CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Temecula
April 4
CAWG Winegrape Day in the Capitol, Sacramento
April 4
CAWG Foundation Wine Reception, Sacramento
April 5
CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Sacramento
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Immigration Legislation a Priority for CAWG
The CAWG Federal Issues Committee today held a conference call to discuss several important issues, including immigration legislation -- specifically,
H.R. 4760 (Securing America's Future Act or SAFA).
H.R. 4760 was introduced on Jan. 10 by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and three other House Republicans, and it currently has 93 cosponsors. The bill includes an agricultural guestworker program, but agricultural groups are divided on the program. Republican leaders in the House of Representatives yesterday were determining whether sufficient votes exist to pass the bill. The House is anticipating Senate passage of immigration legislation that would address a variety of immigration issues, including the fate of "dreamers," whose legal protection and work authorization permits begin to expire on March 5. The House wants to be ready to respond to any potential Senate bill.
CAWG will keep you apprised of the bill's status.
>ARTICLE: Kevin McCarthy's immigration problem: conservative loyalty vs. California ag interests (Sacramento Bee, Feb. 15)
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CAWG Members Analyze Grape Crush Report
The Ciatti Company and Turrentine Brokerage issued the following analyses of the report:
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California Immigrant Worker Protection Act: Guidance Documents Now Available
Two helpful documents for California employers that focus on California's Immigrant Worker Protection Act (AB 450) were issued this week. The attorney general's advisory provides an overview of and guidance on the privacy prescriptions under the act. The labor commissioner's document features
frequently asked questions to help employers and workers understand and comply with the new state law.
"The advisory and guidance...are important tools to help workers and employers feel more secure, by educating them about their rights and responsibilities under the law," stated a press release.
Under the Immigrant Worker Protection Act, employers are required to notify all employees of inspections of their employment records by federal immigration agencies within 72 hours of receiving a federal notice of inspection.
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TTB Adds More Information on Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has added a few more questions and answers to its wine page. One of the new questions (W6) is:
May I label a wine containing 15 percent alcohol by volume as "table wine," now that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 has raised the maximum alcohol by volume content for the lowest still wine tax rate from 14 percent alcohol by volume to 16 percent alcohol by volume?
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Government Relations Capitol Report
DROWNING IN NEW LEGISLATION
Many believe that if it were not for deadlines, nothing would ever get done. However, when it comes to legislation, that may not be such a bad idea.
The deadline this year for introducing new bills is Friday, Feb. 16. So far there have been 1,173 new bills introduced since Jan. 3. This week alone, there have been more than 850 new bills. By the end of the week there will probably be another 300 or so.
These bills cover a wide range of issues, such as creating a statewide single-payer health care system at a cost of more than $330 billion, protecting most medical marijuana patients from being fired, and requiring records on employee harassment complaints to be maintained by employers for 10 years.
Someone once said, "The single raindrop never feels responsible for the flood." Some could argue that the single raindrop of each new law is more like a bucket, collectively drowning the Golden State.
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Crop Insurance Targeted in 2019 Budget Plan for USDA
President Trump's budget plan, released on Feb. 12,
would slash USDA's budget by $3.7 billion or 16 percent compared to 2017. The budget includes a number of proposals, including those that would reduce the average premium subsidy for crop insurance from 62 percent to 48 percent, and limit commodity, conservation and crop insurance subsidies to those producers that have an adjusted gross income of $500,000 or less. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) reacted to the budget proposal with the following joint statement:
"As chairmen of the Agriculture Committees, the task at hand is to produce a farm bill for the benefit of our farmers, ranchers, consumers and other stakeholders. This budget, as with every other president's budget before, will not prevent us from doing that job. We are committed to maintaining a strong safety net for agricultural producers during these times of low prices and uncertain markets and continuing to improve our nation's nutrition programs."
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ARTICLE
: Kansas senator says Trump pledged not to cut crop insurance. Trump's budget cuts it (McClatchy DC)
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Reports on California, Argentina, Chile, France, Spain, Italy, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Ciatti Company
Article about Paul Verdegaal, UCCE farm advisor for San Joaquin County for the past 31 years, who was honored at the recent Lodi Grape Day. CAWG members featured in photo and article.
Wines & Vines, Feb. 13
SIP Certified,
LandSmart and Fish Friendly Farming will guide owners through the new regulatory process surrounding the Napa River and Sonoma Creek watersheds.
Press release, Feb. 13
In the 1970s, Beckstoffer Vineyards helped pioneer the rise and success of Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley. Now, they're trying to repeat history in Lake County.
