YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY.
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CAWG COVID-19 Resources Webpage
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Visit our
resources webpage
for all of our COVID-19 news alerts; state, federal and ag industry resources; webinar recordings;
county orders
and more.
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Stage 3 of Reopening Slated for June 12; Wineries Get the Green Light
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As of today,
51 of California’s 58 counties
have been granted a variance to move more quickly in stage 2. On June 12, many of those counties will move into stage 3. To prepare for this, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) published
new industry guidance documents
for a wide-ranging group of higher-risk businesses to safely reopen.
Restaurants, bars and wineries (
guidance document
) are included in that group.
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California to Receive 150 Million N95 Masks
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Gov. Newsom this week announced that California-based BYD North America has received certification from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to produce 150 million N95 masks for the state for distribution. The first shipment is expected to arrive in the coming days.
CAWG has been working to ensure that N95 masks are available to ag employees in case of wildfire smoke or to allow the use of an alternative if N95 masks are unavailable. CAWG will continue to monitor and identify how N95 masks will be distributed to the ag industry. The new batch of masks is coming after more than 6 million BYD surgical masks were already distributed by the state to the ag sector – primarily through county ag commissioners – to aid workers.
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Webinar: Navigating Through COVID-19 / Reducing Risk in the Workplace
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DATE 2
:
Monday, June 15 / 9-10 a.m.
PRESENTERS:
Dr. Jill Rosenthal, Jan Rhodes and Vanessa Galvan of The Zenith.
DETAILS
: Participants can include owners, managers, safety coordinators, HR professionals and supervisors. Presenters will discuss having the proper guidance, information and resources to protecting their business and the health of their employees.
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AFBF, June 10
The Tribune, June 10
Wine Institute, June 5
Napa Valley Register, June 5
Stockton Record, June 5
Sonoma Magazine, June issue
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With over 30 harvests, the G3 Ag Team has deep experience in winegrape hauling. Our operational expertise and agile planning combine to provide responsive service for wineries and grape growers large and small. Click on image to view video.
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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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Government Relations Report
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WANNA BET?
To avoid raising taxes, some legislators are looking for creative approaches to back fill the historic budget deficit. One potential way of raising revenues, without raising existing taxes, is to legalize (and tax) online sports betting. Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and Assemblymember Adam Gray (D-Ceres) are leading the fight in the California Legislature.
The tribes are also playing in the gaming arena and have proposed an initiative for the November 2020 ballot that would allow sports betting, dice games and roulette at tribal casinos. It would also allow sports betting at a handful of horse racing tracks beginning in 2022 and impose a 10 percent tax on profits.
The tribes’ gambling initiative was in the midst of its 180-day signature gathering period when we all faced a stay-at-home order to fight the coronavirus. This ultimately forced suspension of their efforts.
This week, tribes filed suit claiming the 180-day deadline “presents an impossible burden” during the pandemic. They claim enforcement of the deadline would infringe on their rights to propose a new law by initiative.
In the meantime, the outcome of the Dodd-Gray online sports betting legislation is also unclear. If both of these efforts (legislative and initiative) to raise revenues from gambling fail, odds makers have all but guaranteed an increase in taxes.
HIGH-SPEED RAIL FUNDING ON HOLD?
The California Assembly today passed a bipartisan resolution calling on the California High-Speed Rail Authority to defer a $20.5 billion stretch of high-speed rail construction in ag land between Bakersfield and Merced.
Regardless of whether one thinks highly of high-speed rail or sees it as a boondoggle, lawmakers don’t like the optics of increased spending for high-speed rail in the midst of a $54 billion state budget deficit.
The deferment would only last until the California Legislature reviews the Bakersfield-Merced project and signs off on the remaining $4.2 billion in high-speed rail funds that have been languishing since voters approved the high-speed rail bond in 2008.
The Assembly itself has drawn a line in the sand over the contract, with Democrats and Republicans coming together. The resolution has 63 co-authors, including Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron.
