tournament, Napa
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Mission: We provide creative, integrated solutions for our beverage and ag industry partners with quality packaging products and supply chain services.
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CAWG's preferred partner
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for more than 20 years.
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Providing the very best California crop insurance services.
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Call 916-379-8995
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CAWG AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
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CAWG is proud to announce it has named Steve Schafer as the 2018 Grower of the Year and Karissa Kruse as the 2018 Leader of the Year. The awards will be presented at the 2018 CAWG Awards of Excellence Program on July 17 in Napa.
"Steve and Karissa are widely respected for their many years of effort to promote California's winegrape growers," said CAWG President John Aguirre. "Both are exceptional leaders within their communities and outstanding ambassadors for sustainable winegrowing practices and California wine. CAWG is honored to recognize them for their unwavering dedication and many contributions to California's winegrape growing community."
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STEVE SCHAFER
Schafer Ranch & San Joaquin Wine Company
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KARISSA KRUSE
Sonoma County Winegrowers
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JULY 17-18 | SILVERADO RESORT AND GOLF COURSE
SPEAKER PROGRAM: Click here.
- Competing on a Global Stage
- Technology Trends in the Vineyard
- Driving Deeper into the Future of Winegrape Trucking
- Before the Harvest: State of the Industry
HOTEL:
Book by June 22 to get CAWG's discounted room rate of $249 at the Silverado Resort and Spa
. To book under the CAWG room block, contact the hotel at 707-257-5440.
SPONSORSHIPS: Please contact the CAWG office at 916-379-8995 if you are interested in sponsorship opportunities.
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Senate Ag Committee Passes Bipartisan Farm Bill
The Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday passed
its version of the farm bill by a vote of 20 to 1. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) committed to bring the bill up for debate and a vote prior to the July 4 congressional work period. It may be considered as early as next week. "The Senate Agriculture Committee's bipartisan farm bill process is a reminder of how things should work in Washington -- listening to the folks back home, working through issues with the other side of the aisle, then writing a good bill,"
said Chairman Pat Roberts and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow.
The legislation is positive for specialty crop growers. Some of the highlights important to winegrape growers include:
*Specialty Crop Block Grants Program - grants ($85 million/year)
*Specialty Crop Research Initiative ($80 million/year) and new prioritization for mechanization
*Full funding of trade programs including Market Access Program (MAP) ($200 million/year) and Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) ($9 million/year)
*Pest and disease programs ($75 million/year) and National Clean Plant Network ($5 million/year)
*Reauthorization of the Office of Pest Management Policy
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House GOP Unveil Immigration Bill
House Republicans today unveiled an immigration bill meant as a compromise between centrists and conservatives. This is one of two bills to be voted on next week in the House that address border security, immigration visas and the future status of Dreamers who were previously covered by the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Neither bill to be considered next week will include an agricultural guestworker program or offer any adjustment of status to unauthorized immigrant farmworkers.
CAWG and the California Strawberry Commission sent a joint letter on June 13 to Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging the timely action by the House on an agricultural guestworker program.
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ARTICLE
: New GOP immigration bill would tie legal status for DACA participants to border security funding (NBC)
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Government Relations Capitol Report
STATE BUDGET NEWS
When the California Legislature passed the 2018-19 state budget today, it included temporary funding for the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Declining revenues from fishing and hunting licenses, combined with unfunded new duties for the department, have created a structural deficit. This budget does not solve the department's long-term funding problems.
Earlier this year, CAWG helped defeat a Fish and Wildlife raid on Carl Moyer Program funds. We fought to protect the use of these monies by ag and other industries for diesel engine replacement and other similar purposes.
Instead, the budget includes a 3-year bridge in funding and creates a service-based budget review process to develop a long-term funding solution. The gap funding includes $24.6 million from the state's General Fund and $5 million in surplus moneys from the CalRecycle Tire Fund. This fund is typically used to deal with discarded tires, recycled rubber and other tire related issues.
In seeing this, lawmakers asked, "What is the nexus between tires and the Department of Fish & Wildlife?" With a straight face, regulators replied, "roadkill."
Thereby creating the latest example of sausage making in California's statehouse.
-- Michael Miiller / michael@cawg.org / 916-379-8995
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CAWG Leaders Head to Nation's Capital
Next week, CAWG President John Aguirre and two CAWG directors are traveling to Washington, D.C. to lobby members of California's congressional delegation on key issues of importance to California winegrape growers.
They will focus on immigration, the farm bill, produce safety and trade issues.
CAWG will keep members updated on the outcome of the meetings.
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Effort to Split California into Three States to Appear on November Ballot
A proposal to split the Golden State into three states -- California, Northern California and Southern California -- has gained enough signatures to qualify it for the Nov. 6 election. The
Cal 3 initiative
is being pushed by venture capitalist/billionaire Tim Draper, who also backed an attempt in 2014. Even if voters agree, the plan would need approval from both houses of the California Legislature and Congress.
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Wine Institute Names New Leaders
Several CAWG members are among the newly-elected officers and directors at Wine Institute.
Chris Indelicato, president and CEO of Delicato Family Vineyards, was elected board chairman for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. Other board officers elected are Hank Wetzel of Alexander Valley Vineyards, first vice chairman; John Sutton of The Wine Group, second vice chairman; Suzanne Groth of Groth Vineyards & Winery, treasurer; and Rick Tigner of Jackson Family Wines, secretary.
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The ballot measure that would limit the removal of oak trees in the hills above the Napa Valley floor and limit vineyard development continued to lose ground to the "No on C" campaign.
Wine Business, June 13
Article highlights research to control leafhoppers with a laser device that picks up tiny vibrations, not using chemicals or traps.
Discover, June 11
AGRICULTURE
A federal judge on Tuesday rejected California's last-ditch effort to force agricultural company Monsanto to place warning labels on its Roundup products.
Courthouse News, June 13
LABOR
Immigration is a highly charged and polarizing topic in the U.S. and worldwide. The article highlights history and research from the UC Davis Migration Research Cluster.
UCD, Jan 14
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UC Davis Oakville Station Field Day Highlights
UC Davis' annual Grape Day at the Oakville Station on June 6 included talks and presentations by UC Cooperative Extension specialists on various topics (weed control, red blotch and labor), as well as vineyard mechanization demos. Dr. Kaan Kurtural showed a trial planted in 2016 with six trellis systems.
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Advice for When ICE or OSHA Shows Up
Labor law attorney Stacy Henderson is interviewed about what to do and how to be prepared when Immigration & Customs Enforcement or Cal/OSHA agents visit your operation.
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The days leading up to a key funding vote on the tunnels project were marked by intense politicking by board members at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Ventura County Star, June 10
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CSWA Sustainable Winegrowing and Certification Webinar
WHEN: June 19 / 10-11:30 a.m.
Free webinar to learn about the California Sustainable Winegrowing Program (SWP), how to complete a self assessment using the SWP Online System, and the steps required to become Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing.
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AgSafe: Ag Laws and Regulations for Growers and FLCs
Sessions are scheduled throughout the state between June and December.
The course meets the California DLSE nine hours of continuing education required for California FLC licensing. Topics include:
Agricultural Labor Relations Act
Cal/ OSHA safety and health laws
Employment insurance
FLC/grower relations
Transportation and housing laws
Federal and State Wage and Hour Laws
Workers' compensation insurance
Incident investigations
Effective management and communication
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