YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
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- $5 Million Appropriated for Wildfire Smoke Research in Winegrapes
- What is a COVID-19 Close Contact
- FAIR Plan Insurance Coverage
- CSWA: New Interactive Collection of Milestones
- GFA Webinar with Jon Moramarco - June 29
- Growers Can Benefit from the SWEEP Program
- WEBINAR: Update on Multi-State, USDA-NIFA Funded Smoke Impact Research Project - June 27
- DPR Looking for Feedback on Pesticide Application Notification System
- CAWG Events: Regional Roadshow, Foundation Golf Tournament
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$5 Million Appropriated for Wildfire Smoke Research in Winegrapes |
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This morning, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee marked-up and passed the FY 2023 appropriations bill for the Department of Agriculture.
Below are some highlights:
The Committee has appropriated $5 million for wildfire smoke taint research on winegrapes; which is an additional $500,000 above the fiscal year 2022 support of these research efforts.
The Committee supports research to identify the compounds responsible for smoke taint, establish a reliable database of background levels of smoke taint compounds occurring naturally in wine grapes, develop mitigation methods to reduce or eliminate smoke taint, and study compounds that can act as a barrier between the grapes and smoke compounds. In addition, the Committee supports research to establish standard methodologies for sampling and testing of smoke exposed grapes and smoke affected wines.
USDA-APHIS Specialty Crop Pests received $219,698,000, an increase of $10 million over FY 2022. From these funds the Committee includes:
- $22,266,000 for the glassy-winged sharpshooter; (additional $1m from FY 22)
- $5,043,000 for the European grapevine moth;
- $18,319,000 for spotted lanternfly (additional $1m from FY 22)
Additionally, CAWG requested that the Committee continue to include a provision to prohibit the Food and Drug Administration from regulating winegrapes under the Food Safety Modernization Act. This request was included in the FY 23 appropriations bill.
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What is a COVID-19 Close Contact? |
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The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently issued a health order redefining 'close contact to a person with COVID'. Since early in the pandemic the definition of close contact was the 6-15-24 rule – Someone who is located within 6 feet of the person with COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
Close contact is now defined as follows: “Someone sharing the same indoor airspace (e.g., home, clinic waiting room, airplane etc.) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes) during an infected person's (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) infectious period.”
CDPH’s health order applies to workplace safety standards and this week Cal/OSHA updated their FAQs to reflect this new definition from CDPH. Additionally, CDPH issued new FAQs this week to address the obvious subjectivity of their new definition. For example: Are all employees in a workspace a close contact if the indoor airspace is a large winery or an open-air mechanic’s shop?
CDPH FAQs somewhat address this and state, “Because COVID-19 is airborne, it can travel within indoor spaces, and large indoor spaces may create close contacts. When responding to a potential exposure, entities may prioritize the response by . . . Identifying close contacts who may be considered "high-risk contacts" based on their proximity to the case in the setting, the duration or intensity of their exposure, and/or their greater risk of severe illness or death from an exposure.”
In short, determining whether someone is a close contact just got substantially more difficult as this new definition will likely be applied on a case-by-case basis. Employers may want to contact their HR professional or labor attorney to determine how this change applies to their individual workplace.
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FAIR Plan Insurance Coverage |
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The California Department of Insurance (DOI) has announced that it will hold an “investigatory hearing” into the operations of FAIR Plan. DOI will explore “(1) the concerns and changing needs of California consumers, organizations, businesses, and brokers, and (2) what additional changes are needed to the FAIR Plan’s operations, governance, business practices, and coverage offerings to enable it to continue to meet those needs far into the future.”
As the “insurer of last resort” established in 1968, the FAIR Plan’s fundamental mission is to meet the needs of Californians who are unable to find insurance in the traditional marketplace. As commercial insurance has been difficult to obtain for far too many growers, SB 11 (Rubio) was signed into law in July, 2021 to make FAIR Plan coverage available to farmers for commercial buildings on farmland. Additionally, last November DOI substantially increased the coverage limits of FAIR Plan policies. After an extensive rate review by DOI, coverage under SB 11 was made available this spring.
CAWG is currently examining whether FAIR Plan policies are easily accessible, meet coverage needs, and are a viable option for growers. If you have an experience with FAIR Plan coverage that CAWG should be aware of, please contact Michael Miiller at Michael@CAWG.org.
If you want to personally participate in the hearing, please register here.
