YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
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CFAP 2 Application Deadline is Friday, Dec. 11 |
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept applications for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) through Friday, Dec. 11. This is the second round of funding that provides ag producers – including winegrape growers – with financial assistance to help with market disruptions and associated costs due to COVID-19. If you need one-on-one support with the application process, call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee. This is recommended before contacting the FSA county office at your local USDA Service Center.
CFAP 2 has provided $11.6 billion in funding, with a total of $14 billion available.
CFAP 2 payments as of Dec. 6: For all categories, California ranked No. 2 with $805 million. For the sales commodities category only, California ranked No. 1 with $562.4 million. >DATA DASHBOARD
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CA Notify, A COVID-19 App |
Starting today, a new tool is available for Californians to determine if they have been in contact with another person who has tested positive for COVID-19. The CA Notify app is free through iPhone settings or on Android phones by downloading the CA Notify app from the Google Play Store. Californians may start receiving availability alerts from their phones today.
The governor’s office reports that when people voluntarily activate CA Notify, the tool uses Bluetooth technology to exchange random codes between phones without revealing the user’s identity or location. If a CA Notify user tests positive for COVID-19, they will receive a verification code to plug into the app, if they choose. Any other CA Notify users who have been within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more of the COVID-19 positive individual in a 24-hour period will get an anonymous notification of possible exposure.
App users who have tested positive for COVID-19 will get a text from the California Department of Public Health with a code, which they can enter into CA Notify, triggering an alert to phones of people who may have been exposed in the previous 14 days. –Michael Miiller
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COVID-19 Study on Farmworkers |
A collaborative effort between Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas and the UC Berkeley School of Public Health looked at the extent and causes of COVID-19 among Salinas Valley farmworkers. Nearly 1,100 farmworkers participated in the July through November study. The goal was to identify risk factors of infection among farmworkers to inform evidence-based preventative strategies. The report found that housing is a major source of community spread, more than 97% of employers provided information about how farmworkers could protect themselves at work, and 72% of employers provided information on how to get COVID-19 testing or treatment. To protect farmworker health, and ultimately secure the food supply, researchers offered recommendations for policymakers and community leaders.
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COVID-19 Resources and Articles |
>DEC. 8 DATA:
Minimal (yellow) = 0
Moderate (orange) = 1
Substantial (red) = 3
Widespread (purple) = 54 (99.9% of CA population)
>DEC. 2 DATA:
Minimal (yellow) = 0
Moderate (orange) = 1
Substantial (red) = 5
Widespread (purple) = 52 (99.2% of CA population)
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Data and tier assignments are updated weekly. |
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Government Relations Report |
THEY’RE BACK!
After a three-month recess, this week the California Legislature kicked off the 2021-22 legislative session. The largely ceremonial organizational floor proceedings of the Senate and Assembly were unique due to steps taken to reduce the risk of potential spread of COVID-19. The Senate met in the Senate chamber but allowed several senators to participate remotely. The Assembly convened on the open floor of the Golden One Arena, home of the Sacramento Kings. How the Legislature is going to meet in early 2021 is unclear due to the surge in cases.
Below are a few bills of note that were introduced this week:
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AB 9 (Wood, D-Santa Rosa) and SB 12 (McGuire, D-Healdsburg) increase efforts to prevent wildfires.
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AB 14 (Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters), AB 34 (Muratsuchi, D-Torrance) and AB 41 (Wood, D-Santa Rosa) take a variety of steps to expand broadband.
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AB 20 (Lee, D-San Jose) prohibits candidates from taking campaign contributions from businesses.
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AB 62 (Gray, D-Ceres) requires the state to pay employers’ cost of complying with the new COVID-19 emergency regulation.
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AB 73 (R. Rivas, D-Hollister) creates a state stockpile of N-95 masks for ag workers during wildfires.
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AB 95 (Low, D-Campbell) requires employers to provide job-protected bereavement leave.
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SB 52 (Dodd, D-Napa) allows the governor to declare a state of emergency during power shutdowns, just like blackouts.
The Legislature will reconvene in January 2021.
-Michael Miiller / michael@cawg.org / (916) 204-0485
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Urge Congress to Pass Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act |
Wine Institute, Wine America and other members of a beverage alcohol coalition need the industry’s immediate help to secure a permanent extension of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA, S. 362 / H.R. 1175) before the tax benefits expire on Dec. 31, 2020. The legislation is supported by 77 senators and 351 representatives. According to Wine Institute, California wineries have saved more than $225 million dollars in excise taxes since the bill went into effect in 2018. A tax increase would be devastating to the industry. The coalition is asking supporters to take a few minutes to contact California’s senators and representatives. CAWG supports the CBMTRA.
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Vilsack Tapped to Return as Ag Secretary |
President-elect Joe Biden today officially announced Tom Vilsack as his nominee for agriculture secretary, with mixed reviews from various groups. He has been president and CEO (bio) of the U.S. Dairy Export Council since February 2017. Vilsack previously served as the leader of USDA for eight years in the Obama administration. He does not have a farming background, but he served two terms as the governor of Iowa and in the Iowa State Senate (Iowa is the No. 2 ag state behind California). According to an AP News article, Biden’s relationship with Vilsack goes back decades, and Vilsack has been a longtime Biden supporter.