-Michael Miiller / michael@cawg.org / (916) 204-0485
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California Farmworker Foundation Outreach and Efforts
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The
California Farmworker Foundation
(CFF) is a nonprofit that provides programs and services to better the lives of Central Valley farmworkers. Last week, CFF partnered with Kern County and Delano law enforcement for its second annual Café con Campesinos (Coffee with Farmworkers), hosted by Jasmine Vineyards. It was an opportunity to discuss crime prevention, how to file a report and new laws in 2020. The event was picked up by national Univision news platforms (
WATCH VIDEO
).
Other recent CFF efforts for farmworkers include providing thousands of surgical masks, sharing COVID-19 information in the field and via a hotline, and distributing free healthy food.
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New Fungicide for Powdery Mildew, Botrytis Now Available in California
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Miravis Prime, a broad-spectrum fungicide that helps control Botrytis and powdery mildew in grapes, has
earned registration
from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. The fungicide received U.S. EPA registration in 2018. For more information, visit the
website
or contact a Syngenta sales representative.
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June 6-14: California Invasive Species Action Week
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This annual event promotes the fight against invasive species that harm California agriculture and natural resources. Prevention is the most effective strategy. Check out the
California Department of Fish and Wildlife website
to see how the agencies, nonprofits and volunteer groups are involved.
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WEBINARS / PODCASTS / WORKSHOPS
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Spotted Lanternfly: A Threat to California Winegrapes
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Dr. Matt Kaiser, CDFA senior environmental scientist, and Dr. Andrew R. Cline, Pierce’s Disease Control Program acting statewide coordinator, provided an overview of SLF efforts in California, detection and regulatory possibilities, and how growers can be on the lookout for this invasive pest. Hosted by CAWG, Wine Institute and Family Winemakers of California.
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Consumer & Trade Perceptions of Sustainable Wine
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Wine industry experts --
Lulie Halstead, Wine Intelligence; Christian Miller, Full Glass Research; and Allison Jordan, SWA -- presented new data and insights from recent consumer and trade research on perceptions of sustainable winegrowing, certification and practices.
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Podcast: It's Time for New Wine Sales Strategies
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The Vineyard Team’s June 4 podcast featured
Emetry
CEO Paul Mabray, who is helping wine brands make more effective sales and marketing decisions with data. Mabray suggests that wineries should put effort into retaining their customers instead of focusing too heavily on finding new customers. He believes now is the time for wineries to bolster their online presence.
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Napa County RCD Irrigation Water Management Online Workshop
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WHEN:
June 24 and 26 / 8-11 a.m.
DETAILS:
Several speakers, including growers, will cover various topics: soil properties, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, water stress and different technologies.
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PG&E Announces Actions to Reduce Wildfire Risks in 2020
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PG&E has implemented several new and enhanced mitigation tools to reduce wildfire risks as part of its Community Wildfire Safety Program. These tools include system hardening, enhanced vegetation management, more weather stations and cameras, and temporary generation at up to 48 substations during a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). The company is also taking steps to make PSPS events smaller, shorter and smarter for customers.
>
READ MORE
WEBINARS
PG&E is also hosting numerous
wildfire safety webinars
. Five webinars have already occurred for 17 counties and those presentations can be viewed online. Nine additional webinars are scheduled through early August for other counties.
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VINEYARDS & WINE
John Sutton, CFO of The Wine Group, was elected chair for 2020-21. Several CAWG member are among the newly-elected officers and directors.
Press release, June 11
USDA/ARS has teamed with state and federal institutions to examine grape smoke exposure. John Aguirre quoted.
Western Farm Press, June 10
Wine Industry Advisor, June 9
AGRICULTURE
Armed with a $1 million endowment, the UC system’s first-ever institute for organic research has opened its doors to develop and adopt effective tools and practices for organic farmers. It is a collaborative effort between UC and Clif Bar & Co.
Western Farm Press, June 10
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JUNE
17 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #3, Santa Rosa
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CANCELLED
17 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #4, Napa
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CANCELLED
23 / CAWG Foundation Golf Tournament
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CANCELLED
24 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #5, Lodi
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CANCELLED
JULY
20 / CAWG Regional & Board of Directors dinner, Santa Rosa
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CANCELLED
21 / CAWG Board of Directors meeting
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ONLINE
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