YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. | |
- COVID-19 Emergency is Ending, Sort Of
- Updated COVID-19 ‘Close Contact’ Definition
- FIRA USA 2022
- Urge DPR to Amend Neonic Regulation
- CA's New Pay Transparency Requirements: A Roadmap for Compliance
- CDFA and USDA to Host Joint Spotted Lanternfly Briefing
- UW&GS - Registration is Open!
- California to Require Insurance Discounts for Property Owners Who Reduce Wildfire Risk
- USDA Provides Payments of Nearly $800M in Assistance to Help Keep Farmers Farming
- Farm Bill Hearings Planned
- DPR Statewide Pesticide App Notification System Workshops
- Lynda and Stewart Resnick Pledge $50M to UC Davis for Sustainability Research
- Lake County Launched Inaugural Bilingual Lake County Pruning School in Collaboration with Simonit & Sirch
- AMOS Power to Showcase Autonomous Equipment
- Nominations are Open for the 2023 Rich Smith Award
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COVID-19 Emergency is Ending, Sort Of.... | |
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There is an old saying in government that has been proven true time and time again: The right hand of government seems to have no idea what the left hand is doing. Recent COVID-19 announcements by the Newsom Administration are a great example.
Last week, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board released changes to its proposed permanent regulation for COVID-19 prevention in the workplace. That regulation is to remain in effect for at least two years. This week Governor Newsom announced that the COVID-19 State of Emergency will end on February 28, 2023.
Which begs the question: If the COVID-19 emergency ends in February, why do we need a COVID-19 regulation for an additional 22 months?
In proposing this regulation, the Board’s public notice states, “A serious hazard to employees remains . . . Worker protections continue to be urgently needed.” However, in response to Newsom ending the state of emergency, Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency, said, “Our preparedness and collective work have helped turn this once crisis emergency into a manageable situation.”
Newsom’s announcement this week touted the success of his administration’s response to COVID-19. This is not unusual, as every California governor for the last several decades has claimed that California is “leading the nation.” It is hard to argue though that California is truly leading the nation in COVID-19 workplace safety standards.
This is because almost every state has either eliminated their COVID-19 standards altogether or never had them to begin with. Washington and Oregon are the exceptions but have scaled back their standards substantially. Both states’ standards are far less restrictive than California and will likely be scaled back even more in the next few months.
Keep in mind that 16 states have comparable or lower per capita death rates than California and 30 states have comparable or lower per capita hospitalization rates than California. Consequently, it is very unlikely that any state will line up behind California to pass restrictive COVID-19 workplace safety standards.
As no states are following California’s lead, California isn’t leading the nation – We are just becoming more detached.
NOTE: The California Department of Public Health recently issued a new health order which redefines “close contact” with a COVID-19 case for indoor areas of more than 400,000 cubic feet. See below for details.
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Updated COVID-19 ‘Close Contact’ Definition
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Provided by Fisher Phillips
Employers may be able to revise their COVID-19 protocols now that the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has updated the definition of “close contact” for isolation and quarantine purposes. Over the summer, the CDPH changed the “close contact” definition to mean someone “sharing the same indoor airspace” with a person who is infected with COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. The most recent update, which took effect on October 14, now applies an updated “close contact” definition for some California employers depending on the size of the workplace.
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This week, growers from all over the West coast gathered in Fresno to learn the latest in automation, technology, and autonomous equipment in agriculture. The International Forum for Robotics in Agriculture (FIRA in French) included several presentations surrounding California’s regulatory challenges, to use of autonomous tractors. International and California presenters also explained new developments in ag equipment and how that equipment is being utilized all over the world.
Manufacturers, including those from California, also had equipment on display and provided field demonstrations. Growers were very impressed with how this innovative equipment can create a more efficient and less costly ag operation while at the same time offering benefits for the environment and sustainability.
CAWG staff met with several manufacturers to learn more about the technology and how California law applies to use of that technology. Unfortunately, outdated Cal/OSHA regulations present a significant challenge to full use of these new technologies. That is why CAWG and other ag organizations are pushing for a regulatory fix. This 50-year-old regulation in no way reflects today’s technology.
Hats off to FIRA USA 2022 for their in-depth forum!
READ MORE
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Urge DPR to Amend Neonic Regulation | |
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For the last 20 years, the Pierce’s Disease Control Program (PDCP) has effectively controlled the threat of Pierce’s Disease in vineyards. The glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) is a large leafhopper insect that can vector the deadly Pierce’s disease in grapevines. The PDCP tackles areas with high populations of glassy-winged sharpshooters through spraying in vineyards and in neighboring orchards.
