YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
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News of Rebounding Wine Markets Sets Upbeat Mood at 2022 Unified Symposium |
The three-day Unified Wine & Grape Symposium wrapped up today, concluding with a session focused on managing wildfire smoke risks in the vineyard. Over the three-day event, more than 6,000 attendees attended the trade show and seminar sessions at the remodeled and fully updated SAFE Credit Union Sacramento Convention Center. The trade show floor featured more than 600 exhibitors.
One of the highlights of the show was the Wednesday morning State of the Industry session, which included CAWG director and grower member, Jeff Bitter, president of Allied Grape Growers. Bitter described the grape market as "very stable," due to two successive years of below average winegrape harvests in California. Moreover, reduced winegrape harvests overseas and supply chain issues reduced the threat of significant bulk wine movement from foreign wine producers into the U.S. Grape prices for 2022 have firmed up and are expected to remain stable.
For more information on the State of the Industry session, read the following article by Kerana Todorov in Wine Business Monthly.
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Paid COVID Leave Requirement to Return |
This week Governor Newsom announced a deal with legislative leaders to bring back mandatory paid leave for COVID exposure and cases at work. While the governor announced this as an agreement on a “framework”, no details are yet available.
It appears the paid leave requirement will apply retroactively to January 1, 2022 and would require employers to provide up to 40 hours of paid leave per employee through September 30, 2022. The use of sick leave, vacation or other leave does not substitute for the required COVID paid leave. Paid COVID leave is in addition to other employer provided leave options that may be available. If an employer currently has a leave program specific to COVID, that leave can be used for this purpose.
Additionally, Newsom announced agreement was reached to provide companies with state tax relief related to net operating loss and research and development tax credits. This agreement effectively restores tax credits that were limited in early 2020 when it was projected that the state budget would face a significant deficit due to the pandemic.
Details are expected early next week, followed by quick approval from the state legislature.
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USDA to Announce Sign Up for 2020 Disaster Assistance this Spring |
John Aguirre, CAWG president, was briefed this Wednesday by USDA Farm Service Agency staff leaders who explained their intention to announce the availability of Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) funds for 2020 and 2021 wildfire losses in California. Farm groups across the nation, including CAWG, have been urging USDA to release WHIP+ funds for growers affected by natural disasters. USDA officials explained they have been working on administrative aspects of the program designed to speed up the application process for growers, particularly those who have a previous history of crop insurance. USDA's Farm Service Agency, which administers WHIP+, and the Risk Management Agency, which operates the federal crop insurance program, are working together on rolling out WHIP+.
WHIP+ is expected to provide payments of up to $250,000 in a crop year for disaster related losses for persons or entities who derive at least 75% of their adjusted gross income from farming, ranching or forestry. If less than 75% of their AGI is derived from farming, ranching or forestry, the WHIP+ payment will be capped at $125,000.
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New Officers Elected to PD/GWSS Board
This week, Domonic Rossini of Fratello Farming in Denair, completed his term as chair of the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (PD/GWSS) Board. Rossini was elected chair on February 3, 2020 and has nimbly and capably led the board in this COVID era where all meetings occurred remotely. Following the end of Rossini’s term, the board selected Will Drayton to serve as chair and Randy Heinzen as vice-chair.
Drayton is the Director of Technical Viticulture and Research Winemaking at Treasury Wine Estates in St. Helena. He oversees the technical and scientific aspects of grape growing for their California operations, as well as their Sensory Science and Research Winemaking teams. Drayton holds a master’s degree from UC Davis in Horticulture and Agronomy and undergraduate degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge.
Heinzen joined Vineyard Professional Services, Inc. in Paso Robles in 2013 and acquired the company in May of 2017. Prior to moving his family to Templeton, he was a vineyard manager at Beckstoffer Vineyards in Napa. Heinzen graduated from Cal Poly with a minor in Viticulture, and spent time at the University of Adelaide in Australia working on a masters degree in Viticulture.
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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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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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FEBRUARY
24 / CAWG PAC Event - Madera
MARCH
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