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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:
- USDA Delivering $1.17 Billion Through ERP Phase Two
- GOP Supporting Union Members
- Win Friends & Influence People
- Nominations Open for the Rich Smith Award
- New Grapevine Crop Insurance Program Webinar - Next Thursday!
Industry News:
- GOP State Lawmakers Call for Suspension of Gas Tax
- California Department of Insurance Increases FAIR Plan Commercial Coverage Limits for HOA's, Condos, Farms, and Businesses
- Senator Dodd To Hold Virtual Town Hall on Wildfire Preparedness & Prevention
- California Small Agricultural Business Drought & Flood Relief Grant Program
- $100 Million+ Available for Conservation Practices and Initiatives
- USDA Launches New H-2A Grant Program
- California's Minimum Wage Increases to $16 per Hour in 2024
- California State Board of Food and Agriculture Meeting - Oct. 3
- Has California's Much-Dreaded 'Job-Killer' List Lost Some of Its Bite?
- The Turrentine Global Bulk Wine Newsletter - September 2023
- California Department of Food and Agriculture Accepting Proposals For 2023 Specialty Crop Multi-State Program
Upcoming Events:
- Novel, Non-Chemical Technologies for Pest and Vector Management Workshop - Oct. 5
- CAWG PAC Dinner at Guantonios in Lodi - Oct. 24
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USDA Delivering $1.17 Billion Through ERP Phase Two
USDA's Farm Service Agency is concluding Phase Two of the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) this week. This phase involves the distribution of over $1.17 billion in crop disaster assistance payments. These payments will be distributed to eligible crop producers who experienced losses, due to qualifying natural disaster events that occurred in the years 2020 and 2021.
ERP Phase Two was intended primarily for producers of crops that were not covered by federal crop insurance or FSA’s Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. Previously, through ERP Phase One, FSA staff processed more than 300,000 applications and paid an estimated 217,000 eligible producers more than $7.4 billion.
If you have questions about your ERP Phase Two application, contact your local FSA Service Center.
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GOP Supporting Union Members
In California, labor unions have come after the agricultural industry at every opportunity. In countering union efforts, agricultural groups like CAWG, have relied on business-friendly lawmakers to see through labor union rhetoric and stand up for policies that support our industry, our communities, and our workforce.
While there is no indication that this support for agriculture is changing, it is interesting to see how union members are playing in GOP politics these days. For example, this week, former President Donald Trump joined striking autoworkers in Michigan. There are several reasons for this. First and foremost, Republican candidates know that many union members are increasingly voting for Republican candidates. These workers support their union, but they do not vote party-line Democrat. In the private sector especially, a growing number of working-class union jobs are held by voters who lean right.
In a second example, in California AB 1 (a historic pro-union bill to allow legislative staff to join a union) recently went through the legislature with Republican support. One may ask why a California Republican lawmaker would want to subject their employees to union propaganda. This was answered in a recent article from Politico.
According to an analysis of salary data by Politico, in the California Legislature, Assembly staff who work for Republicans earn about 18 percent less than their Democratic counterparts in Sacramento. Additionally, the number of staff in the average Republican lawmaker’s office is about half of the average Democrat's office.
This happens primarily because the legislature operates under its own set of rules. Many California Republican lawmakers see AB 1 as an opportunity to change those rules and give their staff the opportunity to be treated equitably.
It would be interesting to see how the legislature would operate if it had to follow the laws they write for the rest of California, and how labor unions would operate if union politics were more in line with the politics of their union members.
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Win Friends & Influence People
Last week, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters descended on the State Capitol calling on Governor Newsom to sign AB 316 (Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters). This legislation would have prohibited an autonomous heavy duty semi-truck from being operated on public roads without a human in the driver’s seat. Teamsters believed the bill was needed to prevent losing jobs to machines.
Several days before the rally, Newsom indicated he had concerns with the bill. Teamsters did not accept this news well, and in a move that would have made Dale Carnegie cringe, during the rally, Teamsters began chanting, “F*ck Gavin Newsom!” (Remember, Teamsters were rallying at the Capitol en masse to call on Newsom to sign AB 316 into law.)
Newsom missed the rally as he was in New York City for Climate Week. However, upon returning to Sacramento, Newsom almost immediately vetoed AB 316.
In his veto message, Newson extended an olive branch and said, “My Administration remains open to working with the author, sponsors, and other stakeholders on the right approach to safely test and deploy this evolving technology in California, while also addressing and mitigating any potential impacts to jobs.”
This veto is potentially good news for the continued development and deployment of technology, autonomy, mechanization, and robotics in viticulture.
