November 17, 2022

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

IN THIS eNEWS
  • DPR Proposes Mitigation Measures for 1,3-Dichloropropene 
  • California's Budget Challenges
  • CAWG Elects New Directors, Reappoints Officers
  • ARB Scoping Plan: Regulatory Uncertainty for Businesses & Residents
  • CDFA Secretary Ross Attends COP27
  • CA Energy Price Data - Key Takeaways
  • Upcoming CAWG Webinars
  • Webinar Recording: Important Updates to your Employee Handbook
  • November Issue of The Crush Available
  • What the Unusual Midterm Elections Mean for Climate Action
  • Think the Cal/OSHA ETS Will Expire at the End of the Year? Think Again
  • USDA Announces Roll Out of Emergency Relief Program Phase Two and New Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program
  • UW&GS - Sponsor or Advertise Today! 
  • Call for Applications for the Ninth Annual California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards
  • Crop Protection Material Registration Report
NEWS ITEMS

DPR Proposes Mitigation Measures for 1,3-Dichloropropene 

This week, the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) announced it is pursuing new mitigation requirements for use of the fumigant 1,3-Dichloropropene. In short, the proposed regulation would place additional and more stringent restrictions on the use of 1,3-D for production agricultural purposes. This would include the following:

  • Establishing mandatory setbacks (distances from occupied structures where 1,3-D cannot be applied for a specified period of time); 
  • Setting limits on the application rate and acres treated for individual applications;
  • Placing additional restrictions on seasonal applications and multiple applications that do not meet distance or time separation criteria; 
  • Requiring more stringent soil moisture content for applications; and 
  • Limiting applications to specific fumigation methods with corresponding setbacks and restrictions.


DPR states, the broad objectives of the proposed regulations are to mitigate the potential 72-hour acute risk and 70-year lifetime cancer risk to non-occupational bystanders from the use of 1,3-D, and to reduce VOC emissions from 1,3-D field soil fumigations.


Specific to trees and vines, the proposed regulation would require use of a fumigation method with an injection point at least 24 inches below the soil surface or a TIF tarpaulin.


Over the next few weeks, CAWG staff will be researching this proposal more to determine how it would affect vineyard operations. We will then submit our comments to DPR by the January 18 deadline.  


If you have concerns with how this regulation would apply in your vineyards, please feel free to share those concerns with Michael Miiller at michael@cawg.org.



California’s Budget Challenges

Each year, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) releases its analysis of the fiscal health of the golden state. This is done ahead of the governor releasing the proposed state budget for the state’s upcoming fiscal year. This week, the LAO released an analysis that sounded more than a few alarms.  

 

While last year the state enjoyed a historic surplus, the LAO report warns of a potential $25 billion deficit in the 2023-24 budget. The projected deficit is based on high inflation, a slowing economy, and the risk of a recession.  

 

In response to the projected deficit, LAO is recommending Governor Newsom halt some of the one-time spending authorized in the 2022-23 state budget. Additionally, Newsom will be pressured to trim back other expenditures or increase taxes to help balance the budget.  

 

Ironically, earlier this week, the LAO also released a report titled, “Understanding the Challenges Posed by Wildfire Smoke in California.” In that report, the LAO recommended increased expenditures for “additional research and pilot projects to improve understanding of the best and most cost‑effective approaches to address wildfire smoke.”  


The bottom line is that California is facing some serious public policy challenges and our economic reality may be even more challenging. 

CAWG Elects New Directors, Reappoints Officers

The CAWG board of directors has reappointed the following officers for an additional one-year term.


Your 2023 officers are as follows:

Chair: Tom Slater, Slater Farms, Clarksburg

Vice Chairs: Jeff Bitter, Madera and Gregg Hibbits, Grapevine Capital, San Luis Obispo

Secretary: Jason Smith, Valley Farm Management, Salinas

Treasurer: Kendall Hoxsey-Onysko, Napa Wine Company / Yount Mill Vineyards


CAWG welcomes the following new directors to the board:

Paul Goldberg, Bettinelli Vineyards, Napa

Lucas Shoffner, RL Shoffner Harvesting, Selma


And the addition of two new directors at large:

Amy Blagg, Lodi District Grape Growers

Joel Peterson, Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance


CAWG thanks the following outgoing directors for their years of service:

John Balletto, Balletto Vineyards, Santa Rosa

Paul Wulf, Wulf Vineyards, Fresno

ARB Scoping Plan: Regulatory Uncertainty for Businesses & Residents 

Yesterday, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) issued its final Scoping Plan, which creates a pathway toward carbon neutrality for California. While portrayed as a “plan,” broad ranging mandates from ARB will result from this 300-page document, which will have another significant impact on the California economy and family budgets.


The plan represents a major cost increase for all Californians—with no plan or solution to pay for its ambition. Californians already pay the highest gas prices in the country, and California’s residential electricity prices remain the highest among the contiguous US, at 83% higher than the average for the rest of the US. As outlined in the October 2022 Energy Price Data (see article below) report by the Center for Jobs and the Economy, the state’s regulations and policies are now costing California households and employers about $50 billion a year more for energy, compared to the average rates in other states, and far more compared to the lowest cost states.


