YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY.

• California Election Races to Watch
• Updates from the PD/GWSS Board
• California May Soon Be Worlds 4th Largest Economy
• Grapevines May Be Able to Survive Heavy Spotted Lanternfly Infestations
• UC Davis Researchers Continue to Tackle the Impact of Smoke on Wine
• CA's New Pay Transparency Requirements: A Roadmap for Compliance
• DWR Releases CA Water Plan 2023 Assumptions and Estimates Report
• Regulators Propose $155M Fine for PG&E for 2020 Wildfire
• UW&GS - Sponsor or Advertise Today! 
• CAWG Board of Director Election Ballots - Due Today!
• DPR Statewide Pesticide App Notification System Workshops
• AMOS Power to Showcase Autonomous Equipment
• Nominations are Open for the 2023 Rich Smith Award

California Election Races to Watch 

Tis' the season when people have had enough and just want to make it all stop! Enough of the campaign mailers, commercials, robo calls, texts, e-mails, and random strangers knocking on our doors. They are all designed to tell us why their candidate is going to make our lives easier, and the opponent wants to make our lives miserable. It can be overwhelming. 

That said, there is a lot at stake this year for agriculture, especially related to labor and environmental policies. 

With an eye on the finish line, below are the key races in the state legislature to watch in the next few weeks. These are the 15 Senate and Assembly races where the outcomes will likely have the most significant impact on agricultural issues in Sacramento. 

Senate Races:

• Modesto & Foothills: Tim Robertson (D-Labor Organizer) vs. Marie Alvarado-Gil (D-Charter School Administrator & Rancher).
• Sacramento: Dave Jones (D-Former Regulator & Environmental Attorney) vs. Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento City Councilwoman).
• San Jose: Aisha Wahab (D-Progressive Political Leader) vs. Lily Mei (D-Mayor of Fremont).
• Bakersfield: David Shepard (R-Four-Generation Family Farmer) vs. Melissa Hurtado (D-State Senator).

Assembly Races:

• Sacramento: Stephanie Nguyen (D-Elk Grove City Councilwoman) vs. Eric Guerra (D-Sacramento City Councilman).
• East Bay: Liz Ortega (D-Labor Organizer) vs. Shawn Kumagai (D-Veteran & Dublin City Councilmember).
• Modesto: Juan Alanis (R-Deputy Sheriff) vs. Jessica Self (D-Public Defender).
• Madera: Esmerelda Soria (D-Fresno City Council Member) vs. Mark Pazin (R-Former Sheriff).
• Kern County: Leticia Perez (D-Kern County Supervisor) vs. Jasmeet Bains (D-Physician & Businesswoman).
• Magic Mountain: Suzette Valladares (R-State Assemblywoman) vs. Pilar Schiavo (D-Labor Organizer).
• Inland Empire: Christy Holstege (D-Social Justice Attorney) vs. Greg Wallis (R-Assembly Staffer).
• Orange County: Diedre Thu-Ha Nguyen (D-Cancer Researcher) vs. Tri Ta (R-Westminster Mayor).
• Oceanside: Laurie Davies (R-Assemblymember) vs. Chris Duncan (D-San Clemente Mayor pro Tempore).
• San Diego County: Brian Maienschein (D-Assemblymember) vs. Kristie Bruce-Lane (R-Local Water Board Representative).
• San Diego: David Alvarez (D-Small Business Owner) vs. Georgette Gomez (D-Environmental Advocate).

If you’re tired of sifting through all the commercials and such and want a more balanced analysis of these and any other races in California, you may want to review the Cal Matters Voters Guide. By and large, this voter guide is fair in its analysis and where important, it offers the back story of each race. 

CAWG PAC supports candidates who understand and appreciate our industry and will fight for us in Sacramento. We thank you for your support of CAWG PAC! 

Updates from the PD/GWSS Board

The Pierce’s Disease / Glassy Winged Sharpshooter (PD/GWSS) Board had a very busy week.  

The PD/GWSS Board and PD Advisory Task Force met this week at UC Davis. Following the meeting, board members and CDFA staff took a walking tour of UC Davis Foundation Plant Services (FPS) led by FPS Director Maher Al Rwahnih. The board has funded much of the FPS research and received a timely update on progress in researching virus threats to vineyards.  

This week, CDFA in coordination with USDA, including the USDA Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) National Policy Manager and others, held a joint CDFA/USDA SLF briefing for the California grape industry. In general, the report discussed how SLF continues to spread through Pennsylvania and neighboring states. Live SLF as well as egg masses have been found in Ohio and states west of Pennsylvania.  