Now, the Department of Pesticide Regulation is proposing a new regulation that would substantially reduce the amount of neonicotinoid pesticides, such as imidacloprid, that can be used and limiting the frequency of use. This could have a devastating effect on vineyards. If glassy-winged sharpshooters are allowed to flourish in California, the threat of Pierce’s Disease to vineyards could quickly get out of control and thousands of acres could be destroyed.
This is URGENT as the Department of Pesticide Regulation will be acting on this proposed regulation very soon. Please contact the Department of Pesticide Regulation ASAP and ask that this regulation be amended so that it does not apply to the Pierce’s Disease Control Program.
TAKE ACTION
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CA's New Pay Transparency Requirements: A Roadmap for Compliance | |
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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
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CDFA and USDA to Host Joint Spotted Lanternfly Briefing | |
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Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Time: 10:00am - 11:00am (PST)
*Webinar
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has been coordinating with the United States Dept of Agriculture (USDA), including the USDA Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) National Policy Manager as well as others, and will be holding a joint CDFA/USDA SLF briefing for the California grape industry.
All are invited to participate in the briefing, which is being held virtually.
REGISTER
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Unified Wine and Grape Symposium
Registration is Open! See you Jan 24-26 in Sacramento
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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!
For questions regarding the opportunities available, please contact Jenny Devine or visit unifiedsymposium.org.
VIEW OPPORTUNITIES
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California to Require Insurance Discounts for Property Owners Who Reduce Wildfire Risk | |
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California will become the first state in the nation to require insurance premium discounts for owners of homes and businesses that are made safer from wildfires.
New rules mandate that insurance companies reward consumers who take wildfire safety and mitigation actions under the state's Safer From Wildfires framework, the Department of Insurance announced Monday. The framework includes a list of expert-recommended actions that home and business owners can take to better protect themselves from fires.
The regulation is largely a response to skyrocketing insurance costs for residents in wildfire-prone areas, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said. Currently, fewer than half of the insurance companies doing business in California provide such discounts.
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USDA Provides Payments of Nearly $800M in Assistance to Help Keep Farmers Farming
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that distressed borrowers with qualifying USDA farm loans have already received nearly $800 million in assistance, as part of the $3.1 billion in assistance for distressed farm loan borrowers provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA directed USDA to expedite assistance to distressed borrowers of direct or guaranteed loans administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) whose operations face financial risk.
The announcement kicks off a process to provide assistance to distressed farm loan borrowers using several complementary approaches, with the goal of keeping them farming, removing obstacles that currently prevent many of these borrowers from returning to farming, and improving the way that USDA approaches borrowing and servicing. Through this assistance, USDA is focused on generating long-term stability and success for distressed borrowers.
READ MORE
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Farm Bill Hearings Planned for the Lame Duck Session | |
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This past week, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) announced her plan to hold multiple Farm Bill hearings before the end of this year. Sen. Stabenow has stated that the upcoming hearings would include different Farm Bill titles but declined to discuss exact details. The Committee has held two listening sessions on Farm Bill issues this year, one in Michigan and the other in Arkansas.
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DPR Statewide Pesticde Application Notification System Workshops
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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:
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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
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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
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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).
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Lynda and Stewart Resnick Pledge $50M to UC Davis for Sustainability Research | |
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The University of California, Davis, announced that philanthropists Lynda and Stewart Resnick, co-owners of The Wonderful Company, have pledged the largest gift ever to the university by individual donors. The $50 million pledge will support the school’s longstanding commitment to address today’s most pressing challenges in agriculture and environmental sustainability.
The $50 million gift will establish the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation, with $10 million of the Resnicks’ gift to be directed toward annual competitive research grants through the Resnick Agricultural Innovation Research Fund. Their donation also supports UC Davis’ $2 billion fundraising campaign, “Expect Greater: From UC Davis, for the World,” the university’s largest philanthropic endeavor to date.
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Lake County Launched Bingual Pruning School | |
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The Lake County Winegrape Commission announces the launch of the inaugural Lake County Pruning School, which will be held beginning in December 2022 and presented in both English and Spanish. The first of its kind for a regional organization, the immersive training program will be delivered in collaboration with Simonit & Sirch, the renowned grapevine pruning school with more than 30 years of research and experience and an extensive client list.
Simonit & Sirch Master Pruner Jacopo Miolo will share knowledge about grapevine sap flow and teach innovative pruning techniques that foster grapevine health and resistance to pests and drought. This supports improved consistency of fruit over the years and, ultimately, a longer vineyard lifespan.
READ MORE
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AMOS Power to Host “Amos Showcase & Social Tour 2022”
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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)
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Nominations are Open for the 2023 Rich Smith Award | |
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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.
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