The plan recognizes the threats posed by the state’s ongoing water crisis and wildfires but includes no solutions to address either. The plan acknowledges that California can no longer rely on the annual snowpack to provide reliable and affordable water to California residents. Similarly, the plan acknowledges the impact of wildfires on greenhouse gas emissions. However, the plan provides no solutions to either crisis. A single wildfire can erase a year’s worth of carbon reduction from other sources—reductions paid for by increased costs on businesses and working families can all go up in smoke with one wildfire. Responsible forest management and significant investment in our water future are critically important and must be addressed.


The Scoping Plan is a California solution, not a global climate solution. Even if the plan is successful, and even if California achieved zero carbon emissions today, China and India combined are on course to replace that total six times by 2030, and that doesn't even begin to add in the rest of Asia, Africa, and Central/South America that hope to progress economically as well. No other state or nation has followed California.


READ MORE

CDFA Secretary Ross Attends COP27

The ongoing drive of farmers and ranchers to remain resilient in the face of climate change took center stage over the last several days in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, where CDFA Secretary Karen Ross traveled to participate in the Conference of Parties 27 (COP27). 


Secretary Ross highlighted California’s leadership on climate goals as well as cutting-edge implementation. The Secretary spoke of “multi-level action”– meaning an effort to weave climate ambition and the actions of local and regional governments into policy developments to accelerate vertically-integrated implementation and investment plans–and she emphasized the importance of implementing the Glasgow Climate Pact to keep global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius of pre-industrial levels.


On Agriculture Day at COP27, Secretary Ross moderated a panel entitled “Farmers at the Center” at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) pavilion. The panel showcased the diverse experience of farmers around the world and their efforts to fight climate change through climate-smart agricultural practices. “Food production is so intertwined with climate,” said Secretary Ross. “Farmers are key to alleviating global hunger in a world with a growing population, and climate-smart agricultural practices can help them continue to do so in a hotter, drier future.”


USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack was also at the conference and highlighted the United States’ investment of $8 billion in climate-smart agriculture through the Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities program and the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as the launch of the Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate initiative, which is a partnership between the USA and the United Arab Emirates seeking to address global climate change and increase investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation over a five-year period.


READ MORE

CA Energy Price Data - Key Takeaways

Below are the monthly updates from the most current October 2022 fuel price data (GasBuddy.com) and August 2022 electricity and natural gas price data (US Energy Information Administration).


Key Takeaways

  • The average price per gallon of regular gasoline in October was $5.90. Californians are paying $2.22 more per gallon of gasoline than the rest of the US. View in report.
  • Similarly, the average price per gallon of diesel in October was $6.47 which means Californians are paying $1.31 more per gallon of diesel than the rest of the US. View in report.
  • California’s residential electricity prices remain the highest among the contiguous US, at 83% higher than the average for the rest of the US. View in report.
  • The core cost drivers behind California’s high energy prices- state regulations and supply vulnerability- remain unaddressed by the state despite numerous past reviews and investigations that came to the same conclusions on these issues. 
  • The state’s regulations and policies are now costing California households and employers about $50 billion a year more for energy, compared to the average rates in other states, and far more compared to the lowest cost states. View in report.
  • Adding to this cost-driver mix, the governor intends to call a Special Session to enact yet another tax on fuels production in the state which, if enacted, would be the 4th major state tax increase this year. View in report.
  • Emission progress in most years has been outweighed by wildfire emissions, as detailed in a recent report a recent Environmental Pollution report. The 2020 wildfire emissions were substantial, producing an estimated emissions of 127 MMTCO2e, seven times the 2003-2019 average. View in report.
  • In all, 26 states including California were below their 1990 emissions levels in 2019, while the US was close at only 1.8% above. View in report.

To view additional data and analysis related to the California economy visit our website at www.centerforjobs.org/ca.


FULL REPORT

Upcoming CAWG Webinars

CAWG is hosting a series of upcoming webinars to ensure that all California winegrape growers are prepared for 2023.


Nov 29 · 10:00 am: Card Check - What Growers Need to Know

Dec 01 · 10:00 am: Crop Insurance: Updates and Intricacies

Dec 07 · 10:00 am: Whole Farm Revenue Protection

Dec 14 · 10:00 am: New CA Laws for 2023: What Employers Need to Know

 

All webinar registration pages are hyperlinked above. View each registration page for more information about each webinar.

Webinar Recording: Important Updates to your Employee Handbook

If your company doesn’t have a handbook, or it hasn’t been reviewed in the last year, this webinar took a deep dive into the most important policies for your handbook and what will need to be updated as we head into 2023.

 

Below you will find a full recording of the webinar:

RECORDING: Important Updates for your Employee Handbooks

 

Today, Fisher Phillips offered all CAWG members the opportunity to submit their employee handbook for a complimentary diagnostic review to ascertain whether the Company could benefit from an update to their handbook. If you would like to take advantage of this CAWG member benefit, please contact Collin or Brandon with Fisher Phillips.