In California, live egg masses have been found at ag highway inspection stations over the last several months. No live or viable SLF have been found in California yet. The PD/GWSS Board designated the SLF as a threat to winegrapes and will work closely with USDA and CDFA to continue educating the public and will take other necessary steps when needed.  

Additionally, Joseph Damiano has been announced as the new Branch Chief and Statewide Coordinator for the Pierce’s Disease Control Program and will be joining the program November 18. He is currently a Branch Chief at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and formerly the Colusa County Agricultural Commissioner. He also worked in the winegrape industry, and his family has a vineyard in the Sierra Foothills. CAWG welcomes Damiano into his new role.  

Thank you to CAWG directors Jeff Bitter, Kendal Hoxsey-Onysko and Aaron Lange who give of their time and expertise to serve on the PD/GWSS Board.  

If California were a nation, it would be the world’s fifth largest economy. Soon, it may become the fourth. The Golden State is on track to overtake Germany for the No. 4 spot, according to an opinion column from Bloomberg News editor-in-chief emeritus Matthew Winkler. It became the fifth largest economy in 2015, surpassing the United Kingdom, France and Brazil. California Gov.

“The margin of Germany’s nominal GDP of $4.22 trillion over California’s $3.357 trillion last year was the smallest on record and is about to disappear, with Europe’s largest economy barely growing in 2022 and forecast to shrink in 2023,” Winkler wrote.

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Grapevines May Be Able to Survive Heavy Spotted Lanternfly Infestations

While heavy infestations of spotted lanternfly on grapevines — especially in successive years — can result in their demise, most vines may be able to survive lighter infestations with few ill effects.

That conclusion — reached by a team of Penn State researchers who conducted a new study of the invasive planthopper’s effect on grapevine biology — may reassure vineyard owners nationwide who fear that the onslaught of hordes of the ravenous sap-sucking insects will devastate their businesses. But the jury is still out, pending more research, according to Andrew Harner, postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Plant Science, who spearheaded the study.

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UC Davis Researchers Continue to Tackle the Impact of Smoke on Wine

During the catastrophic wildfires of 2017, smoke inundated vineyards across Wine Country, covering vines in a thick, noxious haze.

Vintners were frantic about how their grapes would be affected, remembered Anita Oberholster, an extension specialist in enology with UC Davis.

“Suddenly, everybody wanted to know everything about smoke,” she said. “Everybody started calling me and asking me, ‘What’s the impact of smoke? What should I be doing?’”

At the time, Oberholster had limited information to guide them. The latest research then on smoke’s impact on grapes came from Australia, which had battled perplexing firestorms.

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CA's New Pay Transparency Requirements: A Roadmap for Compliance

Hosted by: Fisher Phillips

Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Time: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PST

With the enactment of SB 1162, California has joined the growing list of state and local jurisdictions that are requiring pay scale information to be included in job postings and provided to current employees upon request, among other requirements. This is a new requirement for California employers effective January 2023 and raises a host of compliance questions and challenges – and not a lot of time to figure it all out.

Please note: although this webinar will briefly discuss the pay data reporting changes enacted by SB 1162, the focus of this webinar will be on the pay transparency provisions. A future webinar will take a “deep dive” specifically on the pay data reporting requirements of the amended law. 

REGISTER

DWR Releases CA Water Plan 2023 Assumptions and Estimates Report

In preparation for the California Water Plan Update 2023 (Update 2023), the Department of Water Resources (DWR) released the Draft Assumptions and Estimates Report (A&E Report) last week. The A&E Report describes data and data sources; improvements to analytical tools, methods, and approaches; and the supporting documents and companion State plans being used to prepare Update 2023.

The California Water Plan (Water Plan) is the State government’s strategic plan for managing and developing water resources for sustainability and resilience. To meet the many challenges posed by climate change and extreme events, Update 2023 harnesses state-of-the-art science, a commitment to equity, and collaboration between multiple sectors such as water quality, flood, groundwater, and more. Data and tools, such as water data portfolios, water balances, and water budgets and accounting systems, are critical for establishing a shared understanding of each watershed’s current conditions across multiple sectors.

Comments on the Draft A&E Report should be submitted to DWR by November 18, 2022.

A webinar was held on October 18 to provide an overview of the report. A recording is available online. 

Draft A&E Report

The Unified Symposium is the ideal location to promote your company to thousands of industry professionals who attend. Our varied sponsorship and advertising program offers several different options for all size budgets. Banners and signs in the newly renovated SAFE Credit Union convention center proclaim your presence, print and online ads showcase your product, and exclusive sponsorship opportunities increase your brand visibility.

This is THE wine & grape industry show to attend where you invest in your future and discover new ideas and technologies—a can’t miss!

