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YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS
FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY
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This week's eNews Includes:
CAWG News:
- CAWG Announces 2024 Awards of Excellence Recipients
- Addressing the Insurance Crisis
- New Oriental Fruit Fly Quarantine - Contra Costa County
- Lake County Hitch Emergency Regulations
- CAWG PAC Dinner at Guantonios in Lodi
- CAWG's Issue of The Crush Newsletter
- eAlert: New Card Check FAQs from ALRB
Industry News:
- Insurance Looms as California Legislature Nears End of Session
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TTB Establishes Winters Highlands Viticultural Area & Proposes Two New AVAs
- National Labor Board Once Again Shifts the Scales to Ensure More Employee Conduct is Considered Protected Concerted Activity
- Napa County to Receive $500,000 in Funding for Farmer Training & Recruitment
- Gallo Buys Second Napa Valley Winery in a Week
Upcoming Events
- Open-Air Ag Burning Outreach Meeting for San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers - Sept. 12
- Wage and Hour Compliance in the Field, Packhouse, and Plant Webinar - Sept. 12
- Building Domestic Stability and Global Influence Through Innovation Webinar - Sept. 13
- Time to Prepare: An Employer’s Blueprint for the New Overtime Rule Webinar - Sept. 14
- FIRA USA 2023 - See Autonomous Farming Solutions in Action - Sept.19-21
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Congratulations to CAWG's 2024 Awards of Excellence Recipients
The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) announced the selection of Sonoma County grower Sangiacomo Family Vineyards as the 2024 Grower of the Year, and California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross as the 2024 Leader of the Year. To honor both, CAWG will be hosting an Awards of Excellence Reception on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. The reception will be held during the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, immediately following the Welcome Reception at the Sheraton Grand Hotel.
"With a farming legacy that spans generations, the Sangiacomo family is recognized industry-wide for their pioneering spirit, commitment to sustainable practices, innovation, and community engagement,” said Collins. “It's an honor to recognize their contributions and celebrate their well-deserved title as Grower of the Year.”
"Secretary Ross's visionary approach and collaborative nature, both during her tenure as President of CAWG and demonstrated through her leadership as Secretary of CDFA, have paved the way for the continued success of California’s winegrape industry. As we approach the celebration of CAWG's 50th anniversary in 2024, honoring Secretary Ross as our Leader of the Year holds a special significance," said Collins.
PRESS RELEASE
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Addressing the Insurance Crisis
This week, CAWG joined eight other industry organizations, including the California Farm Bureau, in calling for legislation to be passed to address the insurance crisis before the legislature adjourns next week for the year. The letter calls for legislation that will increase insurance availability and reliability in California.
The letter underscores the challenging reality facing too many growers where the only insurance available to them is the FAIR Plan which is intended to be the insurer of last resort. It further states, “Without immediate action, California could well face a meltdown of the entire insurance industry in the event of a catastrophic wildfire causing major losses to the FAIR Plan.”
CAWG staff is optimistic we will see legislation on this issue very soon. For more information, read the CalMatters article in Industry News below.
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Lake County Hitch Emergency Regulations
This week, the California Water Resources Control Board proposed a new regulation to require Lake County growers to report well information to the Board. The Board states that this is an effort to save the endangered Clear Lake hitch (a native small fish). The proposal is intended to result in the collection of information including groundwater well location and depth, extraction rates or volumes, timing and frequency of extractions, beneficial uses, and other information.
The Board asserts that this information is essential to determine the effects of groundwater use on stream flows which may be helpful in protecting the hitch during spawning in those streams. However, in other settings, the Board also asserts, on a more statewide basis, that the use of groundwater may affect the water rights of streams in the watershed where the well is located. Consequently, the Board would like to get more statewide data on wells.
CAWG has been very active in efforts to protect the hitch and we appreciate the collaborative efforts of area winegrape growers, our industry partners, Board members, and Board staff. However, we also believe that any regulatory action that is based on Governor Newsom’s executive order calling for actions to save the hitch must be focused only on the hitch and not on a broader water regulatory objective.
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CAWG PAC Dinner at Guantonios in Lodi
Join the CAWG PAC and the CAWG Board on Tuesday, October 24, for an intimate family-style dinner and fundraiser at Guantonios, in Lodi. Space is limited! The evening will include a farm-to-fork specialty dinner menu paired with California wines.
