YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
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PD/GWSS Votes on Wine and Grape Industry Assessment, Releases Spotted Lanternfly Video |
ASSESSMENT
CDFA’s Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (PD/GWSS) Board this week voted to recommend a wine and grape industry assessment rate of $1 per $1,000 of crop value for the 2021 harvest – the same rate assessed for 2019 and 2020. The board recommends the annual assessment rate to the CDFA secretary, who has always approved the recommendations.
This is welcome news as the PD/GWSS Board determined it will be able to continue its important work without needing to make a change in the amount of the grower assessment.
SPOTTED LANTERNFLY — NEW VIDEO
At its meeting, the board also received a presentation on the spotted lanternfly (SLF) and efforts to keep the pest out of California. The SLF feeds on a wide range of plants and trees, with catastrophic damage seen in vineyards and nurseries.
Spot the spotted lanternfly? Report it immediately!
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CAWG Members Meet with Elected Leaders |
CAWG PAC SPECIAL EVENT
Last week, Jackson Family Wines (JFW) partnered with CAWG to host an event in Sonoma County with local wine industry leaders and Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa). CAWG presented Dodd with a legislative leadership award during the event. Dodd is the chair of the Senate Governmental Organization Committee and the Senate Select Committee on California’s Wine Industry.
Thank you to Carolyn Wasem, Suzi Redlich, GinaLisa Tamayo and the entire JFW team for being such great hosts and for helping us put together an amazing event.
CAWG BOARD MEETS WITH FIONA MA
The CAWG board of directors this week held its first in-person board meeting in several months. State Treasurer Fiona Ma joined with our board members in advance of the board meeting and discussed the importance of CAWG’s advocacy in the California Legislature and the importance of ag advocacy in general.
THANK YOU
CAWG strives to create opportunities for growers to meet with policymakers. This is because it is important for politicians to hear directly about how public policies affect our industry. Thank you to all the growers who joined CAWG at the Sonoma event, to the generous sponsors and to our board members for their leadership and involvement.
Sponsor recognition and additional photos from these events will appear in the July issue of The Crush.
—Michael Miiller / michael@cawg.org / (916) 204-0485
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Government Relations Report |
CEDAR POINT NURSERY VS. ALRB
Section 20900 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations is a decades-old regulation which provides that union organizers can come onto private property (a worksite) without the consent of the property owner. This is done through a “notice of intent to take access” filed with the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB).
Alleging shaky constitutional grounds for the regulation, this law was challenged in court. The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) on June 23 issued its opinion in Cedar Point Nursery. Essentially, SCOTUS held that Section 20900, constitutes an illegal taking under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This means the regulation is no longer in effect.
The ALRB then quickly announced it will no longer accept notices of intent to take access. Additionally, the ALRB announced that for notices of intent to take access – which were validly filed before issuance of the SCOTUS opinion, but for which the access has not yet occurred – access pursuant to such notice shall no longer be deemed valid.
The Cedar Point Nursery decision sets precedent and could have broad application to a variety of situations where access to private property is allowed by law, but without the permission of the property owner.
LA Times, June 23
NPR, June 23
Cal Matters, June 23
June 23
—Michael Miiller / michael@cawg.org / (916) 204-0485
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U.S. Senate Passes Bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act |
The U.S. Senate today passed the Growing Climate Solutions Act by a vote of 92-8 (the no votes were four Democrats, three Republicans and one independent). Reintroduced in April by a bipartisan group of senators, the bill intended to “break down barriers for farmers and foresters interested in participating in carbon markets so they can be rewarded for climate-smart practices.” The bill had support from dozens of ag and environmental organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance.
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Free N95 Masks and Cal/OSHA Webinars |
FREE N95 MASKS
California is providing a FREE one-month supply of N95 respirators to businesses for unvaccinated employees to adjust to the new workplace safety requirements. California is partnering with various entities to distribute the supply. If you would like to acquire N95 masks from this program, visit the Voluntary N95 Distribution website for more information. For larger orders, visit GovDeals.
