|
YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS
FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY
| |
|
This Week's eNews Includes:
CAWG News:
- Wine Industry Charitable Giving
- The Crush Newsletter: July/August Issue
- Webinar Recording: What You Need to Know About the New Indoor Heat Illness Regulations and Workplace Violence Prevention Plan Update
- August Issue of American Vineyard Magazine
- Democratic Nomination Update
Industry News:
- Harvest Begins Throughout California
- State of the Agriculture Industry in California
- Two Invasive Fruit Fly Quarantines Lifted in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties
- CORE-Eligible Zero-Emissions Equipment Vouchers Available Next Week
- Turrentine Market Update, August 2024
Upcoming Events:
- Webinar: CalOSHA Indoor Heat Illness
- SOREC Field Day - Oregon
- Webinar: New PAGA Amendments: What Does It Mean for Agricultural Employers?
| |
Countdown to CAWG's 50th Celebration
Countdown to #CAWG50 - As CAWG celebrates its 50-year milestone, it reflects on the halfway point in 1999, a significant year in the association’s history. CAWG commemorated 25 years of advocacy and leadership while celebrating legislative successes that shaped the future of viticulture in California.
In 1992, CAWG supported legislation carried by then State Senator Mike Thompson (now U.S. Congressman) to create the California Rootstock Improvement Commission. After signed into law, the Commission was launched in 1993 to conduct research to develop rootstocks resistant to phylloxera and nematodes. Another Thompson bill signed in 1992 provided tax relief for growers with phylloxera-infested vineyards and tax credits for replanting.
| |
| |
|
Wine Industry Charitable Giving
Grape growers and wineries have a long history of being engaged and active community members. Charitable giving is a big part of that history. For several years, some winemakers have donated portions of their profits from sales of a specific wine to a nonprofit in their community.
In 2021, the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control reported that technically, it could be argued that such giving was not authorized under California’s Tied-House Law. Specifically, the law at the time provided that no winery shall give any premium, gift, or free goods in connection with the sale or distribution of wine. So, then-Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham authored AB 1267 to clarify the law and specifically allow such philanthropy on a pilot basis through the end of 2024. Not surprisingly, there have been no problems whatsoever with that law.
Consequently, this week, AB 3285 was amended to extend the law through January 1, 2030. This legislation is a technical clean-up bill authored by the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee. AB 3285 is expected to receive unanimous support on its way to the governor’s desk before the legislature adjourns the 2023-24 legislative session at the end of August.
| |
|
CAWG's July/August Issue of The Crush Newsletter
Earlier this week, the July/August issue of The Crush Newsletter was released.
ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS
-
Feature Story: Preparing for the 2024 Harvest
-
Federal Update: House and Senate Appropriations
-
State Update: California's Ever-Evolving Minimum Wage Law
- CAWG History: 2006-2015
- CAWG Board Tour in Paso Robles
- CAWG Director Named San Luis Obispo County Wine Industry Person of the Year
- What You Need to Know Right Now About the Spotted Lanternfly and Tree of Heaven
- Co-Chairs Confirmed for the 2025 Unified Program Development Committee
- Farmers Weigh Options as Burn Ban Nears
- CDFA Abandons Petition to Redraw Grape District Lines
- Court Rules Against Card Check
- PAGA Reform Signed by Governor Newsom
-
Associate Member Spotlight: LUMO
| |
|
Webinar Recording: What You Need to Know About the New Indoor Heat Illness Regulations and Workplace Violence Prevention Plan
Earlier this week, CAWG, Wine Institute, and CSWA, hosted a webinar to discuss the new indoor heat regulations that are now in effect.
Additionally, the webinar provided updates on the Workplace Violence Prevention Plans that have been required to be in place as of July 1, 2024, and the general industry workforce violence prevention standard that will be finalized by December 31, 2025.
Watch the webinar recording here.
Webinar PowerPoint Slides
| |
|
August Issue of American Vineyard Magazine - CAWG @ Work Column
The August issue of the American Vineyard Magazine is now available featuring CAWG's monthly column, CAWG @ Work.
Each month, CAWG contributes to the magazine, discussing relevant industry trends. This month's column is focused on PAGA reform, water supply, and what these legislative victories mean for winegrape growers.
To learn more, read CAWG's August column online. Hint - it's on page 14.
| |
|
Democratic Nomination Update
CAWG's Federal Lobbyist, Cornerstone Government Affairs, put together a memo outlining the Democratic Party's current state of play.
Late Monday the DNC released a statement announcing Harris won the party’s virtual roll call, earning the support of 99 percent of the 4,567 delegates who cast ballots. Yesterday the DNC said Harris and running mate Gov. Tim Walz (MN) officially accepted the Democratic Party’s nominations for President and Vice President following the official certification of the virtual roll call by Convention Secretary Jason Rae. Convention Chair Minyon Moore then certified Walz as Harris’s running mate.