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Nominations Open for the Rich Smith Award
Nominations are currently being accepted for the Rich Smith Award of Excellence, honoring a winegrape industry icon. The annual award recognizes an industry representative who exemplifies the passion, commitment, and collaboration Rich Smith was known for and someone who has had a similarly positive impact on the industry.
Nominations are due on October 27, 2023, and must be submitted online.
Rich Smith, best known for his efforts to collectively advance the grape and wine industry, was co-founder of Valley Farm Management, Paraiso Vineyards, and Smith Family Wines. He played an instrumental role in the founding of the National Grape Research Alliance, WineAmerica, and Winegrape Growers of America (WGA) who annually join with the Smith Family to present the Rich Smith Award of Excellence, each organization’s highest award.
Find complete eligibility and nomination information in the online nomination form.
The winner will be announced at the WGA Luncheon on January 24, 2024, in Sacramento, during the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium.
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New Grapevine Crop Insurance Program Webinar - Next Thursday!
Join CAWG and Relations Insurance (Pan American) for a webinar on October 5 at 10 AM to learn about the newly released grapevine crop insurance program.
This announcement is a game-changer, addressing the longstanding challenge winegrape growers face in securing adequate property coverage for vine loss in the private market.
The deadline to sign up for coverage is November 1st, 2023 and coverage is available in Lake, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Luis Obispo, and Sonoma counties.
Kristine Fox and James Dillon of Relations Insurance will be presenting.
Register today
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GOP State Lawmakers Call for Suspension of Gas Tax
Californians are paying over $2 per gallon more than those in other states. In some parts of the state, gas prices rose to more than $7 per gallon.
To address this, today, Republican lawmakers called on Governor Newsom to convene a special session of the Legislature to temporarily suspend California's gas tax.
Read their full letter here.
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California Department of Insurance Increases FAIR Plan Commercial Coverage Limits for HOA's, Condos, Farms, and Businesses
The California Department of Insurance has approved the FAIR Plan to increase commercial coverage limits to $20M per location for its Commercial Property Program and Business Owner’s Program (BOP). This will provide increased marketplace options for homeowners associations, condo associations, farms, and businesses, as the previous cap was $8.4 million.
The effective date for the higher commercial property limits will be no later than November 1, 2023, and the effective date for the higher BOP limits will be no later than December 14, 2023.
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara also announced he has reached an agreement with insurance companies to increase writing in wildfire-distressed areas. As part of that, he will direct the FAIR Plan to increase its commercial limits again to $20 million per building, responding to consumers who need temporary coverage.
Read the Full Press Release
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Senator Dodd To Hold Virtual Town Hall on Wildfire Preparedness & Prevention
California Senator Bill Dodd will hold a virtual town hall on October 3, 2023, at 6 PM, to discuss wildfires in California. The town hall will be streamed live and broadcast on KSVY Sonoma. Senator Dodd and his guests will take questions via email and phone.
Senator Dodd's guests for the town hall include Cal OES Fire and Rescue Chief Brian Marshall; Chief Steve Akre, Sonoma Valley Fire District; Lenya Quinn-Davidson, Fire Advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension, and Director of Northern California Prescribed Fire Council.
Learn more about how you can participate here.
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California Small Agricultural Business Drought & Flood Relief Grant Program
The California Small Agricultural Business Drought & Flood Relief Grant Program aims to provide funding for small agricultural businesses that have been financially impacted by severe drought and/or flooding in California and will be disbursed in the following groups for awards of up to $100,000.
Drought Groups:
- Drought Group 1 funds will be allocated to "small and socially disadvantaged farmers" who are qualified for small agricultural businesses (see Eligibility Requirements).
- Drought Group 2 funds will be allocated to qualified small agricultural businesses most impacted by severe drought, as determined by the USDA Drought Monitor (see Eligibility Requirements).
- Drought Group 3 funds will be allocated to qualified small agricultural businesses that do not file their 2022 tax returns until 2024 (application opens in 2024).
Flood Groups:
- Flood Group 1 funds shall be allocated to qualified small agricultural businesses impacted by flooding (see Eligibility Requirements).
Learn More and apply here.
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$100 Million+ Available for Conservation Practices and Initiatives
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) in California has announced fiscal year 2024 (Oct 1, 2023 – Sept 30, 2024) federal assistance for ag producers through a variety of programs. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) are open for their first round of applications, with a deadline of November 3, 2023.
Through EQIP, CSP, and the Inflation Reduction Act, more than $100 million is available for conservation practices and initiatives. EQIP provides financial assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits, such as improved water and air quality, irrigation efficiency, and reduced soil erosion. CSP provides producers to earn payments for actively managing, maintaining, and expanding conservation activities integrated within their agricultural operations.
