|
YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS
FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY
| |
|
This week's eNews Includes:
CAWG News:
- Lead Story: Card Check Legislation Signed
- U.S. House of Appropriations Subcommittee Discusses FY 2024 Spending Bills
- CAWG Foundation Golf Tournament - Thank You For Your Support!
- Webinar Opportunity - Utilizing Vineyard Insights to Inform Critical Decision Making
- Nominations Open for CAWG's 2024 Grower and Leader of the Year
Industry News:
- PD/GWSS Board Grants $2.7 Million in New Funding for Research Projects
- Governor Newsom Signs Executive Order to Support Ongoing Central Valley Flood Response
- IPM Achievement Awards
- The Farm Bill: Where Are We Now? Webinar (Paywall)
- NRCS California Assists CA Farmers Transition to Organic Production
Upcoming Events
- UC Davis Viticulture & Enology - Office Hours with Dave and Anita
-
Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program and Emergency Relief Program Webinar
- West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force Smoke Summit
- CAWG 401K Multiple Employer Plan & CalSavers Webinar
- American Society For Enology and Viticulture National Conference
| |
2022-2023 Priority Bill List - Available Online
CAWG sponsors and supports legislation that positively impacts grapegrowing in California and opposes legislation that can negatively impact the industry, our workforce, and our communities.
CAWG's 2022-2023 Priority Bill List is available online.
| | |
|
Lead Story: Card Check Legislation Signed
This week, Governor Newsom signed a package of “early action budget trailer bills”. These are budget bills that are passed and signed into law ahead of the overall budget process. Included in this early action was AB 113; which represents the current state of the card check law effective immediately.
This trailer bill enacts the changes Governor Newsom and labor unions agreed to last year when he signed Card Check legislation (AB 2183) into law.
AB 113 makes the following changes to the collective bargaining process created by AB 2183:
- Eliminates the option to conduct union elections using mail-in ballots.
- Eliminates “labor peace elections or non-labor peace elections.” But AB 113 retains the option to conduct union elections via “Card-Check” system, also referred to as the “the Majority Support Petition.”
- Limits the number of Card-Check elections that result in the certification of labor organizations to 75 certifications.
The combined changes made under AB 113 and AB 2183 would sunset on January 1, 2028, and at that time Card-Check elections will no longer be an available option for union elections unless future legislation extends or eliminates this sunset.
In announcing that he signed the bill, Newsom’s press release stated AB 113, “Makes agreed upon changes to AB 2183 (Stone, 2022), which creates additional methods for California farmworkers to elect a collective bargaining representative, specifically as an alternative to polling place election.”
Below are some resources and background links:
Gerawan & Card Check Article
Card Check Guidance from ALRB (will be updated soon to reflect AB 113)
Information by the law firm of Barsamian & Moody:
Information by the law firm of Fisher Phillips:
More information will be coming out in the next few days as people analyze how AB 113 will be implemented.
| |
|
U.S. House of Appropriations Subcommittee Discusses FY 2024 Spending Bills
This week, the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food, and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a markup session for a bill that allocates non-defense discretionary total funding of $25.313 billion. The approved amount represents a decrease of $532 million (2.1%) from the Fiscal Year 2023 enacted level and a decrease of $3.622 billion (12.5%) from the Fiscal Year 2024 President's Budget Request.
The bill places a high priority on agencies and programs that safeguard the nation's food and drug supply, and provide support to farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
Within the bill, there is an allocation of $1.169 billion for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, representing a decrease of $2.1 million. Appropriators have included the recommended level of $224.5 million for the Specialty Crop Pest account. This allocation marks an increase of $8.5 million compared to the Fiscal Year 2023 level. Programs of importance to winegrape growers that are funded through the Specialty Crop Pest account include:
- Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
- European grapevine moth
- Spotted Lantern Fly
- Canine Detection & Surveillance
Summary of the bill.
| |
|
CAWG Foundation Golf Tournament Thank you, Sponsors and Golfers!
