YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
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Vaccine Equity in Ag Communities |
Gov. Newsom today announced the state has set aside 40% of vaccine doses for California’s hardest-hit communities and established a vaccine equity metric, which seeks to increase vaccinations in those communities. In part, this is intended to include ag employees and rural communities.
This new approach (see fact sheet) is based on the premise that the pandemic did not affect California communities equally. For the next two weeks, vaccine doses will be allocated based on two steps:
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Eligible population: 70:30 based on the geographic distribution of the population eligible for the vaccine, with 70% based on age eligibility and 30% based on sector eligibility.
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Double allotment for lowest Healthy Places Index (HPI) quartile: Next based on the 70:30 split, zip codes in the first HPI quartile (i.e., those with the lowest 25% HPI scores) will be allocated 40% of the state’s available vaccine doses. This results in twice as much vaccine being available in zip codes with the worst COVID outcomes throughout the pandemic.
HPI tracts can be very small geographically. Please look at the HPI map and zoom into your community to see the HPI score.
Counties have been distributing vaccines and determining eligibility based on a combination of federal, state and local protocols. This distribution has been inconsistent from county to county. With today’s announcement, every county should get a clear message that ag workers are immediately eligible – and a priority – for vaccines.
Blueprint for a Safer Economy
Included in his vaccine equity update, Newsom also announced that consistent with the disproportionate impact of the virus, he is modifying his Blueprint for a Safer Economy to lead with opening activities when vaccines have been deployed to the hardest-hit communities.
The initial goal of the vaccine equity metric is to deliver a minimum of 2 million doses to the hardest-hit quarter of the state as measured by the HPI. The state has currently delivered 1.6 million doses to this quarter of the state. It is estimated that 2 million doses will be delivered in the vaccine equity quartile sometime in the next two weeks.
Once that threshold is reached, the Blueprint for a Safer Economy will be updated to allow for somewhat higher case rates in each tier. This would have the overall effect of allowing counties to loosen health restrictions at a somewhat accelerated pace. The blueprint will be updated again when 4 million doses have been administered in the vaccine equity quartile.
—Michael Miiller / michael@cawg.org / (916) 204-0485
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COVID-19 Resources and Articles |
COVID19.CA.GOV
COUNTY DATA AS OF MARCH 2
Widespread (purple) = 40 (Feb. 23 = 47)
Substantial (red) = 16 (Feb. 23 = 9)
Moderate (orange) = 2 (Feb. 23 = 2)
Minimal (yellow) = 0
MYTURN.CA.GOV
Click here to check vaccine eligibility, sign up for eligibility notifications, schedule vaccine appointments or get notified when appointments are available in your area.
CDPH
CAWG
NEW
New York Times, March 1
Press release, Feb. 26
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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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Government Relations Report |
NEWSOM'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Next week, Gov. Newsom will deliver his third State of the State address in a virtual presentation to the California Legislature from Los Angeles County.
Newsom is expected to focus heavily on his response to the pandemic. This will likely include current trends in public health data, reopening businesses and schools, getting vaccines into arms and the recent COVID-19 relief package. He will also likely discuss broader issues, including climate change, wildfire dangers, social justice, homelessness, wage disparity and more.
In the last few weeks, Newsom has traveled throughout California visiting vaccination sites, public schools and small businesses. As much as possible, he has tried to deliver good news at each tour stop. He will likely continue that trend in his State of the State.
WHEN: Tuesday, March 9 / 6 p.m.
LIVESTREAM:
—Michael Miiller / michael@cawg.org / (916) 204-0485
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Providing the very best California crop insurance services. |
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Grape Crush FINAL Report Scheduled for Wednesday, March 10 |
CAWG will email a notice announcing the report's release, scheduled for 12 p.m. PST on March 10.
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Grapes Fall One Spot to No. 3 CA Commodity in 2019 |
The California Agricultural Statistics Review 2019-2020, recently published by CDFA, features 160 pages of county and sales statistics and other information about the state’s ag industry. The top five valued commodities in 2019 were: Dairy products, milk, $7.34 billion; almonds, $6.09 billion; grapes, $5.41 billion (down 13.6% from $6.25 billion in 2018); cattle and calves, $3.06 billion; and strawberries, $2.22 billion.
On pages 82-86, the report features the Grape Crush Report overview, summary of grape tonnages and prices, leading grape varieties and districts, leading varieties crushed and other statistics.
The state’s 69,900 farms and ranches (up 0.7% from 2018) received a total of $50.1 billion for their output in 2019, up from $49.6 billion in 2018. California’s crop cash receipts far surpassed No. 2 Iowa ($27.5 billion). The average value of California farm real estate increased in 2019 to $10,000 per acre, up 7% from 2018. The value of irrigated cropland increased 5.6% to $15,100 per acre.