For more details, please refer to the full memo and an overview of Governor Walz.
| |
Quote of the Week
"In no world does it make sense for the United States federal government to subsidize imported bulk wine while California grapes go unharvested, wineries go out of business, and ag workers lose their jobs. It’s time for this to end!”
-Stuart Spencer, Executive Director of the Lodi Wine Grape Commission on how the U.S. Government subsidizes wine imports through Duty Drawback to benefit large wineries.
Read the full article here.
| | |
|
State of the Agriculture Industry in California
On Tuesday, the California State Board of Food and Agriculture held a board meeting with a panel discussion focused on the State of the Agriculture Industry. The topics centered around the challenges that growers throughout the state are facing from increased costs and demand struggles. CAWG Director and President of Allied Grape Growers, Jeff Bitter, provided an update on the winegrape industry.
Learn more about the discussion in this report from ABC 10 News.
|  | |
Harvest Begins Throughout California
This week, the harvest of sparkling and white varieties has begun in many parts of the state. Winegrape growers throughout the state are monitoring sugar levels and their vineyards as the grapes respond to changes in the weather.
“Harvest is an exciting time for our winegrowing community, as it’s the culmination of the entire year’s efforts,” said past CAWG Director Karissa Kruse, and current President of Sonoma County Winegrowers.
Read more in the articles linked below:
| |
|
Two Invasive Fruit Fly Quarantines Lifted in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties
CDFA, USDA, the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner, and Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner have lifted two fruit fly quarantines in Southern California.
The Mediterranean fruit fly quarantine ended none months after officials first detected populations of the invasive species in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The Queensland fruit fly was detected in the city of Thousand Oaks and led to the first-ever quarantine established for this invasive species in the Western Hemisphere. The quarantine encompassed areas around Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and the Santa Rosa Valley in Ventura County: and Agoura Hills and Westlake Village in Los Angeles County.
To learn more about invasive species and how to protect the county’s fruits and vegetables, visit CAFruitFly.com.
Read the full press release here.
| |
|
CORE-Eligible Zero-Emissions Equipment Vouchers Available Next Week
The Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE) will begin accepting heavy-duty voucher applications for the purchase or lease of new zero-emissions off-road equipment beginning on August 13, 2024, at 9 a.m. PT.
Eligible equipment can be viewed through the Equipment Catalog on the CORE website. Review the Implementation Manual and the Heavy-Duty Participate page for more information on purchasing and selling off-road equipment with CORE.
Learn more here.
| |
|
Turrentine Market Update, August 2024
Turrentine Brokerage released its August Market Update detailing its assessment of California's winegrape market exploring the challenges and opportunities heading into harvest.
"Today, the wine industry faces its own set of challenges with the well documented oversupply and slow consumer sales in these “Dog Days” leading up to harvest. The scorching heat has impacted vine development statewide, and many sellers at the moment are feeling similar unrest as those from thousands of years ago."
| |
Upcoming Events and Trainings | |
|
CalOSHA Indoor Heat Illness Webinars
Cal/OSHA is hosting a webinar on the new regulation, Title 8 CCR §3396 Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment. A presentation on the new standard and an opportunity to ask questions will be provided during the webinar. Registration in advance is required.
Below are the webinar dates and the registration links:
| |
|
New PAGA Amendments: What Does It Mean for Agricultural Employers? Webinar
Join Fisher Phillips as they discuss the new California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) amendments and how they will affect Agricultural employers.
PAGA will see an overhaul that would limit the types of employees who could bring claims, give employers a better chance to cure mistakes, reduce possible penalties, and boost procedural mechanisms that would reduce claims in court. This presentation will review the amendments, outline proactive steps companies can take under the law to reduce penalties, and discuss how these amendments impact businesses on a day-to-day basis.
When and Where:
- August 13, 2024 - 12-1 PM, Virtual
Register Here
| |
SOREC Field Day - Oregon
This year’s program features vineyard cover cropping systems at Troon Vineyard and updates on research projects, including trunk disease and smoke exposure work. Additionally, there will be a red blotch virus LAMP-PCR detection training after lunch.
Additionally, attendees can earn up to 3 ODA pesticide credits. For more details, please refer to the attached agenda. We look forward to seeing you there!
When and Where:
-
August 13th - 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM, Troon Vineyard and SOREC, 569 Hanley Rd., Central Point, OR
-
Cost: $30/person (after July 26th until August 6th)
- Lunch sponsored by the Rogue Valley Winegrowers Association
| | | | |