The CAWG Foundation hosted their 4th Annual Golf Tournament at the Chardonnay Golf Club in Napa on Tuesday, May 16. It was a fun and exciting day full of networking, games, wine tasting, awards, prizes, and of course golf.
Thank you to our 110 golfers and support from local wineries and industry sponsors for contributing to a successful day. The CAWG Foundation, led by Davindar Mahil, raised more than $25,000 for its annual scholarship program.
A special thank you to our event sponsors for helping CAWG host a successful event!
Winners from the golf tournament can be viewed here.
Photos from the golf tournament can be viewed here.
Photos with 'Michael the Grape' were sure a highlight!
This year, the CAWG Foundation awarded $43,000 in college scholarships to eight students with a parent or legal guardian employed by a California winegrape grower. Since the program’s inception in 1998, the CAWG Foundation has awarded $603,500 in scholarships to help students pursue higher education.
“The CAWG Foundation awards scholarships each year to honor the families of vineyard employees, who are valued members of the winegrape industry. Without them, we would not thrive, and these scholarships show our immense appreciation,” said Mahil.
We hope to see you on the course next year for the 5th Annual CAWG Foundation Golf Tournament!
| |
|
Webinar Opportunity - Utilizing Vineyard Insights to Inform Critical Decision Making
CAWG is partnering with ViewView to host a webinar on May 23 at 9 am to focus on VineView's cutting-edge technology, transforming how grape growers monitor crop health. VineView's innovative approach uses specialized aerial-based spectral sensors and cloud-based image processing services to deliver ultra-high resolution aerial imagery and data insights. These insights can help growers make informed decisions about their vineyard health and optimize crop yield.
During the webinar, you'll learn about VineView's unique methods for detecting veraison and scouting diseases, such as Red Leaf. Don't miss this opportunity to discover how VineView's technology can help you achieve better results in your vineyard.
Register here.
| |
|
Nominations Open for CAWG's 2024 Grower and Leader of the Year
Nominations are now open for the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Awards of Excellence Program and are due June 9, 2024!
The Awards Program presents two awards annually: Grower of the Year and Leader of the Year. These awards are meant to spotlight exceptional people or companies who have benefitted the broader community of winegrape growers through exemplary leadership and outstanding commitment to the well-being of the winegrowing industry, California communities, and the environment.
NOMINATION FORMS:
| |
For more information and to view past award recipients, please visit the CAWG website. For questions, contact Natalie Collins, President. | |
|
PD/GWSS Board Grants $2.7 Million in New Funding for Research Projects
The PD/GWSS Board recently recommended $2.7 million for research projects investigating PD, grapevine viruses, and vectors over the next three years. Additionally, 10 previously approved multi-year projects received continued funding for a little more than $1 million for the fiscal year 2023-2024.
“We were pleased with the high number of research proposals we received, especially the increase in projects addressing grapevine viruses,” said Dr. Kristin Lowe, PD/GWSS Board research coordinator. “Every research project the PD/GWSS Board funds brings the winegrape grower industry closer to solutions for the pest and disease problems growers face.”
The PD/GWSS Board has invested over $55 million since 2001 in research and outreach to protect vineyards, prevent the spread of pests and diseases, and deliver practical and sustainable solutions.
Read More About PD/GWSS Research Projects.
| |
|
Governor Newsom Signs Executive Order to Support Ongoing Central Valley Flood Response
Governor Newsom signed an executive order this week in response to the latest flood impact modeling and runoff conditions. The executive order updates and extends recent emergency actions which Newsom states will allow expedited floodwater diversion, debris removal, levee repairs, other flood-related preparation, and response activities in the Tulare Lake and San Joaquin River Basins to allow diversion of floodwater for groundwater recharge purposes statewide.
“With flooding impacts expected to continue into the summer, California is committed to supporting robust preparation, response, and recovery efforts in this hard-hit region, and to using floodwaters to recharge our critical groundwater supplies where it’s safe to do so,” said Governor Newsom. “We’ll continue working with local partners to protect lives and livelihoods on the ground while advancing investments to protect communities throughout the state from future flooding.”
