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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:
- Who Is the American Wine Industry? Time to Reframe Tariff Messaging
- CAWG Opportunities During Unified
- Autonomous Aircraft & Tractors
- Trump, Newsom, & Fires
- CAWG and Ag Council Host 7th Annual Back to Session Reception
- Crop Insurance Reminders - Deadline Jan. 31, 2025
Industry News:
- Allison Jordan Named One of the Wine Industry’s Most Inspiring People of 2025
- Trump Takes Swift Immigration Action: What Employers Need to Know
- Science Over Bias Coalition Challenges ICCPUD Report on Alcohol and Health
- Webinar Recording: Impact of 2024 Elections on Agriculture
- Input Needed: Climate Resilience Strategy for California Agriculture
- An Ancient Grapevine Uncorks Clues About a Deadly Plant Pathogen
Upcoming Events:
- CAWG Awards of Excellence Reception
- Webinar: Preparing for Potential Immigration Audits and Raids
- Exploring Different Aspects of Vine Health Seminar
REMINDER: CAWG Membership Renewals - RENEW TODAY!
Don't forget to renew your CAWG membership. All first invoices were sent in November, with second invoices going out this week!
Need a copy of your invoice? Please contact Mindy DeRohan.
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Who Is the American Wine Industry? Time to Reframe Tariff Messaging
This week, the California Association of Winegrape Growers published an article on its Substack, "Who Is the American Wine Industry? Time to Reframe Tariff Messaging,” written by CAWG President Natalie Collins.
The article responds to the ongoing narrative around the potential harm tariffs may cause to the "American wine industry." Despite the extensive coverage on this topic, domestic winegrape growers, wineries, and farm workers have consistently been excluded from the conversation.
Our goal with this article is to spotlight the significant challenges domestic producers face in competing within their own markets and to advocate for meaningful solutions to support our growers and industry.
Tariffs remain a nuanced and complex issue, but the broader message is clear: we need robust support for the people and businesses that form the backbone of our industry—however that support may come.
Read the full article here.
Thank you for your continued commitment to CAWG and our industry.
Subscribe to CAWGs Substack
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CAWG Opportunities During Unified
We hope you will join CAWG next week for the following events during Unified:
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CAWG Awards of Excellence at the Sheraton - January 28 at 6:00 PM: CAWG announced the selection of the Miller Family of The Thornhill Companies as the 2025 Grower of the Year and Randy Heinzen as the 2025 Leader of the Year. To honor both, CAWG will be hosting an Awards of Excellence Reception immediately following the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium's Welcome Reception at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento. There is no cost associated with this event, we invite all CAWG members to join. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
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CAWG PAC Live Music at the Torch Club - January 29 at 8:00 p.m: Join the CAWG PAC for a rockin' good time. Live music will be on tap by Remedy 7, featuring our very own Michael Miiller (CAWG's Director of Government Relations) on the drums. Guest drummers and CAWG Board Members Jedd Wiens (Temecula) and Ben Kolber (Lodi) will join Remedy 7 on stage. Learn more here or contact Michael Miiller.
A full list of CAWG Opportunities during Unified is available here.
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Autonomous Aircraft & Tractors
There will be dozens of bills this year in response to the horrific fires in Los Angeles. This week Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine) introduced AB 270 which would require the Office of Emergency Services to establish a pilot program to equip the state with autonomous firefighting helicopters.
The bill states, “Autonomous firefighting aircraft have the potential to scale wildfire response capacity by significantly improving safety.” CAWG is pushing for that same safety logic to be applied to autonomous ag equipment. Simply stated: Pilots and tractor drivers both are safer when operating their equipment remotely.
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CAWG and Ag Council Host 7th Annual Back to Session Reception
CAWG and the Agricultural Council of California kicked off the legislative season with their seventh annual Back to Session Reception on January 22.
The open house brought together 15 legislators and even more staff, regulators, industry partners, and growers to celebrate the start of the new legislative session.
Here’s to a productive and successful 2025 season!
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Quote of the Week
"The irony is stark: while importers and distributors fight to protect subsidized foreign wine imports, American grape growers and wineries are going out of business."
"We need policies that recognize the vulnerability of domestic producers, invest in their growth, and acknowledge the role they play in our agricultural and economic landscapes."
-CAWG President Natalie Collins in a recent article highlighting the challenges domestic producers face in competing within their own American markets.
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Crop Insurance Reminders - Deadline Jan. 31, 2025
Crop Insurance is offered as a federally subsidized program through the USDA Risk Management Agency, providing winegrape growers with protection against yield losses caused by naturally occurring perils (adverse weather, fire and smoke, failure of irrigation due to natural peril, etc.). The policy utilizes your individual growing records to establish the coverage.
The deadline to insure your grapes is January 31 and coverage begins February 1. Don't miss this opportunity to protect your vineyard and your livelihood.
NEW for 2025:
- Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO): County-based coverage option allowing you to insure up to 95% of your crop value using county-based losses.
- Fire Insurance Protection – Smoke Index (FIP-SI) – County-based smoke exposure coverage option allowing you to add additional smoke coverage to your underlying policy using county-based NOAA air quality data to determine a loss.
