YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
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- CAWG Calls for Bold Water Plan
- Central Valley Senate Race Update
- The Gann Limit
- Wildfire Preparedness Webinar - June 22 @ 10am
- New Resources Available for Heat Illness Protection
- DPR Looking for Feedback on Pesticide Application Notification System
- Spring Freeze Hits Clarksburg and Other Regions
- CAWG Events: Regional Roadshow, Foundation Golf Tournament
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CAWG Calls for Bold Water Plan |
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As California growers are facing a historic drought, there is an alarming lack of urgency reflected in the state budget relative to addressing California’s water crisis. This is especially disappointing in a year when California has the financial resources available to make long-term investments in an area of demonstrated public need. Without water, our state is in peril.
That is why CAWG has joined other agricultural organizations in an effort headed up by Western Growers in calling for the Newsom Administration to immediately develop a bold plan to address this crisis. Such a plan would include the following:
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Water Capacity – We need an accurate accounting of the existing and future capacity of the State Water Project and Central Valley Project. These projects were designed and built with grossly over-optimistic hydrology projections and pre-date enactment of the Endangered Species Act.
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Water Needs – We need to examine our water needs, and determine what combination of new storage, conveyance, water efficiency measures, recycling and other water supply development tools will be necessary to bridge the gap.
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Plan Ahead – This new water supply system must be built with climate change in mind, designed to capture and store surplus water when it is available to deploy for human uses when surface water is not available.
Agricultural organizations are calling on the Newsom Administration to engage all stakeholders in an honest and difficult discussion about what it will take to solve our state’s water supply problem, and to act in good faith to develop a plan and timeline the state will be committed to follow.
The future of our state is at stake.
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Central Valley Senate Race Update |
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In California, there are very few districts in the state legislature or Congress that are safe Republican seats. The new State Senate District 4 is one of those. Republicans have a 38% to 34.7% edge in voter registration in this district which includes part of Central Valley and the Sierra (running from El Dorado County to Mono County and then some).
It is important for agriculture in races like this to support candidates who can be effective leaders and understand the industry and the challenges we face. In this race, CAWG supported George Radanovich who had served 8 terms in Congress and is a former wine maker and ag industry leader.
While Radanovich was the clear frontrunner, Republican Jeff McKay made a serious run by spending almost $500,000 on the race, of which $350,000 was McKay’s personal loan to his campaign. The six Republican candidates combined received 57% of the vote. With 17.0% of the vote, Radanovich is the top Republican vote getter.
However, in California, the top two vote getters advance to the general election, NOT the top in each party. At the moment, the top two in this race are Democrats:
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Tim Robertson is the leading vote-getter with 23.4% of the vote. Robertson is endorsed by the California Democratic Party and is executive director of the North Valley Labor Federation.
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Marie Alvarado-Gil is in second place with 20.1% of the vote. Alvarado-Gil lives on a ranch in Amador County, studied Animal Science at UC Davis, and is Vice Chair of the Amador County Democrats Central Committee.
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Proposition 4, also known as “the Gann Limit”, was approved by voters in 1979 to require if state revenues exceed expenditures under a specified test over a two-year period, the Legislature must spend the excess revenue in specific ways – refunding half to taxpayers and sending the other half to K-12 schools and community colleges. As the 2022-23 state budget is in near final form, it appears that in this year of historic revenues and a $97.5 billion budget surplus, this state budget will keep state spending under the Gann Limit by an estimated $20 billion and aims to keep the state budget under that limit for at least two more years.
This means that taxpayers will not be receiving a refund this year under Proposition 4. However, the budget includes several tax rebates, credits, and grants for almost every Californian and for a variety of purposes. Republicans and moderate Democrats in the legislature have pushed for a suspension of some taxes (the gas tax for example) as those revenues are not needed and suspending those taxes would reduce consumer costs during this period of inflation. Governor Newsom and Democrat leadership in both houses have rejected that approach.
The 2022-23 state budget must be approved by the legislature by June 15 and would take effect July 1.
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Wildfire Preparedness Webinar |
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June 22 @ 10:00am via Zoom
Topics include: available resources, technologies and industry efforts related to wildfire prevention and preparedness. Each presentation will be followed by a brief Q&A.
This webinar is open to all Wine Institute and CAWG members and regional winery and grower association staff. A recording will be available soon after the program.
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New Resources Available for Heat Illness Prevention |
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Excessive heat watches have been issued throughout California this week. A reminder to make sure that you and your employees are prepared for the high temperatures.
OSHA has recently updated their Heat Illness Prevention webpage, which includes information on heat stress education and employer responsibilities.
RESOURCES
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DRP Looking for Feedback on Pesticide Application Notification System |
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The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DRP) will be hosting three public workshops at the end of the month to collect input on the next phase of the state's pesticide application notification system.
The 2021-2022 state budget allocated $10 million to DPR to begin the development of a statewide system that provides information to the public about pesticides used around them. The system is intended to provide information in advance of pesticide applications occurring near where people live, work, or play.
These workshops will be held via zoom and can be accessed at the links below. No registration is required.
For more information on the statewide pesticide application notification system, visit the DPR website.
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Spring Freeze Hits Clarksburg and Many Other Regions |
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Several winegrape growing regions in California were impacted by freeze events this spring. Hear from Clarksburg grower, Tom Merwin as he shares what he is seeing as a result of these frost events in the Clarksburg AVA.
Watch VIDEO produced by American Vineyard Magazine
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June 27 | Lodi
Woodbridge Golf & Country
800 East Woodbridge Rd, Woodbridge
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Wine Social
Guest Speaker John Roncoroni, Ph.D., Weed Specialist
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June 27 | Lodi
Woodbridge Golf & Country
800 East Woodbridge Rd, Woodbridge
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Wine Social
Guest Speaker John Roncoroni, Ph.D., Weed Specialist
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THANK YOU to our Regional Roadshow Premier Sponsors! |
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Complimentary registration for all CAWG members.
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CAWG Foundation Golf Tournament |
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The California Association of Winegrape Growers Foundation 3rd Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament, sponsored by Duarte Nursery, is scheduled for Monday, June 27 at Woodbridge Golf and Country Club. Tournament proceeds support scholarships for college age children whose parent or guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower.
Tournament check-in opens at 9 a.m. followed by a 10 a.m. shotgun start. The tournament will be played as a four-person scramble format. The day will include games, a hole in one contest, and a reception with prizes, drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Following the golf tournament CAWG will host its Regional Roadshow reception at the club house, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. To register for the tournament, click here.
The 92-year-old Woodbridge Golf & Country Club is located in the heart of Lodi’s wine country and the valley’s finest wineries. The golf course features 27 distinctive holes on its three-championship course.
For information about the CAWG Foundation, please click here.
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