YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
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Worsening Drought Prompts Newsom to Act |
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With the statewide snowpack at 39% of the historical average for this time of year, Governor Newsom announced this week a series of executive actions in response to the drought.
On Monday, the governor issued an executive order to hasten the implementation of a variety of water saving measures and to prohibit new groundwater wells or alteration of existing wells that are inconsistent with an adopted local Groundwater Sustainability Plan and which would be judged to impair established sustainability goals for the water basin. The restriction on new wells or alterations of existing wells applies to medium- or high-priority basins. Also, under the executive order no new groundwater well can be developed or an alteration of an existing well can occur unless it is determined that extraction of groundwater from that well will not likely interfere with the production and functioning of existing nearby wells, nor likely cause subsidence that would adversely impact or damage nearby infrastructure.
On Tuesday, March 29, Newsom announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which the Sacramento Bee reported, “…calls for farms and cities to surrender billions of gallons of water while contributing funds to help restore troubled fish habitats.” Rice growers, Westlands Water District, and several other water districts signed onto the MOU which paves the way for voluntary agreements to increase the amount of water for environmental uses by fallowing farmland and reducing diversions for irrigation.
The Newsom Administration also announced a plan to maintain winter-run Chinook salmon habitat for the longest period possible. The effort entails a multi-agency agreement, involving state and federal regulators, to implement a proposed temperature management plan involving an average water release schedule of 4,500 cubic feet per second from Keswick Dam below Lake Shasta into the Sacramento River.
CAWG and other farm groups have ramped up long running efforts urging state officials to invest in new surface water storage projects, such as the Sites Reservoir, as soon as possible. Studies indicate the Sites Reservoir is projected to deliver $260 million in new economic benefits annually for the state of California, but the project is mired in delays and construction has yet to start.
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The U.S. Drought Monitor reports 93.6% of the state is experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions. The California Department of Water Resources noted that in the past 10 days, about one-third of the water equivalency in the snowpack disappeared, due to above average temperatures and dry conditions.
In California, the January 1 – March 24 period is the driest on record and Daniel Swain, Ph.D., author of the Weather West blog forecasts warmer than average temperatures continuing into summer and a further deterioration in water supply conditions across the state. Swain writes, “I certainly expect an early start to the California fire season at this point, and all signs point to the potential for a high level of large/severe fire activity later in the season (so both an early start, and a more severe peak, than the long-term average. Once again).”
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California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) allows attorneys to file civil lawsuits against employers for violations of the California Labor Code. Typically, complaints filed under PAGA involve minor wage and hour infractions, which most employers would readily agree to remedy. However, trial lawyers use the threat of punitive litigation and the potential of expensive court-imposed fines to force employers to agree to exorbitant settlements to fend off further legal action. These “shake down” lawsuits have prompted a coalition of employer groups to take action.
Western Growers, the California Restaurant Association, and California New Car Dealers Association seek to repeal and replace PAGA through a ballot measure. The new law, “The Fair Pay and Employer Accountability Act,” would offer a better and less litigious method of resolving wage and hour disputes and is hopefully headed to the ballot for a vote this November 2022.
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CAWG Delegation Goes to Washington, DC |
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A delegation of CAWG grower leaders and staff, led by Board Chair Tom Slater, a Clarksburg grower, were in Washington, DC this week to meet with members of Congress, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials, and other agricultural groups to discuss an array of issues including wildfire smoke research, improvements to the federal crop insurance program, and increased research on mechanization and automation.
CAWG is advocating for $5 million in annual funding for research to address the many problems that can result when winegrapes are exposed to wildfire smoke. The most recent funding bill passed by Congress, provided $4.5 million in new wildfire smoke research monies for the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. CAWG is also pushing for improvements to federal crop insurance. One idea CAWG is advancing is a proposal to allow winegrape growers to selectively buy-up additional coverage to protect against the risk of wildfire smoke damage.
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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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