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New Economic Analysis for Delta Tunnel
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) this week released the Economic Analysis of Stage 1 of the California WaterFix, which
analyzes the value of water system improvements and related costs and benefits to potential participants in urban and agricultural sectors.
DWR is pursuing the option to construct the WaterFix project in two stages. This analysis - conducted
by Dr. David Sunding, a professor of natural resource economics at UC Berkeley -
focuses on stage 1 under various scenarios.
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The good news: several reservoirs are still over 100 percent of historical average.
After hours of testimony by ag groups, the State Water Board adopted an order revising ag requirements for the Eastern San Joaquin River watershed. Farm groups said the action adds layers of reporting requirements, the majority of which set precedents for other irrigated lands water-quality programs in California.
Ag Alert, Feb. 14
D'Adamo has been on the board since 2013. She was a guest speaker at the 2017 CAWG Day in the Capitol breakfast.
Press release, Feb. 13
We could be headed into another drought. There's little Sierra snow and valleys are dry. Is California ready this time? Not really.
Los Angeles Times editorial, Feb. 12
Water experts share insight on drought, groundwater, wildfire potential and conservation.
Capital Public Radio, Feb. 7
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It's Time to Submit Nominations for CAWG Grower of the Year and Leader of the Year
The CAWG Awards of Excellence Program spotlights exceptional people who have benefitted the broader community of winegrape growers through exemplary leadership and outstanding commitment to the well-being of the winegrowing industry, California communities and the environment. Visit the CAWG website to learn more about the program, the judging and nominations procedure.
The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, April 20.
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CAWG District Wine Reception and Dinner
Join Us in Temecula - "The Heart of Southern California Wine Country"
Please join the CAWG board of directors for an evening of wine, food and networking in Temecula! This is an excellent opportunity to share and discuss the challenges and successes of the Temecula winegrape growing region while getting to know CAWG board members and staff.
WHEN: Feb. 21 / 6 pm.
WHERE: Ponte Vineyard Inn, Temecula
COST: $89/person
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CAWG Member Offers Harassment Prevention Training (Legally Required)
AB 1825 mandates statewide sexual harassment training for any employee who performs supervisory functions within a company of 50 employees or more.
SB 396
made California the first state to require that anti-harassment training covers gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation. This workshop
will satisfy AB 1825 and SB 396 anti-harassment training for supervisors and managers. There is also an optional train-the-trainer session for HR professionals.
HOSTED BY: Fisher Phillips
WHEN: Feb. 20, Long Beach; Feb. 21, Ontario, Feb. 26, Sacramento; Feb. 27, Irvine; March 1, San Diego; March 2, San Francisco.
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Scholarship Applications are Due March 16!
Please remind employees that the
deadline to apply for a CAWG Foundation scholarship is March 16.
The foundation is proud to provide
scholarships every year to several high school seniors whose parents or legal guardians are employed by California winegrape growers. Since the program's inception in 1998, more than $403,000 in scholarships have been awarded.
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Fertigation Course at Cal Poly's Irrigation Training & Research Center
Course will cover new techniques in the control and application of fertilizers through irrigation systems and strategies to conform with the intent of the new nitrogen regulations in California.
Increasing yields per acre-foot of evapotranspiration (ET) through better fertility management - and other issues - will also be discussed.
WHEN: March 5
WHERE: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
COST: $50
Casualties of Trade War? What Changes in NAFTA Mean for California Agriculture
Hosted by the Consulate General of Canada, California Farm Bureau Federation and California Chamber of Commerce
SPEAKERS: CDFA Secretary Karen Ross, CFBF President Jamie Johannson and Canadian representatives.
WHEN: Feb. 22 / 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
WHERE: The Sutter Club, Sacramento
UC Davis Viticulture and Enology On the Road in Santa Cruz
Educational seminar about current research and information on several topics. Speakers include Doug Gubler, Dario Cantu, Larry Bettiga, Anita Oberholster and Davis Block.
WHEN: Feb. 20
WHERE: UC Santa Cruz, University Center
COST: $30/person
Conference on NAFTA, H-2A, Immigration and the ALRB
Conference examines labor-related issues: implications of NAFTA renegotiations for California agriculture, the growth of the H-2A guest worker program, immigration policy under President Trump, and ALRB activities. Seating is limited, so register early!
WHEN: April 13
WHERE: UC Davis Law School
COST: Free (breakfast and lunch provided)
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