YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
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FAIR Plan Insurance Could be Available Soon |
On July 23, 2021, Governor Newsom signed SB 11 (Rubio) to help provide insurance for growers in high fire risk areas. SB 11 took effect immediately and allows THE FAIR Plan to provide insurance for structures on farms. FAIR Plan is the “insurer of last resort” and is intended to provide property insurance when insurance is not otherwise available.
For the last several months, the Department of Insurance (CDI) and FAIR Plan have been in discussions on insurance premiums, coverage limits, and other details of those insurance policies (CDI provides regulatory oversight of FAIR Plan). In the meantime, winegrape growers have seen their applications for coverage of structures in vineyards denied by FAIR Plan.
CAWG and Wine Institute have had several meetings with staff at CDI and FAIR Plan and it appears that FAIR Plan coverage may be soon available for farms — hopefully within the next few weeks. When coverage is available, we will notify growers immediately.
Nothing is official or certain at the moment, but we wanted to pass on the promising news.
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Taking PAGA Reforms to the Voters |
The Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) costs growers and other businesses hundreds of millions of dollars every year in shakedown lawsuits. The average cost of a PAGA settlement is $1.2 million with minimal amounts actually going to employees.
To address this, the California Chamber of Commerce, California New Car Dealers Association and Western Growers are currently gathering signatures on a petition to place PAGA reforms on the ballot.
Reforming PAGA helps everybody except the predatory law firms who have built their businesses on PAGA. Five law firms alone have generated more than 4,000 PAGA cases. Since its inception in 2004, the number of PAGA filings annually has exploded. In 2016 alone, PAGA cases increased by more than 1,440%.
The time to act is NOW. You will likely have an opportunity to sign the petition at a strip mall or grocery store near you.
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Thirty Consecutive Years of Annual Research Shows U.S. Food is Safe From Pesticide Residues |
Each year since 1991 the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has published a report providing reliable, scientific data that helps assure U.S. consumers that pesticide residues in food are effectively regulated and pose no risk to public safety. Today, USDA-AMS published their annual report for 2020. This is the 30th annual report published by USDA-AMS.
Once again in 2020, over 99% of the samples tested had residues below the tolerances established by the US. Environmental Protection Agency, with 30% having no detectable residue. In 2020, the sampling and testing program, Pesticide Data Program (PDP), was conducted with the support of 10 States: California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Washington.
The pesticides and commodities included each year in the sampling program are selected based on EPA’s data needs, with special consideration for the types and amounts of food consumed by infants and children. The number of samples collected by each State is apportioned according to that State’s population. Samples are randomly chosen close to the time and point of consumption (i.e., distribution centers rather than at the farm gate) and reflect what is typically available to the consumer throughout the year. Samples are selected without regard to country of origin, variety, growing season, or organic labeling. Fresh and processed fruit and vegetables accounted for 100 percent of the total 9,600 samples collected and tested in 2020.
Based on the PDP data, consumers should feel confident about eating a diet that is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Newest COVID Modeling Continues to Show Safe, Controlled-Environment at Unified Symposium |
The Unified Wine and Grape Symposium is set to kickoff next week, January 25-27 in Sacramento.
The Unified Symposium’s management team has been working with Epistemix (a computational modeling software company that develops simulations to model the spread of disease) to develop mitigation strategies aimed at improving and ensuring the safety of this conference.
Despite the presence of the Omicron variant, the latest modeling (January 17) projects the risk of COVID transmission during Unified at a rate of less than 2 cases per 10,000 guests, a figure below the CDC threshold for safe travel.
Unified organizers have also ramped up safety measures to protect guests. These include:
- Required “Safe Expo” screening service prior to Convention Center entrance
- Required masking for all guests, participants and staff
- Proof of vaccination or evidence of a recent negative COVID test
- Availability of COVID testing on site
- Elimination of large-scale tasting events including the Tuesday reception, Wednesday regional wine tasting and Thursday lunch
The Unified Symposium will continue to work with Epistemix to provide regular updates and forecasts for attendees and exhibitors.
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Farmers and Farm Workers Frustrated with Ag Overtime Law
An article in The Bakersfield Californian, appearing January 15, describes the challenges farm workers and farmers are encountering due to state’s overtime law and agricultural work.
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Winegrape Crop Insurance Deadline - January 31 |
The California winegrape crop insurance deadline is fast approaching. You must sign-up for coverage by January 31 for this crop year.
CAWG hosted a series of webinars in December discussing the basics + updates and policy intricacies. See recordings and
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Providing the very best California crop insurance services. |
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CAWG Awards of Excellence Reception Moved to April |
CAWG's Award of Excellence reception has been moved to Wednesday, April 26th in Sacramento. CAWG looks forward to celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of both Bogle Vineyards and Dr. Oberholster.
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2022 GROWER OF THE YEAR
Bogle Vineyards
L to R: Warren, Jody & Ryan Bogle
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2022 LEADER OF THE YEAR
Dr. Anita Oberholster,
Extension Specialist in Enology, UC Davis
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WEBINAR: CAWG 401k Multiple Employer Plan |
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WHEN: Thurs, Feb 10 @ 10:00am
Join CAWG and Woodruff Sawyer on February 10th at 10am to learn more about the power of a Multiple Employer Plan and see if this may be a good fit for your operation and employees.
The CAWG 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan offers employers all the advantages and flexibility of a stand-along plan, but without the expenses and administrative burden associated with sponsoring a single employer plan.
We invite you to join this webinar to learn more about the plan and your options!
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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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70th Annual Lodi Grape Day |
WHEN: Feb. 1 @ 8am
WHERE: Hutchins Street Square,Lodi
MEETING CREDITS: 1.75 hrs PRC CE (Other)
KEYNOTE LUNCH: California Wine Export Program
Honore Comfort, Vice President International Marketing, Wine Institute
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JANUARY
FEBRUARY
24 / CAWG PAC Event - Madera
MARCH
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