YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
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Bureau of Reclamation Announces Zero Water for Agriculture |
Following the driest January on record and a potentially record dry February, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced this week that ag irrigators will receive zero water from the Central Valley Project (CVP). The announcement marks the fourth year since 2014 that farmers have been denied access to CVP water for irrigation.
The Bureau of Reclamation pointed to an updated forecast this week, from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), which showed decreasing inflows of water into Shasta, Oroville, Folsom, and New Melones reservoirs over the first half of February. DWR expects 1.2 million acre-feet less water than in earlier projections. The benefits of heavy precipitation in October and December are fading as dry weather persists and the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada range continues to decline. Statewide, the snowpack is 66% of average at this time of year. In contrast, the snowpack was 157% of average on December 31, 2021.
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Some California Lawmakers Seek to Ban Non Ag Uses of Neonics |
Over the past few years, the California legislature has ramped up efforts to ban pest control products. The most recent effort is AB 2146 (Bauer-Kahan, D-Contra Costa) which would ban the use of the top 5 most widely used neonicotinoid (neonic) pesticides -- imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, and acetamiprid -- on nonagricultural crops.
The primary focus of AB 2146 is residential, commercial, and industrial uses of neonics. The bill specifically stipulates the ban would not apply to ag uses of neonics “on an agricultural plant.” The legislation is co-sponsored by National Resource Defense Counsel, Environment California, and California Native Plant Society.
CAWG is a member of the California Pollinator Coalition and has been very active in encouraging development of pest control options that present the least threat to beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies. Generally, CAWG is opposed to regulating specific crop protection products through legislation. Instead, CAWG believes regulatory decisions are best left to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.
CAWG is closely following the legislative action on AB 2146.
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Providing the very best California crop insurance services. |
CA Legislators Push for Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions |
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State Senators Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles) are pushing a bill, SB 260, which could require farmers to report annually on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. If passed, the State Air Resources Board would need to adopt regulations requiring businesses in California with greater than $1 billion in revenue to begin reporting their GHG emissions by 2025.
What's notable is the requirement for these business to report on GHG emissions associated with their supply chains. These GHG emissions are referred to as 'scope 3' and include a businesses purchased goods and services, and transportation up and downstream in the value chain.
Some of the state's largest ag processors could fall under the requirement, which in turn, may result in new reporting requirements for farmers who supply those processors.
CAWG is closely monitoring the bill and assessing it's implications for members.
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Fewer Workers But More Farm Production |
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USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) released a report this month detailing the trend of a declining ag workforce offset by spectacular gains in productivity.
Ag employment and hours worked fell during the 20th century. Total farm labor hours declined by 83 percent between 1948 and 2017 and the farm sector share of total U.S. employment, 32.6 percent in 1910, fell to 12.2 percent in 1950 and to 1.6 percent in 2017. However, the decline in labor hours in the farm sector slowed in the last decade.
U.S. agricultural output grew consistently even as labor input fell over time. Between 1948 and 2017, U.S. ag output grew by nearly 187 percent at an average annual growth rate of 1.53 percent.
The report also finds higher educational attainment among workers and farm operators was a significant contributor to productivity gains. In 1950, nearly three-quarters of the total hours worked in the farm sector were by people with less than 9 years of schooling. By 2017, only 17 percent of hours worked were by people with less than 9 years of schooling. In contrast, people with at least some college contributed 4 percent of farm labor hours in 1950 but 40 percent by 2017.
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CAWG Regional Roadshow - REGISTER NOW |
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CAWG is excited to hit the road and reconnect with growers and industry providers in a series of regional meetings throughout the state. This is the perfect opportunity to network, socialize and catch up on CAWG news.
Four of the regional meetings will feature guest speaker John Roncoroni, Weed Farm Advisor Emeritus, UC Cooperative Extension. Roncoroni is well known to winegrape growers having spent 38 years as a UC Cooperative Extension advisor specializing in vineyard weed management in Napa County.
Roncroni's presentation will focus on best management practices for weed control in vineyards and how those practices can minimize residues and offsite movement of herbicides. He will talk about utilizing IPM principles to deliver more sustainable weed management in the vineyard. Register Now
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A special THANK YOU to our premier sponsors! |
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· Meeting Dates and Locations · |
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March 2 | Sonoma County
Vino Farms
10617 East Side Road, Healdsburg
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Wine Social
Guest Speaker: John Roncoroni
March 15 | Paso Robles
JUSTIN Downtown Tasting Room
811 12th St, Paso Robles
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Wine Social
March 16 | Monterey County
Monterey Farm Bureau
1140 Abbott St, Suite C, Salinas
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Lunch Provided
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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
May 17 | Madera
The Vineyard Restaurant
605 S I St, Madera
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Wine Social
Guest Speaker: John Roncoroni
June 27 | Lodi
Woodbridge Golf & Country
800 East Woodbridge Rd, Woodbridge
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Wine Social
Guest Speaker John Roncoroni
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Complimentary registration for all CAWG members.
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CAWG Foundation Scholarships - Deadline March 4 |
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For more than 20 years, the CAWG Foundation has awarded thousands of dollars annually in college scholarships to students whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) are employed by a California winegrape grower.
The four-year scholarships are $8,000 each for students attending a University of California or California State University campus. The two-year scholarships are $2,000 each for students attending a California community college. The Robert Miller Scholarship for Viticulture and Enology is awarded to a Central Coast student who is enrolled or will enroll at Allan Hancock College or Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
The application deadline is March 4, 2022.
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