Guantonios is a family-owned and operated restaurant focused on, and inspired by, the beauty that is Northern California agriculture.
Don't miss this opportunity to support the CAWG PAC and join us at one of Lodi's most popular restaurants.
Download the event flyer here.
For Sponsorship opportunities, contact Jenny Devine.
Register here.
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CAWG's September Issue of The Crush Newsletter
Earlier today, the September issue of The Crush Newsletter was released.
ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS
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Feature Story: Rural Crime and Farm Equipment Theft
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Federal Focus: Federal Crop Insurance Updates
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State Update: An Imbalance of Power
- Padilla Announced Legislation to Improve Access to Federal Ag Disaster Relief Programs
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That's The Ticket - What the Heck?
- CAWG Announces 2024 Awards of Excellence Recipients
- Clearing the Air - Open-Air Ag Burning Outreach Meeting for Winegrowers
- Unified Wine & Grape Symposium: Registration & Housing Open October 17
- September is California Wine Month
- Lawmakers, Winegrapes & Technology: The Future of Farming
- Regional Round-up: Sonoma County Vintners Foundation Awards 55 Community Grants
- Webinar Recording: Streamline Disease Scouting with Aerial Imagery
- CAWG PAC Dinner at Guantonios in Lodi
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e-Alert: New Card Check FAQs from ALRB
Yesterday, CAWG issued an eAlert regarding the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB)'s Frequently Asked Questions guide for AB 113 (Committee on Budget) that was released earlier this week. The guide makes several changes to the Agricultural Labor Relations Act relating to elections, new civil penalties, and an appeals bond. The ALRB has also posted a majority support petition form on its website.
AB 113 was a budget trailer bill signed into law in May (in advance of the budget) and reflects Governor Newsom’s agreement with the United Farm Workers and California Labor Federation last year when he signed AB 2183 (Card Check).
The new employer obligations under AB 113 and the new bond requirements for unfair labor practice proceedings and mandatory mediation and conciliation proceedings are of importance to winegrape growers.
Read the full eAlert here.
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Insurance Looms as California Legislature Nears End of Session
As the 2023 California Legislature nears the end of the current session, lawmakers are confronting the task of processing nearly 1,000 bills. Dan Walters wrote an opinion piece for CalMatters outlining some of the high-profile measures that remain on the legislative agenda, including California's insurance crisis.
As Walters states in the article, "The insurance industry has indicated that shoring up the California market would require legislation or new rules from Lara (Insurance Commissioner) to allow insurers to build potential future exposure into their premiums, rather than be forced to rely on past experience that may be out of date.
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TTB Establishes Winters Highlands Viticultural Area & Proposes Two New AVAs
Last week, the TTB announced the establishment of a new American Viticultural Area (AVA) and the proposed establishment of two new AVAs. The TTB designates AVAs to allow growers to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase.
New AVA - Winters Highland: This approximately 7,296-acre AVA is sited in portions of Solano and Yolo Counties, in California. It is not within any existing AVA.
Bottlers who wish to label their wines with this new AVA as an appellation of origin must obtain a new Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) for the label, even if the currently approved label already contains another AVA as an appellation of origin. Please do not submit COLA applications for labels using the new AVA until September 28, 2023, the effective date of the final rule.
Proposed AVAs:
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San Luis Rey: In Notice No. 225, the TTB proposes to establish a new 97,733-acre AVA called “San Luis Rey”, located in San Diego County, California. The proposed AVA is located within the established South Coast AVA. You may submit comments electronically through October 30, 2023. See Docket No. TTB-2023-0007 at Regulations.gov to view copies of the proposed rule, selected supporting materials, and any comments the TTB has received about this proposal.
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Upper Cumberland: In Notice No. 224, the TTB proposes to establish a new 2,186,689-acre AVA called “Upper Cumberland”, located in the Middle Tennessee region of Tennessee. The proposed AVA is not located within any other AVA.
The proposed boundaries can be viewed on the AVA Map Explorer.
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National Labor Board Once Again Shifts the Scales to Ensure More Employee Conduct is Considered Protected Concerted Activity
Fisher Phillips released an article this week outlining what employers should know regarding the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) overturning the 2019 Miller Plastics decision. The 2019 decision established a checklist of easy-to-follow factors to determine whether complaints raised by an individual are tantamount to group activity protected under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations.
