YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY.
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CAWG / CAWG FOUNDATION EVENTS
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We Need You for Grassroots Lobbying
We are hoping for a strong turnout of CAWG members! This is an important opportunity to make your voice heard on current issues or bills that have an impact on the winegrape industry.
Support Student Scholarships
The CAWG Foundation Gala – featuring a reception, program, silent auction and raffle – will be held at The Senator Hotel (1121 L Street, Sacramento) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Enjoy an entertaining “tour through California” that showcases spectacular wines and exquisite cuisine. Guests will hear from the winery and chef about the delicious wine and food pairings.
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Government Relations Report
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THE REGULATORY PROCESS IS BROKEN
The
process for how an agency writes and adopts regulations
is convoluted and complicated. It involves public notices, hearings, stakeholder groups, and consideration of critical information. Regulatory agencies must address authority, need, cost, alternatives, etc. At the end of that process,
an independent agency
must review the regulation to be sure it complies with the law.
One might think that with all these hoops to jump through, it would be difficult for an agency to adopt a regulation and only the most essential regulations would be approved.
However, in practice, many agencies take a check-the-box approach to the regulatory process. Costs are often understated. The need is routinely exaggerated. Alternatives are seldom fully explored. And the worst problem is that the public does not see all the information being considered as the regulation goes through the process.
This year, there are two bills pending in the California Legislature to address this.
AB 2214 (Carrillo, D-Los Angeles)
requires an internet posting of all information relative to the regulation before the regulation receives its final independent review.
AB 2028 (Aguiar-Curry, D-Yolo County)
requires the same type of internet posting before the regulation is considered in a public hearing.
Both bills would allow the public to be better informed of the regulations before they become law.
In response to this legislation, regulatory agencies will likely claim the cost of internet postings would be substantial and prohibitive
. Wouldn’t it be great if regulatory agencies applied that same level of due diligent cost analysis when they calculate the costs for industries to comply with their regulations?
ELECTION UPDATE
Below are a few key results as things currently stand:
- Former U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R) received 53 percent of the vote in his bid to win back the Central Valley seat he lost in 2018.
- Darrell Issa is leading Carl DeMaio in the San Diego County race to replace Duncan Hunter, who resigned from Congress earlier this year.
- Sen. Ling Ling Chang (R) received nearly 50 percent of the vote and will face former Sen. Josh Newman (D) in this Orange County race. Chang defeated Newman in a recall election in 2018.
- Suzette Martinez Valladares (R) will likely face off against Lucie Lapointe Volotzky (R) in November in a Los Angeles County seat that Democrats won in 2018. This means that this Democrat seat may soon be Republican again.
- Assemblymember Chad Mayes (the former Assembly Republican leader who left the Republican party and is no longer a member of any political party) is leading Andrew Kotyuk (R) by less than 1,000 votes in this Inland Empire race.
- Assemblymember Tyler Diep (R) is also trailing in his Orange County reelection bid. He is being challenged by former Sen. Janet Nguyen (R), who received 7,000 votes more than Diep.
There are several other interesting races to watch, but above are a few highlights that could shake things up a bit.
-Michael Miiller / michael@cawg.org / 916-379-8995
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Grape Crush FINAL Report Scheduled for Tuesday, March 10
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CAWG will send an email upon release of the report, scheduled for 12 p.m. PST on March 10.
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Participate in the Silicon Valley Bank/ Wine Business Monthly DTC Survey
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Silicon Valley Bank and Wine Business Monthly are seeking respondents for their annual
direct-to-consumer survey
, which is open until March 20.
The survey, which should take about 15 minutes to complete, allows SVB to provide wine businesses with tools to be more successful and help with 2020-2021 planning.
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Interview with CAWG's Michael Miiller on PD/GWSS Efforts
Click on the image above to watch a five-minute interview with CAWG Director of Government Relations Michael Miiller on the importance of PD/GWSS funding and the upcoming referendum.
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New Ag Guest Worker Bill Introduced by House Ag Committee Member
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In the latest attempt to solve the nation’s ag labor shortage problem, Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) this week introduced the Labor Certainty for Food Security Act (
H.R. 6083
). The bipartisan legislation currently has 10 co-sponsors – nine Republicans and one Democrat. The bill's preliminary description is to create a nonimmigrant work visa program for ag workers, to make mandatory and permanent requirements relating to use of an electronic employment eligibility verification system, and for other purposes.
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President Signs Bill to Help Protect Ag from Invasive Species, Other Pests
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President Trump on March 3 signed into law the bipartisan
Protecting America’s Food & Agriculture Act of 2019
. The bill authorizes U.S. Customs and Border Protection to annually hire additional ag specialists, ag technicians and canine inspection teams at airports, seaports and border crossings to improve the security of the U.S. food supply. “Invasive species have been estimated to cost the U.S. economy more than $120 billion annually, with more than half of that amount representing damage to American agriculture,” National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) CEO Dr. Barb Glenn said in a press release. “NASDA strongly supports funding for additional staff and canine units to enhance and maintain a framework designed to protect our nation’s food and agriculture through education, research, prevention, monitoring and control.” The legislation was supported by a broad coalition of ag and other groups.