Sponsorship & Advertisement Opportunities Include

• Program & Exhibit Directory: $10,000
• NEW! Spanish Track Sponsorships: $1,500 - $5,000 
• Breakout Session Sponsor: $3,500 
• Tote Bag Sponsor: $10,000
• Keynote Speaker Table Sponsor: $1,500
• Welcome Reception Hors D’oeuvres Sponsor: $3,500
• NEW! Charging Station: $7,500
• Thursday General Session Coffee Sponsor: $5,000
• Regional Wine Tasting Sponsor: $2,000
• Escalator Decals: $8,000
• Free Standing Banner: $7,000
• Column Wrap: $6,000

For questions regarding the opportunities available, please contact Jenny Devine or visit unifiedsymposium.org. 

VIEW BROCHURE

Regulators Propose $155M Fine for PG&E for 2020 Wildfire

This week, California regulators proposed fining Pacific Gas & Electric more than $155 million for sparking a 2020 wildfire in Northern California that destroyed communities and took four lives. 

PG&E already faces criminal charges in the Zogg fire, which state fire officials said began when a pine tree in Shasta County fell into a PG&E distribution line. In June, the utility pleaded not guilty to four counts of involuntary manslaughter charged by the Shasta County district attorney’s office.

The California Public Utilities Commission said in its proposed order that the utility failed to remove two pine trees marked for removal, resulting in one falling. The commission also ordered the utility to submit a corrective action plan to ensure trees marked for removal are logged into a database and removed.

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Today is the last day to submit your ballot to elect your 2022/2023 CAWG board of directors! 

Ballots can be emailed to natalie@cawg.org

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) will hold three public workshops to collect feedback and provide an update on the development of the upcoming statewide pesticide application notification system. DPR has stated that the purpose of the system will be to notify neighbors when pesticides will be sprayed in nearby fields, orchards or vineyards.   

However, if the system is not properly designed, it could result in widespread, frequent and meaningless notification. This means the primary users of the information would be nonprofit environmental organizations that would mischaracterize the data and use it to attack growers.   

The workshops are scheduled at the following times and locations: 

• In-person: Monday, Nov. 7 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center in Ventura County: 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard, CA 93030 
• In-person: Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Orosi Memorial Hall in Tulare County: 41645 Rd 128, Orosi, CA 93647 
• Virtual: Thursday, Nov. 10 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Zoom via Link (us02web.zoom.us/j/85867200295?pwd=ZGNIMlJOVnFCTEp4VVVsRzBnbmpGQT09; Meeting ID: 858 6720 0295; Passcode: 750189; Call In Number: +1-669-900-9128) 

Growers are encouraged to participate in the workshops. While there is no stopping this new system, we need to be sure that it serves a public purpose (regional notification of neighbors) and not a political purpose (banning all pesticides statewide).   

CAWG Member AMOS Power, an American made electric tractor manufacturer based in Cedar Falls, Iowa will be showcasing the two newest builds of their autonomous tractors throughout the state of California on their first ever “AMOS Showcase & Social Tour 2022.”

Each stop will showcase AMOS’s compact modular tractor frame design that provides tractor-quality power and capabilities.

Each event will culminate with a Q&A and social hour serving complimentary local wines paired with light hors d'oeuvres made from home grown California fields.

The social tour will hit 15 locations from Fresno, Lodi, Napa, Sonoma, and Paso Robles. 

VIEW PRESS RELEASE (with dates and locations)

Richard (Rich) Smith, founder of Valley Farm Management, Paraiso Vineyards and Smith Family Wines in California’s Santa Lucia Highlands wine region, was first and foremost a family man, and also a successful grape grower, winery owner and respected colleague. He was a highly effective, collegial and tireless leader whose significant and selfless contributions of time, energy and funds helped to shape public policy and scientific research to advance the American grape and wine industry. He passed away in December 2015.

Three of the organizations Rich helped to establish—National Grape Research Alliance, WineAmerica and Winegrape Growers of America —annually join with the Smith Family to bestow the Rich Smith Distinguished Service Award. It recognizes an industry representative who exemplifies the passion, commitment and collaboration Rich was known for and who has had a similarly positive impact on the industry. For each organization, it is our highest and most coveted award.

Do you know a colleague who emulates Rich’s exceptional leadership? Nominate him or her by November 16, 2022.

OCTOBER

28 - CAWG Election Ballots Due

NOVEMBER

10 - CAWG Board of Directors Meeting

JANUARY 

24-26 – Register Today! 2023 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium 

24 - CAWG Awards of Excellence Reception at Unified 

25 - CAWG PAC Event @ The Torch Club, in Sacramento

STAY CONNECTED