Contact Information:

Collin Cook, Partner

ccook@fisherphillips.com

(415) 490-9032


Brandon Kahoush, Associate

bkahoush@fisherphillips.com

(415) 490-9034

November Issue of The Crush Available

The November issue of The Crush is now available!

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS

·   Feature Story: 2022 California Winegrape Harvest, Market Trends

·   State Update: Robotics and Autonomy in Farming

·   CAWG Elects New Directors, Reappoints Officers

·   What's Next for Labor Unions

·   FIVE Upcoming Webinars

·   All Things 2023 Unified Wine and Grape Symposium

·   CAWG PAC Event at The Torch Club

 

Ads from Pan American Insurance Services, G3 Enterprises and Unified Wine and Grape Symposium!


READ NOVEMBER ISSUE

What the Unusual Midterm Elections Mean for Climate Action

The Democrats’ strong showing in the midterm elections — both their defense of their Senate majority and their gains in important state races — essentially ensures that President Biden’s signature climate change law, passed in August, will be fully implemented despite threats from some Republicans to block or undo it.


Republicans, who have won a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, are still expected to scrutinize and slow down some elements of Mr. Biden’s climate change agenda, particularly his pledge to send climate aid to developing nations suffering from the effects of extreme weather.


And despite the divided Congress, some lawmakers from both parties say they hope to advance a narrow bill that would make it easier to build all forms of energy infrastructure — both pipelines to carry oil and electrical transmission lines to carry wind and solar power.


Here are five main climate-related results from the midterm elections:


  1. The United States can tell the world it will cut some emissions
  2. Biden won’t be able to meet his promises of climate aid
  3. Republicans can still throw sand in the gears of Biden’s domestic climate agenda
  4. Bold new climate policies could advance in some states
  5. There could be a bipartisan deal to streamline new energy projects


READ MORE

Think the Cal/OSHA ETS Will Expire at the End of the Year? Think Again!

After a wild and bumpy ride of dealing with the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), most California employers were relieved that the ETS was set to expire at the end of this year. However, last-minute debate at the Cal/OSHA Standards Board over a proposed two-year COVID-19 standard makes it likely that the ETS will remain in effect until as late as mid-February – meaning California employers will be bound by the ETS (including its “exclusion pay” requirements) longer than anticipated. What do employers need to know to make sure they are still in compliance with the ETS?


READ MORE

USDA Announces Roll Out of Emergency Relief Program Phase Two and New Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program

Programs to Provide Pandemic and Natural Disaster Assistance for 2020 and 2021.

On Tuesday, CAWG sent an eAlert notifying growers of the announced plans for additional emergency relief and pandemic assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is preparing to roll out the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two as well as the new Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP), which are two programs to help offset crop and revenue losses for producers.

 

ERP Phase Two will assist eligible agricultural producers who suffered eligible crop losses, measured through decreases in revenue, due to wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture and qualifying droughts occurring in calendar years 2020 and 2021. 

 

PARP will assist eligible producers of agricultural commodities who experienced revenue decreases in calendar year 2020 compared to 2018 or 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PARP will help address gaps in previous pandemic assistance, which was targeted at price loss or lack of market access, rather than overall revenue losses. 


VIEW CAWG E-ALERT

Unified Wine and Grape Symposium

Registration is Open! See you Jan 24-26 in Sacramento

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

Call for Applications for the Ninth Annual California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards

California vineyards and wineries are encouraged to apply for the 2023 California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards.


Applications are accepted on greenmedal.org through Friday, January 20, 2023!


Vineyards and wineries that participate in a sustainability program in California are eligible to apply in four award categories, recognizing outstanding achievement in sustainability:

Leader Award, given to the vineyard or winery that demonstrates success and innovation in all of the below three areas of sustainable winegrowing and inspires others.

 

The 2022 California Green Medal recipients were:

  • Wente Family Estates, Leader Award
  • Trefethen Family Vineyards, Environment Award
  • McManis Family Vineyards, Community Award
  • Jackson Family Wines, Business Award


Applications are being accepted through Friday, January 20th, 2023


APPLY AT GREENMEDAL.ORG

Crop Protection Material Registration Report

With the support of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant, Wine Institute has partnered with global market access firm Bryant Christie to provide customized, easy-to-access and timely reports with detailed analyses on crop protection material regulations in key export markets. If you are exporting your wines, this is important information — with active ingredient trade names, mode of action, usage, residues and whether a substance is included in a foreign market’s monitoring program. To opt-in to receive these exclusive twice-yearly reports from Bryant Christie, click here.


Read more via the News Alert sent out last week.

View a sample of a Wine Grape MRL Issues Review and download a spreadsheet of global MRLs.

CALENDAR

NOVEMBER

29 - Card Check - What Growers Need to Know Webinar


DECEMBER

01 - Crop Insurance: Updates and Intricacies Webinar

07 - Whole Farm Revenue Protection Webinar

14 - New CA Laws for 2023: What Employers Need to Know Webinar


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

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