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Photo: U.S. Dairy Export Council |
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Study: Xylella fastidiosa and GWSS Population Dynamics in the Southern San Joaquin Valley of California |
Published in the November issue of Plant Disease, this study was authored by researchers from USDA Agricultural Research Service in Parlier and UC Cooperative Extension in Bakersfield.
Excerpt from the abstract: Analysis of insecticide records indicated that vineyards…were typically treated with a systemic neonicotinoid in spring of each year. As a result, abundance of GWSS was typically low in late spring and early summer, with abundance of GWSS adults increasing in late June and early July of each year. Collectively, the results suggest that late summer is a crucial time for X. fastidiosa secondary spread in vineyards in the southern San Joaquin Valley, because GWSS abundance, number of GWSS testing positive for X. fastidiosa, and grapevines with detectable pathogen populations were all greatest during this period.
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Photo: Regents of the University of California |
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Congratulations to the new officers of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), who were elected at the November board meeting: Peter Work of Ampelos Cellars, chair; Mike Boer of Grow West, vice chair; and Katie Jackson of Jackson Family Wines, treasurer/secretary.
The CSWA board of directors consists of winegrowers representing vineyards and wineries. CAWG President John Aguirre and Wine Institute President/CEO Bobby Koch also sit on the board.
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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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CAWG's preferred partner for insurance products for more than 20 years. Group workers' comp, wine industry package, federal crop insurance, employee benefits and more. For more information: 209-955-2600 or email.
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Providing the very best California crop insurance services. |
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House Passes Bill to Study Drone Interference in Fighting Wildfires |
The House today passed the bipartisan Aerial Incursion Repercussion (AIR) Safety Act, which directs the Bureau of Land Management and USDA Forest Service to study how drone trespassing has affected wildfire suppression and costs. The vote was 382-6. The bill, introduced last year by California Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah), now heads to the Senate. “When unauthorized drones enter a wildfire area, firefighters must ground helicopters and their own drones – both critical components to wildland firefighting – until the drone is removed. This means that far too often, valuable time and resources are spent removing civilian drones instead of containing and suppressing fire,” Curtis said in a press release.
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Read the Latest Unified eNews! |
Check out today's Unified Symposium eNews, which features details about the wine tasting session, a preview of program sessions, virtual tradeshow and more!
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Membership Renewal Reminder |
Thank you for your continued support in ensuring a strong unified voice for the winegrape industry. The CAWG membership year is Dec. 1, 2020 to Nov. 30, 2021. Dues are $4.75 per acre and minimum grower dues are $250 a year for 52.6 acres or less. If you did not receive your renewal, please contact CAWG Director of Member Relations Natalie Collins at natalie@cawg.org.
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COVID-19 Emergency Workplace Standards
The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board hastily approved new emergency regulations that place strict and costly COVID-19 prevention requirements on employers that go far beyond the workplace and essentially hold employers responsible for community spread. All California employers are expected to comply. This webinar discusses the regulation and how it applies to wineries and winegrape growers.
California Winegrowers Cultivate Healthy Soils
Learn about the latest soil research and how winegrape growers are implementing sustainable practices. Hosted by CSWA, CAWG and Wine Institute.
Whole Farm Revenue Protection – Revenue Losses
Learn more about whole-farm revenue protection to insure and protect your farming revenue.
Grapes – Federal Multi-Peril Crop Insurance
Learn more about the MPCI to insure and protect your winegrape production.
2021 Changes in Employment Law
A roundup of state labor legislation, guidelines and regulations that recently took effect or will take effect in January 2021. Learn how they may affect your operation and how to comply.
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Sacramento County
Winegrapes, once again, took the lead as the highest valued commodity at $175.4 million, down from $186.8 million in 2018. Production stats: 35,514 harvested acres (36,381 in 2018), 316,075 tons (320,153 in 2018) and $555 per ton ($583 in 2018).
Santa Cruz County
The total value of winegrapes in 2019 was $5.86 million, a substantial increase from $4.2 million in 2018. Production stats: 679 acres (630 in 2018), 2.54 tons per acre (2.27 in 2018), 1,725 tons (1,432 in 2018) and $3,394 per ton ($2,930 in 2018).
Calaveras County
Winegrapes continue to increase in value, as the price remained steady and production increased. The total value of winegrapes in 2019 was $4.5 million, a significant increase from $3.4 million in 2018. Production stats: 711 acres (711 in 2018), 4.5 tons per acre (3.2 in 2018), 3,200 tons (2,275 in 2018) and $1,420 per ton ($1,490 in 2018).
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Western Farm Press, Dec. 10
Press release, Dec. 9
Wine Business, Dec. 8
North Bay Business Journal, Dec. 7
Grape Notes, UC ANR, Dec. 5
November issue
Bureau of Reclamation, Nov. 19
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