Read the Full Executive Order.
| |
|
IPM Achievement Awards
California's Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is now accepting applications for its IPM Achievement Awards through June 30, 2023.
The IPM Achievement Awards recognize individuals and organizations that are leaders in using safe, sustainable, reduced-risk pest management methods, and who share their successful strategies with others. A list of past winners is available on the IPM Achievement Awards Page. The winners will be recognized during a ceremony in February 2024.
More Information and Submit an Application.
| |
|
The Farm Bill: Where Are We Now? Webinar
This week, Agri-Pulse hosted a webinar, The Farm Bill: Where Are We Now? The webinar focuses on the status of farm bill deliberations and the broad range of challenges facing the House and Senate Ag committees in the coming months. Speakers included John Newton, chief economist for the Senate Agriculture Committee’s minority staff, and Jacqlyn Schneider, a former top aide to Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich). Philip Brasher, Agri-Pulse's Executive Editor served as the moderator.
The webinar recording is available.
| |
|
NRCS California Assists CA Farmers Transition to Organic Production
Federal funding is now available through the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in California to assist agricultural producers in transitioning to organic production. Through the Organic Transisition Initiavive, NRCS California is accepting applications through June 15, 2023 from interested farmers.
“Producers transitioning to organic can count on NRCS for assistance,” said NRCS California State Conservationist Carlos Suarez. “This funding will help support producers through the challenges of organic transition and address their conservation needs.”
Eligible practices in California includes conservation planning, crop rotation, cover crops, nutrient management, and field borders. Interested landowners should speak to their local NRCS Service Center, which can be found at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/find-a-service-center.
Read More.
| |
Upcoming Events and Trainings | |
|
UC Davis Viticulture & Enology - Office Hours with Dave and Anita
Join UC Davis Viticulture & Enology for their Office Hours with Dave & Anita, Episode 21: Why do we need grape varieties featuring Luis Diaz Garcia and Megan Bartlett who will provide short presentations on why we need new grape varieties, what the process looks like, and what kinds of new varieties might be useful and why. This virtual event is free to attend, but registration is required.
When:
Register
| |
|
Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program and Emergency Relief Program Webinar
FSA staff are hosting an educational webinar covering the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) and Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase 2.
PARP will assist eligible producers of agricultural commodities who experienced revenue decreases in the calendar year 2020 compared to 2018 or 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ERP Phase 2 is a tax year-based certification program that provides assistance for producers who suffered a loss in revenue due to necessary expenses associated with losses of eligible crops due in whole or in part, to a qualifying disaster event that occurred in the 2020 or 2021 calendar year.
When:
Register
| |
|
West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force Smoke Summit
The 2023 Smoke Summit will include updates and recent findings on wildfire smoke impacts from leading researchers at OSU, UC Davis, and WSU. In addition, USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will provide updates on research activities and future initiatives.
When:
Register
| |
|
CAWG 401K Multiple Employer Plan & CalSavers Webinar
Join CAWG and Woodruff Sawyer on June 8th to learn more about the power of a Multiple Employer Plan and see if this may be a good fit for your operation and employees.
The CAWG 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan offers employers all the advantages and flexibility of a stand-along plan without the expenses and administrative burden associated with sponsoring a single employer plan.
Register today to learn more about the plan and your options
When:
Register
| |
|
American Society For Enology and Viticulture National Conference
The American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) National Conference provides an ideal opportunity for networking among members of all U.S. wine and grape regions, as well as international experts and professionals. Join us for a week of focused learning in winemaking and grapegrowing, and reconnecting with friends and colleagues.
Learn the latest about Pierce’s disease and glassy-winged sharpshooter research at the 2023 ASEV National Conference. The PD/GWSS Board Research Seminar session will be moderated by PD/GWSS Board Research Coordinator Kristin Lowe.
ASEV offers all CAWG members their discounted member rate. If you would like to register using the discounted member rate, please call the CAWG office for your promo code.
When:
- June 26-29, Napa Valley Marriott
Visit ASEV's website to learn more about their National Conference.
| | | | |