On August 25, the NLRB determined that the checklist narrowed the scope of legally protected conduct, returning to a broad and ambiguous standard where the question of whether an employee has engaged in concerted activity is a factual one based on the “totality of the record evidence.” The overturning of this precedent makes it more likely that if/when any individual employee complains – whether in a union or non-unionized workplace – it will be deemed as protected concerted.
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Napa County to Receive $500,000 in Funding for Farmer Training & Recruitment
Napa County will receive $500,000 through the federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) for farmworker training programs connected to grape growing. SCBGP provides funding to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and support specialty crop growers through marketing, education, and research.
“Our region has a strong tradition of agriculture made possible by the farmworkers who work every day to grow world-class products,” said Representative Mike Thompson (CA-04). “The funding from the federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program will help to recruit and retain farmworkers and provide current farmworkers with the training and education they need to build a successful career in the fields and beyond. I look forward to seeing how this funding helps to strengthen our agricultural community.”
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Gallo Buys Second Napa Valley Winery in a Week
Last week, E. & J. Gallo Winery made headlines by purchasing Rombauer, most known for their Chardonnay. Gallo closed the week out by purchasing a second Napa Valley operation. Massican is a small, one-man operation that produces 7500 cases/year of only white wines and is best known for its Italian white varieties.
Wine-Searcher released an article sharing why Massican was appealing to Gallo and plans for the wine company into the future.
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Upcoming Events and Trainings | |
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CLEARING THE AIR: Open-Air Ag Burning Outreach Meeting for Winegrowers
Join CAWG, the Lodi Winegrape Commission, and the Lodi District Grape Growers Association to learn about open-air ag burning restrictions and alternatives in the San Joaquin Valley. Confusion exists on all sides of the open-air ag burning topic – from enforcement agencies not understanding the nuances of the regulation to winegrape growers not knowing how to legally remove and dispose of a vineyard.
The goal of this meeting is to provide clarity and understanding amongst the winegrowing industry, the California Air Resources Board, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, County Agriculture Commissioners, and policymakers. The meeting is free to attend.
When and Where:
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September 12, 9am, Cabral Ag Center, Stockton
RSVP by September 7 to info@lodiwine.com.
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Wage and Hour Compliance in the Field, Packhouse and Plant Webinar
Fisher Phillips is hosting a webinar to discuss wage and hour hot topics in the agriculture industry including meal and rest break compliance, tracking non-productive time, and compensable vs. non-compensable activities.
When and Where:
Register
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Building Domestic Stability and Global Influence Through Innovation Webinar
Agri-pulse is hosting a webinar featuring House Ag Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson discussing how new tools and technology can improve the resiliency of U.S. agriculture. Other speakers include Lynn Tjeerdsma, conservation and farm bill advisor, David Kanter, Ph.D., asst. professor of environmental studies, New York University, Jacqlyn Schneider, partner, FGS Global, and Jon Doggett, former CEO, National Corn Growers Association. The webinar is complimentary to join, but registration is required.
When and Where:
Register
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Time to Prepare: An Employer’s Blueprint for the New Overtime Rule Webinar
The United States Department of Labor has released new proposed regulations that increase the minimum salary level for exempt employees. Fisher Phillips is hosting a webinar covering what is included in the overtime rule and who it will impact the most. The webinar will also provide attendees with strategies to prepare for impending changes affecting employees who are exempt from overtime.
The Fisher Phillips team will also cover steps employers can take to prepare for the increase in the minimum salary level and other ways employers can try to stay ahead of wage and hour compliance issues.
When and Where:
Register
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FIRA USA 2023 - See Autonomous Farming Solutions in Action
FIRA USA is a three-day event bringing together all aspects of autonomous farming and agricultural robotics solutions.
During the event, attendees can expect to see robotic farming solutions, exhibitions, presentations, panel discussions and networking opportunities. More than 20 demos and 35 robots will be on display from manufacturers from all over the world. All demos and exhibitions will take place onsite, making it easy for attendees to navigate between presentations and the exhibitor and demo areas.
FIRA’s panel discussions include:
- How the federal government is investing in agricultural robotics
- Developing open digital infrastructure for agricultural automation
- Ag robotics education and career pathways
- What robotic weeding can teach us about next generation farm operations
When and Where:
- September 19-21, Salinas Sports Complex
The full agenda is posted online.
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