YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
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President Biden Warns Businesses to Prepare for Cyber Threats |
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This week, President Biden warned the nation’s businesses that intelligence sources indicate Russia may launch cyberattacks targeting critical U.S. infrastructure. While it’s unclear what specifically the Russians may target, California’s farmers should consider the potential for disruptions to water supply, the electrical grid, Internet, financial institutions, and transportation systems and how these disruptions might affect agricultural operations. This past February, the Association of Clean Water Administrators acknowledged warnings from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that California’s water and wastewater sector is likely an attractive target for a range of cyber actors.
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COVID Workplace Safety Regulations – What’s Next? |
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At the Board’s March meeting, in public testimony, a variety of employer and business groups, including CAWG, voiced concerns that each iteration of the ETS has far exceeded what research and public health experts deem necessary to prevent or limit the transmission of COVID at worksites. As public health policy on COVID transitions from a pandemic to endemic model, the economic costs for California businesses to maintain the current ETS continue mount, with few discernable benefits to public health.
At the end of the hearing, a few Board members expressed displeasure that Governor Newsom had eased requirements for face coverings at work and in indoor public settings. These admissions by Board members suggest the Board may decide at its next meeting to continue certain restrictive pandemic-era policies in the workplace through the end of the year.
CAWG participates on the Cal/OSHA Advisory Committee and is advocating for an end to the ETS. However, if the ETS is readopted, then CAWG believes the ETS should be amended to better reflect the reduced risks now associated with the COVID virus, due to its endemic status. If the ETS is readopted in April, as anticipated, and extended to year-end, this “emergency” rule will have been in place for more than two years.
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State Bills Seek to Aid Ag Workers |
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California’s recent history with wildfires, poor air quality, natural disasters and the COVID pandemic has spawned several bills focused on ag workers. CAWG is closely tracking and actively engaged with these bills, now pending in the legislature:
SB 1066 (Durazo, D-Los Angeles) Supplemental Pay for Farmworkers Pilot Project. This pilot program would provide each worker $1,000 per month he or she worked during the period March 11, 2020 - December 31, 2021. The state-funded supplement is intended as assistance related to COVID pandemic disruptions.
SB 1044 (Durazo, D-Los Angeles) would prohibit an employer from taking an adverse action against a worker who chooses not to work in an area subject to a declared state of emergency or evacuation orders. Also, the bill would not allow employers to restrict workers’ access to their mobile devices or other communications devices, for safety purposes.
AB 2538 (R. Rivas, D-Hollister) would create a state notification system that sends text and voice messages to residents and farmworkers based on their ZIP Codes to alert them of public health dangers in their area, including wildfire smoke.
AB 2243 (E. Garcia, D-Coachella) would require the use of respiratory protective equipment (including N-95 masks) whenever the air quality index is 200 or greater due to wildfire smoke. For vineyard workers, the current regulation essentially provides for voluntary use of N-95s when the AQI is over 150 and mandatory use of N-95s when the AQI is 500 or more.
It is early in the legislative year, but these bills are expected to receive serious consideration.
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Search Underway for New CAWG President |
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The CAWG Board of Directors hired Jeff Oliver, Oliver Search Consulting, to conduct a search to fill the position of CAWG president. John Aguirre, the current president, announced earlier this year his intent to step down effective May 31, 2022. He started with the association on June 1, 2010.
A position description is available and interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to Jeff Oliver by email: jeff@oliverSC.com. For questions or additional information regarding the position, Jeff can be contacted by phone at 559-434-8500.
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· CAWG Regional Roadshow - REGISTER NOW · |
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May 12 | Lake County
The Ripe Choice Farm
2550 Soda Bay Rd, Lake Port
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Wine Social
Guest Speaker: John Roncoroni, Ph.D., Weed Specialist
May 17 | Madera
The Vineyard Restaurant
605 S I St, Madera
3:00 PM – 5:00 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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Celebrate CAWG Awards of Excellence Winners on April 26 |
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Please join us in celebrating the winners of this year's CAWG's Awards of Excellence Grower and Leader of the Year. The Grower of the Year and Leader of the Year will be honored with an evening reception to take place on Tuesday, April 26, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM, at the Sutter Club, located in downtown Sacramento.
2022 Grower of the Year Award winner, Bogle Vineyards. The Grower of the Year Award is the highest honor given by CAWG. It is bestowed to an individual, family or company that represents an outstanding example of excellence in viticulture and management. The Bogles – Warren, Jody and Ryan – are leaders in the Clarksburg AVA and role models for growers throughout the state through their longtime commitment to sustainability, success in producing quality wines, advocacy for their community and fellow growers, and well-deserved respect as an employer.
2022 Leader of the Year Award winner, Dr. Anita Oberholster, Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis. The Leader of the Year Award recognizes an individual whose record of exceptional leadership has benefited California’s wine industry and is an inspiration to others. Dr. Oberholster is an esteemed researcher and leading voice as an educator and expert on the complicated issues surrounding wildfire smoke and winegrapes. Relentless in her efforts to educate and help growers and wineries who have been challenged by wildfire smoke issues, Oberholster has excelled as a researcher and educator. CAWG appreciates all she has done for California’s winegrowers.
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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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Advertise in CAWG's Annual Supplier Directory! |
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The 2022 Digital Membership Directory provides an opportunity for additional exposure to the winegrape industry.
The annual directory acts as a comprehensive guide to the many vineyard management products and services available to our CAWG growers. This is your chance to be part of this valuable industry reference guide. This digital directory has search capabilities with the option to link your advertisement directly to your website or product page.
This is a MEMBERS ONLY guide, advertisements are not available to non-members.
If you are interested in advertising, please reserve your space by March 31. Artwork due by April 15.
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APRIL
26 / Awards of Excellence Reception - Sacramento
MAY
JUNE
27 / CAWG Foundation Golf Tournament - Woodbridge
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