The hearing can also be attended in person on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. at the California Department of Insurance, 1901 Harrison Street, 3rd Floor - Room # 30000, Oakland, California 94612.
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Wildfire Preparedness Webinar Recording |
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CAWG along with Wine Institute and the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) hosted a June 22, 2022, webinar focused on wildfire preparedness for vineyards and wineries. Topics included available resources, technologies and industry efforts related to wildfire prevention and preparedness.
View additional resources at the following links:
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CSWA Announces a New Interactive Collection of Milestones |
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The California wine community has no shortage of milestones and successes when it comes to sustainability. With the support of its grower and vintner partners, sustainability-focused educational and certification programs have thrived in an industry that has long-valued environmental and community stewardship.
From early work on integrated pest management, extensive education and outreach efforts, comprehensive certification standards that add transparency and credibility, collaborative climate action, to the celebration of leaders through the California Green Medal awards, the long list of milestones show the unwavering commitment of growers and vintners to foster a healthy environment and vibrant communities.
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Gomberg, Fredrikson and Associates Webinar Series with Jon Moramarco |
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When: June 29th, 2022 @ 9:00am PDT
Jon Moramarco, a partner in and the Editor of the Gomberg Fredrikson Report; and the Managing Partner of bw166, will review the U.S. wine market and the post-pandemic environment.
The key topics that will be addressed are:
- Initial look at the Q1 beverage alcohol market
- Initial look at the Q1 wine market
- Comparison of various data sources for market analysis
- Supply chain and inflation factors impacting the industry.
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CA Growers Can Benefit from SWEEP Grants |
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California growers are always hunting for new ways to conserve water and use less energy, especially in drought years like this one. With an innovative grant program, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) makes it easier than ever for growers to fund these projects.
CDFA’s State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program (SWEEP) provides grants to growers looking to save water or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The 2021 SWEEP program awarded $43 million to fund 283 grower projects!
The application window for SWEEP typically opens in October and runs until January or when all designated grant funding is awarded, whichever comes first. However, growers should prepare for the process before harvest begins. Any grower interested in learning more about the summer workshops should visit www.tuletech.info/sweep-grants.
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DPR Looking for Feedback on Pesticide Application Notification System |
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The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DRP) will be hosting three public workshops at the end of the month to collect input on the next phase of the state's pesticide application notification system.
The 2021-2022 state budget allocated $10 million to DPR to begin the development of a statewide system that provides information to the public about pesticides used around them. The system is intended to provide information in advance of pesticide applications occurring near where people live, work, or play.
These workshops will be held via zoom and can be accessed at the links below. No registration is required.
For more information on the statewide pesticide application notification system, visit the DPR website.
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WEBINAR: Update on Multi-State, USDA-NIFA Funded Smoke Impact Research Project |
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WHEN: Monday, June 27 at 1:00pm
During this hour, project leads Drs. Tom Collins (WSU), Anita Oberholster (UC Davis), and Elizabeth Tomasino (OSU) will talk about the logistics, progress to date, and what’s next for the multi-year, grant-funded research project focusing on wildfire smoke-exposed wine grapes in CA, OR and WA.
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CAWG Regional Roadshow - LAST ONE |
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June 27 | Lodi | Wine Social
Location
Woodbridge Golf & Country
800 East Woodbridge Rd, Woodbridge
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Guest Speaker: John Roncoroni, Ph.D., Weed Specialist
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THANK YOU to our Regional Roadshow Premier Sponsors! |
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Complimentary registration for all CAWG members.
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CAWG Foundation Golf Tournament | Monday, June 27 |
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The California Association of Winegrape Growers Foundation 3rd Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament, sponsored by Duarte Nursery, is scheduled for this coming Monday, June 27 at Woodbridge Golf and Country Club. Tournament proceeds support scholarships for college age children whose parent or guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower.
Tournament check-in opens at 9 a.m. followed by a 10 a.m. shotgun start. The tournament will be played as a four-person scramble format. The day will include games, a hole in one contest, and a reception with prizes, drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Following the golf tournament CAWG will host its Regional Roadshow reception at the club house, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. To register for the tournament, click here.
The 92-year-old Woodbridge Golf & Country Club is located in the heart of Lodi’s wine country and the valley’s finest wineries. The golf course features 27 distinctive holes on its three-championship course.
For information about the CAWG Foundation, please click here.
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JUNE
28 / CAWG Board of Directors Meeting - Woodbridge
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