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Federal Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan PPP-Related Bills for Farmers |
House Ag Committee member Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-Minn.) last week introduced legislation to amend the Small Business Act to allow farmers and ranchers categorized as partnerships to utilize gross income when calculating maximum Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan amounts. The bipartisan PPP Flexibility for Farmers and Ranchers Act (H.R. 1411) has 61 co-sponsors, including four California representatives.
H.R. 1411 was introduced a few days after Reps. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb) introduced the bipartisan Paycheck Protection Clarification for Producers Act (H.R. 1246) to ensure more farmers and ranchers are eligible for PPP loans.
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Participate in Silicon Valley Bank's Annual DtC Wine Survey |
The 2021 Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) Direct-to-Consumer Wine Survey is open until March 19. The survey, which has up to 34 questions, should take about 15-20 minutes to complete. In May, those who complete the survey will receive high-level analysis, benchmarks and the complete sanitized respondent data, anonymized of all personal and business identifying information. At the end of May, SVB will host a live two-part videocast to review the findings with other industry experts.
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Reminder: Comments Sought on Spotted Lanternfly Exterior Quarantine Regulation |
CDFA provided a notice of changes made to proposed regulation section 3287, which pertains to the spotted lanternfly (SLF) exterior quarantine. The effect of this regulation will be to provide authority for the state to prevent spread of the SLF to noninfested areas to protect California agriculture. CDFA is accepting comments on the proposed changes until March 10.
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Participate in 2021 Advocacy Day! |
Join CAWG members and staff for 2021 Advocacy Day on April 21 (9-11:30 a.m.). CAWG’s lobbying team – led by CAWG Director of Government Relations Michael Miiller and Jack Gualco of The Gualco Group – is planning an exciting and informative morning with key legislators and top regulatory officials. You will hear about priority bills and issues facing the wine industry and find out how you can take action by engaging on issues. Complimentary registration for all CAWG members! Please consider sponsoring this important event.
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Registration Now Open: Second Annual US Sustainable Winegrowing Summit
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The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and regional winery and vineyard associations (including CAWG) are hosting a virtual summit to highlight some of the driving forces behind the increasing interest in sustainable winegrowing. Participants will learn about new ideas on how to bring sustainability education and outreach to vineyards, wineries, consumers and trade.
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Snow Survey: Fifth Straight Dry Month |
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) this week conducted its third manual snow survey in the Sierra Nevada east of Sacramento. The survey recorded a snow depth of 56 inches and a snow water equivalent (SWE) of 21 inches, which is 86% of average for this location. Statewide, the Sierra SWE is 61% of the March 2 average. In comparison, the Sierra’s SWE was 46% of average at this time in 2020 and 153% of average at this time in 2019. DWR’s Karla Nemeth said, “…absent a series of strong storms in March or April, we are going to end with a critically dry year on the heels of last year’s dry conditions.”
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SJV Vineyards: Action to Phase Down Ag Burning by 2025 |
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) on Feb. 25 voted to essentially eliminate ag burning in the San Joaquin Valley by Jan. 1, 2025 as a “step towards ensuring all residents in the valley have healthy air to breathe.” At the hearing, CARB approved a resolution directing its staff to partner with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to reduce burning at the pace needed to meet the 2025 target date.
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Applying Pesticides? Check Out This App |
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s free app – PRESCRIBE – helps pesticide applicators quickly and easily discover if they have any endangered or threatened species in the vicinity of their application site, and the use limitations applicable to the pesticides they intend to use.
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Wine Business, March 4
Wine Business, March 3
North Bay Business Journal, March 3
Following successful efforts, experts are asking what went right and if we can do it again with future infestations.
Good Fruit Grower, March 2
Grapevine, March/April issue
Feb. 28 issue
University of California / ARE Update, Jan/Feb issue
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UCD Viticulture & Enology Events |
Virtually on the Road in Kern County
March 10 / 9:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Walt Klenz—Pioneering Online Wine Sales
March 10 / 5 – 6 p.m.
On the Road in Contra Costa, Alameda Counties
March 16 / 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. (virtual)
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Webinar on Proposed Reg Fee Increase |
ABOUT: To share information, answer questions and receive feedback from registrants and other stakeholders on DPR's proposal to increase registration fees to a level that supports the current and future business functions of the pesticide registration program.
WHEN: March 17 / 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. PDT
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APRIL
22 / CAWG PAC Wine Tasting Event - virtual
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