YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
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Small Business Relief Fund Application Deadline Extended to Jan. 13 |
The deadline to apply for the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program (round one) has been extended from Jan. 8 to Jan. 13. Farmers who meet the eligibility requirements could receive a grant award administered by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate. The grants range from $5,000 to $25,000.
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CAWG is working closely with CDFA and the California Department of Public Health to determine how and when food and agricultural workers in rural communities will be vaccinated. These workers are in phase 1b, the second highest order of priority to receive vaccines.
Populations in phase 1b (occupational exposure, equity, societal impact, economic impact, food and agriculture, education and childcare workers, emergency services workers, and those 75 years and older) will start to be vaccinated mid- to-late January.
The committee is next diving further into possible criteria for sub-prioritization such as: Level of occupational exposure, risk of severe disease or death within occupation, live or work in disadvantaged communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and likelihood of spreading disease to coworkers and the public.
CAWG is continuing to work with the Newsom administration to determine how employers can advise employees on where to go for a vaccine, and we hope to have more information soon.
-Michael Miiller / michael@cawg.org / (916) 204-0485
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Coalition Lawsuit Challenging Cal/OSHA ETS Garners Media Attention |
Nearly 20 media outlets published the press release or an article about the ag and business coalition's lawsuit against Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 emergency temporary standards (ETS). CAWG will continue to provide members with updates about the progress of the litigation.
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AGRICULTURE: American Vineyard Magazine, Wine Industry Advisor, Wine Business, California Ag Today, Fruit Growers News, And Now You Know, Fresh Plaza, Farm Progress, The Packer, Agri-Pulse, Capital Press
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COVID-19 Resources and Articles |
COVID-19.CA.GOV
>JAN. 5 COUNTY DATA:
Widespread (purple) = 54
Substantial (red) = 3
Moderate (orange) = 1
Minimal (yellow) = 0
>JAN. 5 REGIONAL ICU CAPACITY
NorCal: 25.4%
Greater Sacramento: 9.2%
Bay Area: 3.5%
SJV: 0.0%
SoCal: 0.0%
Stay home order in four out of five regions.
CA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
CAWG
AFBF, Jan. 6
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With over 30 harvests, the G3 Ag Team has deep experience in winegrape hauling. Our operational expertise and agile planning combine to provide responsive service for wineries and grape growers large and small. Click on image or here to view video.
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UNIFIED WINE & GRAPE SYMPOSIUM |
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PROGRAM
The Unified Program Development Committee has put together a timely and informative program.
TASTING KITS AVAILABLE!
Panel: The World is Changing but the Varietals We Grow Haven’t. Are We Missing Out?
SPONSORSHIP & AD OPPORTUNITIES
Sponsorships and advertising are still available...they will increase your brand visibility in our virtual platform and on the UW&GS website!
- Platform lobby banner: $5,000 (one available)
- The Theater (video): Four available per day
- NEW! Ad redirecting: Four packages available
- Breakout session sponsorship: $2,500 (three per session)
- Regional wine associations: $2,000 (multiple available)
- General sponsorships: Diamond ($10,000), platinum ($7,500), gold ($5,000), silver ($2,500), bronze ($1,500) and benefactor ($750)
- Commercial breaks: $2,500
For more information: contact Jenny Devine at jenny@cawg.org or (916) 379-8995.
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Grape Crush Survey Due Jan. 8 |
Growers must submit 2020 Grape Crush Report surveys by Friday, Jan. 8.
CAWG urges every processor of winegrapes to complete and return their survey. For information, visit CDFA's Grape Crush Report survey webpage. For reference, CAWG issued a press release in November that addressed the survey and smoke affected winegrapes.
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CA Receives Millions for Pest Mitigation, Plant Health Projects |
USDA is allocating $17.1 million to California as part of its effort to support pest detection and surveillance, identification and threat mitigation, and to safeguard the U.S. nursery production system. USDA provides this funding via the Plant Protection Act Section 7721.
Funding is earmarked for numerous activities, including:
- Eliminating transmission of xylella fastidiosa by the glassy-winged sharpshooter using CRISPR.
- Postharvest treatments for spotted lanternfly.
- Surveying for invasive fruit flies.
- Supporting ag detector dog teams that search for harmful invasive plant pests.
- Supporting National Clean Plant Network foundation plant stocks (including grapes).
- Supporting California’s Emergency Plant Health Response teams in managing outbreaks of exotic plant pests.
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CA Pesticide Data from 2018 Now Available; Sulfur Tops List |
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation recently released pesticide use data for 2018. Compared to 2017, pounds of active ingredients (AIs) increased by just over 2.6 million (1.28 percent), while the acres treated increased by around 859,000 (0.82 percent). Almonds were No. 1 with 39,207,142 pounds AI (25,309,756 acres treated/1,390,000 acres planted), followed by winegrapes with 30,345,692 pounds AI (11,101,106 acres treated; 637,000 acres planted). Sulfur was at the top of the list for highest total reported pounds.
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Podcast: New Regulations – From COVID to Wildfires
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The Vineyard Team’s Jan. 7 podcast features Lauren Noland-Hajik, attorney and lobbyist at Kahn, Soares & Conway, who discusses: new and upcoming policies, including how ag can be a solution for wildfires; a bill to create consistent training for N95 mask use; AB 685 defining a COVID outbreak and the notification procedure; SB 1159 defining where COVID cases are presumed to be contracted; SB 1383 expanding protected family leave; and Prop 15 impacting property taxes. She anticipates more bills on employee protection, legislation around recycling, and the codification of Cal/OSHA emergency regulations into bills.
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Standard Mileage Rate Decrease in 2021 |
The IRS issued the 2021 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. Effective Jan. 1, the standard mileage rate for the use of a car (plus vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be 56 cents for every mile of business travel driven, down 1.5 cents from the rate for 2020.
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Impact of Wildfires on California Agriculture Report |
The Assembly Ag Committee on Nov. 18, 2020 held an informational hearing to explore the impacts wildfires have had on California agriculture over the past five years. A recently-released report highlights participant testimony and policy issues that arose from the discussion and information submitted by stakeholders. Additional information can be found on the committee’s website.
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First Snow Survey of the Winter Season |
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) on Dec. 30 conducted its first manual snow survey in the Sierra Nevada east of Sacramento (Phillips Station). The survey recorded 30.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent (SWE) of 10.5 inches, which is 93% of the Jan. 1 average. In comparison, 2020 stats were 33.5 inches of snow depth and a SWE of 11 inches, which was 97% of average. Conditions were positive at Phillips Station, but it is just one of the 130 stations throughout the state. As of Jan. 7, statewide the snowpack is just 52% of average for this date.
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CAWG Foundation Scholarship Apps Due March 5 |
Please share this information with your employees!
WHO: Students whose parent or legal guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower.
WHAT: Four-year scholarships are $8,000 each for students attending a University of California or California State University campus. 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.
WHEN: Apply by March 5.
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$494,500
Amount the foundation has awarded to students since the program started in 1998.
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Press Democrat, Jan. 6
Wine Spectator, Jan. 6
Lodi News Sentinel, Jan. 5
North Bay Business Journal, Jan. 5
Press Democrat, Jan. 5
Dec. 31
Press release, Dec. 24
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