YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
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- Spotted Lanternfly at Truckee Inspection Station
- New Proposed Data Reports
- Call for Nominations: CAWG Grower and Leader of the Year
- USDA Makes Disaster Frost Declaration for Several Counties
- Charge Complaints for Non-Compliance with the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022
- Ciatti Discusses Recent Slowdown in Grape and Bulk Activity
- Webinar: Hauling: The Road Ahead 7/25 @ 9am
- The Crush Newsletter, July Issue Now Available
- CAWG 2022 Directory Released!
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Spotted Lanternfly at Truckee Inspection Station |
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This week, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) reported the Border Inspection Station at Truckee recently detected lanternfly (SLF) Lycorma delicatula egg masses on a trailer carrying firewood from New Jersey. To our knowledge, this is the first such egg mass detection in California. Past SLF finds in California have been through inspections at airports, and those SLF died in transit.
In 2014, a shipment of granite slabs from China brought the SLF to Pennsylvania, where it made its debut appearance in the US. While the SLF is not a durable or long-flying insect, it has spread to several east coast states through egg masses on tractor trailers, RV’s, containers, train cars, etc. That is why CDFA has been very active in preparing to contain the SLF should it ever arrive in California.
The goal in both of these efforts is to immediately deal with the SLF should it be detected in California and thereby prevent the pest from becoming established. In this vein, the public is encouraged to report any SLF finds to the CDFA Pest Hotline at (800) 491-1899. Visit www.CDFA.ca.gov/plant/ReportAPest/ for more information about filing a report.
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New Proposed Pay Data Reports |
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- Expand state pay data reporting requirements to cover contracted employees (growers would need to file reports for employees of farm labor contractors);
- Require employers to include pay scale information in job postings; and
- Require the Department of Fair Employment and Housing to publish employer pay data reports.
CAWG opposes this legislation mainly for the following two reasons, and we are requesting modifications to address these concerns:
- When the FLC is already required to report pay data, it makes no sense to require growers to file pay data reports for those same employees.
- Making the pay data public, invites public misperceptions of the data and litigation.
The pay data reports require employers to categorize workers across ten broad job categories and pay bands. The reports do not show unlawful or wrongful conduct and those reports, initially required under federal law, were never intended to compare workers performing similar work. Yet, that is exactly how plaintiffs’ attorneys intend to use the reports.
In 2017, a plaintiffs’ attorney told the Sacramento Business Journal that he would use this data to “hammer companies” with litigation. Even if he could not use the report alone to form the sole basis of a lawsuit, it would “help set him on the right track”. This data will be manipulated for discovery, attorney advertising, misleading news stories, and threatening litigation.
The legislature has until August 31 to act on this and other pending legislation.
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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: CAWG’s 2023 Grower and Leader of the Year |
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Nominations are now open for the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Awards of Excellence Program.
The Awards Program presents two awards annually: Grower of the Year and Leader of the Year. These awards are meant to spotlight exceptional people or companies who have benefitted the broader community of winegrape growers through exemplary leadership and outstanding commitment to the well-being of the winegrowing industry, California communities and the environment.
Nominations are due by September 30, 2022.
The CAWG Awards of Excellence reception will be held on Jan. 24, on opening night of the 2023 Unified Wine and Grape Symposium held in Sacramento.
NOMINATION FORMS:
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For more information and to view past award recipients, please view the CAWG website. For questions, contact Natalie Collins, Director of Member Relations.
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USDA Makes Disaster Frost Declaration for Several Counties |
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reviewed the loss assessment reports and determined that there were sufficient production losses to warrant a federal natural disaster designation. Based on that review, Secretary of Agriculture, Thomas J. Vilsack has designated 15 California counties as primary natural disaster areas, in three separate disaster designations.
In his letter to Governor Newsom, Vilsack stated, “A Secretarial disaster designation makes farm operators in primary counties and those counties contiguous to such primary counties eligible to be considered for certain assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. This assistance includes FSA emergency loans. Farmers in eligible counties have 8 months from the date of a Secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans. FSA considers each emergency loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of production losses on the farm and the security and repayment ability of the operator.”
CAWG will be putting together a webinar soon to provide information to growers on relief funding available and what they need to do to obtain that funding.
Click HERE for information from USDA and to see the three frost designations and primary and contiguous counties.
DESIGNATION NUMBER 1: Freeze that occurred Feb 21 - Feb 28, 2022
DESIGNATION NUMBER 2: Freeze that occurred on Feb 24, 2022
DESIGNATION NUMBER 3: Freeze that occurred April 11 - April 13, 2022
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Charge Complaints for Non-Compliance with the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 |
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The Federal Maritime Commission issued the following guidance for parties wishing to dispute charges assessed by common carriers that they believe may not comply with the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, which became Public Law 117-146 on June 16, 2022.
Parties interested in filing such “Charge Complaints” at the Commission may do so by following the following a series of steps, identified here.
When the Commission receives sufficient information, it will promptly initiate an investigation, which could ultimately result in a civil penalty and order for a refund of charges paid.
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Ciatti Discusses Recent Slowdown in Grape and Bulk Activity |
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Ciatti released their July report which discusses a recent slowdown in grape and bulk wine activity, at least in part attributable to difficulties in forming a picture of this year’s crop. The report also focuses on Cabernet, stating that demand levels seem heavily bifurcated between the premium appellations and the rest.
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WEBINAR: Hauling: The Road Ahead |
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WHEN: Monday, July 25th at 9:00am
As harvest fast approaches, growers must take a number of factors into account. One of those factors is the hauling of their fruit from the vineyard to the winery.
Join CAWG and G3 Enterprises for a webinar on Monday, July 25th at 9:00am to discuss trucking factors this year and into the future. Learn how labor, fuel prices, and regulations may impact this year’s hauling and ways that integrated logistics planning and scheduling can help you be prepared.
Presenting will be Yvonne Sams, Sr. Director of California Logistics. Yvonne will share her insights and expertise on the future of agricultural trucking in California.
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The Crush Newsletter - July Issue |
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The July issue of The Crush was sent out earlier in the week. This issue covers the following:
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Winegrape Smoke Exposure: Update on Research, Science, Crop Insurance
- Federal Update
- State Budget Review
- USDA Frost Declaration
- SWEEP Grants Recording
- CAWG Foundation Golf Tournament
- CAWG Foundation Scholarship Recipients
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The California Department of Food and Agriculture provides State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) grants to financially offset the implementation of irrigation systems that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save water on California agriculture operations.
These saving measures include components such as: soil moisture monitoring, drip systems, switching to low pressure irrigation systems, pump retrofits, variable frequency drives and installation of renewable energy to reduce on-farm water use and energy, and
more!
On Thursday, July 7 CAWG teamed up with Tule, HotSpot Ag, and Innovative Ag Services to discuss the SWEEP Grant application process and review water conservation and greenhouse gas emission reduction technologies that qualify under SWEEP.
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CAWG 2022 Membership Directory Now Available |
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The 2022 CAWG Membership Directory is NOW AVAILABLE in a full-color, digital format.
The directory will not be mailed, but can be downloaded and printed if you prefer to view it as a hard copy.
· QUICK LINKS ·
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Advertiser Index and Tabs: Quickly locate a specific advertisement! Scroll over the ad to link to their website, email, or phone number.
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Grower Members: View all CAWG growers in alpha order.
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Associate Members: View all CAWG associate members in alpha order. We encourage members to use those companies who support the winegrape industry!
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All things CAWG: View CAWG history, Board of Directors, staff & more!
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Member Index: View grower members by Crush District and associate members by supply/service category.
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