CAL/OSHA WEBINARS
Cal/OSHA is offering FREE two-hour webinars that will cover the changes to the emergency temporary standards updated on June 17. If you have any questions about the webinars, e-mail SFVConsultation@dir.ca.gov.
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Webinar: Top Steps to Take When Tackling the New Cal/OSHA ETS |
WHEN: June 29 / 3-4 p.m.
ABOUT: After much confusion and changes with Cal/OSHA’s emergency temporary standards (ETS), you may have questions about what steps to take next. Jim Fessenden (Fisher Phillips) and Michelle Winkley (Talent Distinctions) will discuss what is required by businesses under the ETS, how to practically apply these steps to your workplace, and answer questions. This event has been approved for 1 hour of HRCI/SHRM credit.
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Providing the very best California crop insurance services. |
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Thompson Introduces Disaster Tax Relief Bill |
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) on June 17 introduced the Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2021 (H.R. 3954), which uses the tax code to help people and small businesses impacted by wildfires and other natural disasters. The bill includes disaster tax relief, tax incentives for catastrophe mitigation, expanded support for disaster affected small businesses, and tax credit for qualified wildfire mitigation expenditures. “Not only does it ease the tax burden for and give financial flexibility to disaster survivors, the bill incentivizes investment in disaster resiliency projects,” Thompson said in his press release.
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Office Hours with Dave and Anita: Harvest Readiness in Times of Wildfires |
WHEN: July 27 / 2-3 p.m.
ABOUT: Dr. Anita Oberholster will conduct the presentation, then answer questions.
>REGISTER (free event, but registration is required)
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UC Launches WeedCUT to Manage Invasive Weeds |
With invasive plants increasing wildfire potential and causing other problems, a new interactive online tool – WeedCUT – provides comprehensive information on non-herbicide methods for managing those weeds in wildlands. Each method has an overview, how to use summary, special tips, hazards and other information.
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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 or here to view video.
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Valadao Introduces Drought Relief Bill |
Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) on June 17 introduced legislation to provide emergency drought relief for the Central Valley. The Necessary to Ensure Expeditious Delivery of (NEED) Water Act is co-sponsored by the 10 other California Congressional Republicans, who provided statements about the bill in a press release. “The legislation would protect water currently in the Central Valley Project system for human needs and reduce regulatory burdens in order to lessen the negative impacts of the drought on Central Valley residents,” Valadao said. The bill would also extend the California provisions of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act.
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DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
DWR’s drought webpage features news and updates, current conditions, drought comparison data, water supply allocations, DWR activities and research, and various resources.
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCIES
ACWA’s drought response webpage provides summaries from more than 50 members agencies, including conservation goals, long-term resiliency planning, water use restrictions information and more.
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Drought and Reservoir Conditions |
As of June 22, 54 of 58 counties are experiencing extreme or exceptional drought conditions. Read a drought summary for the West and see statistics comparing current conditions to this time last year. The latest reservoir conditions map shows all of the major reservoirs are well below the historical average mark (ex: Shasta is at 48%, Oroville 41%, Folsom 38%).
RELATED ARTICLES
Capital Public Radio, June 23
Interview with Karl Lund, UCCE viticulture advisor.
California AgNet, June 22
Guest commentary by CDFA Secretary Karen Ross and CA Department of Conservation Director David Shabazian.
Cal Matters, June 22
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WINE
June
Wine Business, June 24
Western Farm Press, June 24
Western Farm Press, June 22
Wine Institute, June 14
WILDFIRE
Cal Matters, June 24
Capital Public Radio, June 23
WATER
Press release, June 16
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Office Hours with Dave and Anita: Delayed Spring Growth and Cold Damage in the Vineyard
June 17 webinar featured Kaan Kurtural, Larry Bettiga, Mark Battany and Matt Fidelibus.
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