March 10, 2022
YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY.
NEWS ITEMS
Driest January - February on Record for Most of California
Daniel Swain, Ph.D., climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, posted this week on his climate blog, California Weather, “…the 2-month period during January-February 2022 was the driest such period in well over a century of record keeping for a majority of California (i.e., the northern 2/3).” February was unusually warm with some California locations hitting all-time record high temperatures.
 
While Swain predicts Northern California will see some precipitation over the next 10 – 14 days, he expects below average rain amounts and none of the expected weather systems will usher in colder or wetter trends for the state. Swain believes the 2021-22 water year will turn out to be substantially drier than average across California and the broader Southwest, continuing the long-term drought that has gripped the nation’s West.
 
As of March 10, the average snowpack in California was reported at 60% of the historical average for the date. 
The Capitol Weekly Reports on Continued Drought: As California’s Drought Intensifies, the Pain Spreads
Rising Gas Prices Fuel Partisan Positioning on the Issue
With the average price of regular gas in California hitting $5.34 per gallon, the highest in the nation, California’s Democrats worry about election vulnerabilities due to higher gas taxes passed by the state legislature in 2017. To address the concerns of Californians, Governor Gavin Newsom committed this week, in his annual State of the State Address, to submit, “…a proposal to put money back in the pockets of Californians, to address rising gas prices.” No details of the proposal have been released. The governor also advertised his support for pausing a scheduled 3-cent increase in the state’s gas tax, which is scheduled to go into effect this July. However, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher of Yuba City, responded after the speech, “This is a crisis of Democrats’ own making — from their war on domestic energy production to the taxes and mandates that add $1.27/gallon to the cost of gas."

Absent a summertime reversal of high gas prices and inflationary pressures, most political observers expect these issues to feature prominently in this year’s midterm elections. 
Providing the very best California crop insurance services.
Smoke Research Funding Included in Federal Omnibus Spending Bill 
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a $1.5 trillion spending package that will fund the federal government through September 30 of this year. The federal fiscal year runs October 1 to September 30 and Congress should have passed such a bill last October, before the start of the current fiscal year. The inability to pass spending bills on time is one of many signs of political and policy dysfunction in Washington, DC. However, the spending bill contains good news in the form of a $1 million increase in funding for research ways to address the damage to grapes and wine that can result from wildfire smoke. This increase will push total spending on smoke research to $4.5 million annually. The bill awaits action in the U.S. Senate. While changes may occur to the bill, funding for smoke research is expected to remain intact. 
Governor Reappoints Aggie to State Water Resources Control Board
Dorene D’Adamo, 62, of Turlock, has been reappointed to the State Water Resources Control Board, where she has served since 2013 and is the current Vice Chair. D’Adamo fills the position of the board member qualified in water quality issues and also serves as the member with experience in irrigated agriculture. D’Adamo is very familiar with the policy challenges confronting California agriculture. She was a senior policy advisor for Congressman Jim Costa from 2013 to 2014 and for Congressman Dennis Cardoza from 2003 to 2012. She also served as legal counsel for the Congressman Gary Condit from 1994 to 2003, where she was Legislative Director from 1990 to 1991.

Michael Miiller, CAWG's director of government relations, applauded the governor's reappointment of D'Adamo, "She's widely regarded as an informed policymaker who strives to hear from all stakeholders and avoids unintended consequences in the regulatory arena."
· CAWG Regional Roadshow - REGISTER NOW ·
March 15 | Paso Robles
JUSTIN Downtown Tasting Room
811 12th St, Paso Robles
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Wine Social
Update from CAWG President John Aguirre
 
March 16 | Monterey County
Monterey Farm Bureau
1140 Abbott St, Suite C, Salinas
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Lunch Provided
Update from CAWG President John Aguirre

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
THANK YOU to our Regional Roadshow Premier Sponsors!
Complimentary registration for all CAWG members.
Advertise in CAWG's Annual Supplier Directory!
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.
CALENDAR
MARCH

APRIL
26 / Awards of Excellence Reception - Sacramento

MAY

JUNE
27 / CAWG Foundation Golf Tournament - Woodbridge