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House Ag Committee Hearings
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CAWG's preferred partner for insurance products for more than 20 years. Group workers' comp, wine industry package, federal crop insurance, employee benefits...and more. For more information: 209-955-2600 or
email
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Providing the very best California crop insurance services.
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UC Economists' Water Report Shows Extreme Farm Revenue Loss in SJV
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UC Berkeley researchers have published an
economic analysis of water supply restrictions
affecting San Joaquin Valley growers that could result in severe economic losses. Based on an analysis of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and other anticipated water supply restrictions, the economists concluded that up to 1 million acres may be permanently fallowed in the San Joaquin Valley over a period of two to three decades as a result of reduced ground and surface water availability. The farm revenue loss associated with fallowing is $7.2 billion per year. In addition, 85,000 jobs would be lost statewide due to SGMA and future surface water reductions. “Reducing the scale of ag production impacts nearly every sector of the San Joaquin Valley economy,” the researchers wrote. The report was supported by
Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley.
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Abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions exist in two-thirds of the state. Read a
drought summary
for the West and see
statistics
comparing current conditions with conditions at this time last year.
>
RELATED ARTICLE
:
California had its driest February on record. Here's how bad it was. NY Times, March 3
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Podcast: Grapevine Fungal Diseases
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The Vineyard Team’s March 5 podcast features
Dr. Wayne Wilcox
, professor emeritus of plant pathology and plant-microbe biology at Cornell University, whose research focuses on the applied biology and integrated management of grapevine fungal diseases.
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Monthly Statistical Reports for Wine
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The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) provides monthly statistical reports for still and effervescent wines (bulk and bottled). The reports show national statistics for current month, prior year current month and cumulative year to date. They also show state-by-state stats for bulk wine and bottled wine, including production, taxable withdrawals and stocks end of month. Reports are posted a few months after a particular reporting period (November 2019 was posted on Feb. 18).
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Get Your REAL ID by Oct. 1 -- Three Easy Steps, No Appointment
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In just seven months – which will “fly by” – the federal government will require your driver license or identification card to be Real ID compliant if you wish to use it as identification to board a domestic flight or enter a secure federal facility that requires identification. In an effort to meet the Oct. 1 deadline, you can now submit required documents electronically and no appointment is needed. Use the
REAL ID website
for assistance through the process.
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HELPFUL ARTICLE
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What to know about this year's Real ID deadline, Conde Nast
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VINEYARDS & WINE
Issue includes newly-elected officers.
Jeff Bitter, Duff Bevill and Dana Merrill are interviewed.
Ag Alert, March 4
CAWG member Warren Bogle is interviewed.
Sacramento Bee/NB Business Journal, March 4
Speakers at Washington Winegrowers Association conference talk about millennials and market challenges.
Good Fruit Grower, March 3
Napa Valley Register, March 2
Press Democrat, Feb. 27
Napa Valley Register, Feb. 27
Information about the problem, plus some management recommendations. By Dr. Stephanie Bolton.
Lodi Winegrape Commission, Feb. 24
AGRICULTURE
California Rep. Josh Harder brought a taxidermy nutria to the House floor while advocating for its eradication.
Turlock Journal, Feb. 28
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Upcoming Conference: Farm Labor 2020 - Technology, H-2A and Immigration
Three timely issues will be discussed: How are changes in technology and trade affecting the demand for farmworkers? How is the expansion of the H-2A program affecting the current aging and unauthorized farm workforce? How are the Trump administration migration policy changes affecting farmers, farmworkers and ag communities?
WHEN:
March 20 / 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE:
Kalmanovitz Appellate Courtroom, UC Davis Law School
UCCE Spray Application Workshop
I
nformation on the safe and efficient use of spray applications for all crops.
WHEN:
March 11 / 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE:
Veterans Memorial Building, 801 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo
Lodi Mealybug and Virus Outreach Meeting
This event is the result of intense studies by Lodi’s Mealybug Biocontrol and Grapevine Virus Research Focus Groups, which discuss strategies to solve mealybug and virus challenges. It is part of an outreach grant funded by the American Vineyard Foundation and the PD/GWSS Board.
WHEN:
April 9 / 8:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
WHERE:
Cabral Ag Center, 2101 E Earhart Ave, Stockton
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MARCH
19 / CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Sacramento
MAY
12 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #1, Buellton
13 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #2, Paso Robles
13 / CAWG Regional & Board of Directors dinner, Paso Robles
14 / CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Paso Robles
JUNE
17 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #3, Santa Rosa
17 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #4, Napa
24 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #5, Lodi
JULY
20 / CAWG Regional & Board of Directors dinner, Santa Rosa
21 / CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Santa Rosa
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