YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
|
Government Relations Report |
MASKS OR NO MASKS?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced fully vaccinated adults can safely resume activities indoors and outdoors without masks or distancing, in gatherings large or small. The updated guidance is great news as California moves toward a June 15 reopening.
However, keep in mind the CDC guidelines do not preclude the Newsom administration from imposing tighter restrictions for California. On April 6, Gov. Newsom announced a June 15 reopening of the Golden State saying, “businesses can open with common sense risk reduction measures, including encouraging all Californians to get vaccinated and mandating masking.”
On Tuesday though, Newsom had good news: California will look “a lot like the world we entered into before the pandemic.” In an interview with FOX 11 LA, he said there will be “no mandates” and “no restrictions on businesses large and small.” Unfortunately, that good news was short-lived. On Wednesday, Newsom walked back that statement: California “will still likely have some mask guidelines and mandates" for indoor activities.
Newsom’s statements this week create confusion on what mask rules will be in place in California when we reopen on June 15. This confusion is compounded by pending amendments to the emergency temporary standards (ETS), which will be taken up next week by the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (board).
Those amendments are generally helpful to employers as the amendments exempt fully vaccinated employees from several requirements of the ETS. However, the amendments also include new requirements for employers to provide N-95 respirators for voluntary use under certain circumstances.
So, while the CDC is moving to reduce face coverings and physical distancing restrictions, the board is at the same time proposing to increase those requirements by mandating that employers provide N-95s. Consequently, it is not clear whether California employers will see a meaningful easing of workplace safety requirements relative to face coverings and physical distancing.
CAWG is pushing for an immediate repeal of the ETS. But if the ETS stays in place, it needs to be consistent with CDC guidelines.
—Michael Miiller / michael@cawg.org / (916) 204-0485
|
|
|
COVID-19 Resources and Articles |
COVID19.CA.GOV
COUNTY DATA AS OF MAY 11:
Substantial/red = 11 (May 6 = 12)
Moderate/orange = 38 (May 6 = 39)
Minimal/yellow = 9 (May 6 = 7)
CDPH
CAWG
NEW
Governor’s office, May 10
Op-ed by Ivan Marquez, a pediatrician in Sacramento.
Sacramento Bee, May 8
|
|
|
Governor Expands Drought Emergency to 39 More Counties |
Gov. Newsom on Monday expanded his April 21 drought emergency proclamation to include the Klamath River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Tulare Lake Watershed counties. Forty-one counties are now under a drought state of emergency, representing 30% of the state’s population. Newsom's May 10 proclamation directs the State Water Resources Control Board to consider modifying requirements for reservoir releases and diversion limitations. The state of emergency also enables flexibilities in regulatory requirements and procurement processes to mitigate drought impacts.
SNOW WATER EQUIVALENT LEVELS
DROUGHT-RELATED ARTICLES
UC Ag & Natural Resources, May 13
Decanter, May 12
Weather West blog, May 10
CAWG director Kendall Hoxsey-Onysko interviewed.
KPIX/CBS, May 7
|
|
|
 |
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.
|
|
|
|
Video: Is California Ready for Drought? |
The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) held an online event reviewing how the current drought compares to the state’s last major drought (2012-16) and how to reduce its impacts on the most vulnerable sectors. Expert panelists included Alvar Escriva-Bou and Ellen Hanak, PPIC Water Policy Center; Grant Davis, Sonoma Water; Laurel Firestone, State Water Resources Control Board; and Josué Medellín-Azuara, UC Merced.
|
|
|
Water Supply and Demand Visualization Tool |
With the drought evolving, the State Water Resources Control Board has an online tool to explore water supply and demand. The tool is described as a historic checking account balance, allowing users to select previous years and see the amount of water input into the system as water supply and the amount taken out of the system as water diverted. The tool is not designed to be a detailed or real-time water availability model, but rather a high-level look at historic supply and demand, as well as forecasted supply, where available.
|
|
|
Launch of Video Series: Climate Farmers of Sonoma County |
Sonoma County winegrape growers who are engaged in climate solutions are the focus of a new video series produced by Sonoma County Winegrowers and California Land Stewardship Institute. A new video featuring a climate adaptation certification pilot partner will be posted every month. Episode 1 highlights Sunnyview Vineyard of Dutton Ranch in the Russian River Valley.
|
|
|
|
Providing the very best California crop insurance services. |
|
|
|
Sens. Feinstein, Padilla Want Wine Tariffs Eliminated |
California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla are asking U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to "permanently eliminate the unnecessary and damaging tariffs on imported and exported wine that are harming U.S. vintners." In a May 11 letter, they wrote U.S. wine faces a 54% retaliatory tariff in China that in 2019 decreased U.S. exports by 34% to a quickly growing market. A damaging trade war is another burden for vintners in addition to the pandemic, wildfires and drought.
|
|
|
Heat Illness Prevention Resources |
WEBINAR: Heat-related Illness and Injuries, Climate and Practical Solutions for Ag Workers
WHEN: June 7 / 4-5 p.m.
Learn more about recent research on heat-related illness and traumatic injuries among ag populations and adaptations in the context of climate change.
RESOURCES
|
|
|
Assembly Ag Committee Chair Pens Commentary on CA Ag's Future |
Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), chair of the California Assembly Ag Committee, wrote a commentary in the May 12 issue of Ag Alert on the six factors that will ensure California ag industry’s future: competitiveness, resiliency, diversity, worker protections, food security, and sustainability and innovation. He also focused on his fall 2020 tour of ag operations throughout the state (view report), as well as his agenda for the 2021-22 legislative session. His tour included visiting a few CAWG board members and growers in Sonoma County.
|
|
|
Wildfire Preparedness Webinar |
WHEN: May 24 / 10-11 a.m.
Join CSWA, CAWG and Wine Institute for this webinar focused on wildfire preparedness for vineyards and wineries. Topics will include grants for wildfire prevention and preparedness, and wildfire-related insurance issues. Speakers include representatives from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, CalFire, Wine Institute and CAWG.
|
|
CA Rancher to Congress: Active Land Management Key to Wildfire Prevention |
During a recent Congressional hearing, fifth-generation Butte County rancher Dr. Dave Daley gave powerful testimony (read full text here) on controlling catastrophic wildfires with active land management such as prescribed fire and livestock grazing. Daley is a Chico State educator who lost about 80% of his cattle herd in the 2020 Bear Fire. “The consequences of poor management, of poor adaptation to changing conditions has brought us to a place where we need swift, decisive and strategic intervention to interrupt the current fire cycle that perpetuates the negative impacts of drought, fire, loss of biodiversity, decrease in watershed health and more,” he testified to the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
>HEARING WEBPAGE: “Wildfire in a Warming World: Opportunities to Improve Community Collaboration, Climate Resilience and Workforce Capacity”
|
|
|
Western Farm Press, May 13
Lodi Wine Growers, May 12
Press release, May 10
Farm Progress, May 7
AccuWeather, May 5
|
|
Sustainable Winegrowing & Certification Overview
WHEN: May 18 / 10-11 a.m.
Learn about the California Sustainable Winegrowing Program, how to complete a self-assessment using the online portal, the steps required to become Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing, plus other topics.
The Importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Grape and Wine Industries
WHEN: June 7 / 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
SPEAKERS: Representatives from UC Davis and individuals working in the wine/winegrape industries.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