Application cutoff periods allow NRCS to screen-and-rank applications for those with the highest conservation benefits across California’s landscapes. A second cutoff period may be scheduled in Spring 2024 as federal conservation funding is available.
To find out more about our application process or to begin an application, please contact your local NRCS Service Center by visiting here.
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USDA Launches New H-2A Grant Program
The USDA Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP) has announced it will award up to $65 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The purpose of the FLSP program is to improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency by addressing challenges agricultural employers face with labor shortages and instability. This funding aims to assist agricultural employers in establishing robust labor standards to promote a safe and healthy working environment for both U.S. workers and those hired through the H-2A visa program.
The 2023 FLSP grant application period closes on November 28, 2023.
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California State Board of Food and Agriculture Meeting
California State Board of Food and Agriculture will discuss issues impacting California agriculture at its next meeting on Tuesday, October 3rd. The meeting will be held at 10 AM at the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Headquarters and will be available via Zoom. The Oriental Fruit Fly, along with other agricultural pests, will be discussed.
“It has been a challenging year for agricultural pest and disease issues,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “We’ve seen a significant uptick in detections, fruit flies in particular, that endanger a variety of fruits, nuts, and vegetables. CDFA, along with federal and local counterparts, are at the front lines in protecting commercial and residential production from these pests.”
The agenda, additional details, and how to join, can be found on CDFA's website.
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California's Minimum Wage Increases to $16 per Hour in 2024
On January 1, 2024, California’s minimum wage will increase from $15.50 per hour to $16 per hour. This increase was calculated using Consumer Price Index Data from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. Some cities and counties in California have a local minimum wage that is higher than the state rate.
Employers must post the Minimum Wage Order and the Wage Order applicable to their workplace at a worksite area accessible to employees. Employers must also ensure that the wage rate is displayed on the employee’s pay stub and that employees are paid at least the minimum wage even when employees are paid at a piece rate.
Learn more here.
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Has California's Much-Dreaded 'Job-Killer' List Lost Some of Its Bite?
For 26 years, legislative bills on the "Job Killer' list published by the California Chamber of Commerce have mostly died, but 2023 was different.
The Chamber started using its 'job killer' label in 1997 and, since then, has targeted 824 bills. Of those, 157 landed on the governors next, and only 59 were signed into law - a 93% kill rate.
Cal Chamber reports on the effectiveness of the 'job killer' lobbying measure and reports that only 17 bills were on this year’s final list, one of the smallest numbers ever, and while eight of them died in the Legislature – mostly without votes – and two were altered enough to have the label removed, seven were sent to Newsom and he’ll probably sign most of them.
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Turrentine Global Bulk Wine Newsletter - September 2023
Turrentine Brokerage released their September Newsletter outlining how the decreasing consumer sales have led to slower bulk wine markets industry-wide - regardless of the country, variety, or vintage.
"Historically when faced with oversupply, wineries have resorted to discounting casegoods to stimulate sales, but there are many challenges to do this in today's economic environment. Many wineries have inventory at higher costs as a result of inflation. Additionally, cash positions are compromised by slow sales making them reluctant to lower prices and reduce any margin they may still have. In past challenging economic times, consumers kept buying wine but would shift down in price point. The Wine Market Council did note some signs of domestic consumers trading down in their early September report, but this appears to be less common than historically similar periods. (Of course, what would be preferable for all is if consumers purchased more wine to take market share from beer and spirits.)"
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CDFA Accepting Proposals For 2023 Specialty Crop Multi-State Program
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is accepting proposals for the 2023 Specialty Crop Multi-State Program, a federal grant program offered by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service. The purpose of the program is to competitively award funds to projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by funding collaborative, multi-state projects that address regional or national-level specialty crop issues, including food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing and promotion.
Grant awards will range from $250,000 to $1 million per project and may last for up to three years. Specialty crop producer associations and groups, other state agencies, Tribal government entities, universities, non-profits, and other stakeholder groups and organizations are eligible to apply.
Additional information about the grant program is available on CDFA's website.
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Upcoming Events and Trainings | |
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Novel, Non-Chemical Technologies for Pest and Vector Management Workshop
Learn about alternative pest management technologies and the science behind them at a free workshop on Oct. 5. PD/GWSS Board-funded researcher Peter Atkinson will be speaking about gene-editing of the glassy-winged sharpshooter to prevent Pierce’s disease. The workshop will be held in-person and online and is sponsored by California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation, Department of Food and Agriculture, and Department of Public Health.
When and Where:
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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.
Thank you, Sponsors!
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