Learn more here or contact Relation Insurance to get a quote.
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Allison Jordan Named One of the Wine Industry’s Most Inspiring People of 2025
Congratulations to Allison Jordan, executive director of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), for being recognized as one of the Wine Industry’s Most Inspiring People of 2025!
Allison’s leadership, innovation, and commitment to sustainability have made her a trailblazer in the wine industry. Natalie Collins, CAWG President, shared, “Allison’s work in international markets has elevated California’s sustainability program, making it a model for wine regions around the globe.”
CAWG is proud to celebrate Allison's achievements and the lasting impact of her efforts!
Read more here.
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Trump Takes Swift Immigration Action: What Employers Need to Know
With the inauguration of President Trump, his administration moved swiftly to reshape U.S. immigration policies. CAWG Associate Member Fisher Phillips published an article outlining what employers should know about the potential workplace impacts of these changes, especially as they relate to deportation raids, executive orders, and the possible expansion of workplace enforcement.
Deportation Raids and Workplace Impact
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has signaled the beginning of deportation raids in major cities, with Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Denver, and Miami potentially affected in the coming days. DHS plans to focus on public safety threats, but non-criminal, undocumented workers and the businesses that employ them could also be targeted.
Flurry of Executive Orders
Upon taking office, President Trump signed several executive orders that will likely affect the workplace:
- Border Security: Employers nationwide will face increased scrutiny regarding employee eligibility verification.
- Remain in Mexico Policy & Asylum Changes: Expect fewer asylum seekers as a result of these policies, potentially impacting workforce demographics.
- Birthright Citizenship for Children of Undocumented Immigrants: This controversial change could influence future labor availability.
Read the full article for what's next and key steps for employers to be prepared.
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The California winegrape crop insurance deadline is fast approaching. You must sign-up for coverage by January 31 for this crop year. | |
Science Over Bias Coalition Challenges ICCPUD Report on Alcohol and Health
The Science Over Bias coalition, representing agriculture, beverage, and hospitality industries, has issued a statement in response to the new Alcohol Intake and Health report from the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD).
The coalition (of which CAWG is a supporter of) criticized the report for its “flawed, opaque, and unprecedented process,” citing concerns about bias, conflicts of interest, and a lack of transparency. The group emphasized that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) should rely on sound scientific evidence, and not influenced by advocacy groups.
The coalition also highlighted findings from the recent National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report, which identified both risks and benefits of moderate alcohol consumption.
Read the full statement here.
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Webinar Recording: Impact of 2024 Elections on Agriculture
Hunt Shipman, principal and director of Cornerstone Government Affairs (CAWG's Federal Lobbying Firm), shared his expert insights on the impacts of the 2024 elections on agriculture during the National Ag Law Center’s January 15 webinar, “Looking Ahead: Impact of the 2024 Elections on Ag Law & Policy.”
Shipman highlighted the significant changes in Congress and the administration, noting the potential implications for agricultural law and policy. He emphasized that the election results bring several shakeups to the agriculture sector, including key shifts in leadership within the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry. Arkansas Senator John Boozman, who was previously the committee’s ranking member, now takes the role of chairman. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar has stepped in as the committee's ranking member.
Watch a full recording of the webinar here.
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Input Needed: Climate Resilience Strategy for California Agriculture
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is developing a Climate Resilience Strategy for California Agriculture and is inviting your input.
California agriculture, valued at over $59 billion, is vital to the state’s economy, producing much of the nation’s fruits, tree nuts, and milk, while occupying over 40% of the land. However, it faces significant challenges from climate change.
To address these challenges, the California Ag Vision For the Next Decade prioritizes climate-smart, resilient, and regenerative food systems. The Climate Resilience Strategy aims to unify state efforts, outlining challenges, policies, and future opportunities for California agriculture.
CDFA will host public listening sessions to gather feedback on the strategy:
These sessions will offer an overview of the project, outline ongoing efforts, and provide an opportunity for your feedback.
If you can’t attend, please send your comments or suggestions to climate@cdfa.ca.gov.
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An Ancient Grapevine Uncorks Clues About a Deadly Plant Pathogen
Pierce’s disease (Xylella fastidiosa), first reported in California in 1884, has long plagued California vineyards, causing an estimated $100 million in annual losses. New research from UC Berkeley has traced the pathogen’s origins using DNA from a 120-year-old grapevine cutting. A recent article published by The Scientist, shares that findings reveal multiple introductions of the bacterium into the U.S., dating back to 1741—over a century before the disease was documented in California.
Future research aims to expand sampling to better understand X. fastidiosa’s global spread.
Read more here.
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Upcoming Events and Trainings | |
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CAWG Awards of Excellence Reception
Join CAWG for the Awards of Excellence celebration following the Welcome Reception at the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium.
CAWG will honor the Miller Family, The Thornhill Companies as the 2025 Grower of the Year, and Randy Heinzen, Vineyard Professional Services as the 2025 Leader of the Year.
When and Where:
- Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 6:00 PM, Sheraton Grand Sacramento
Registration for the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium is not required and the Awards of Excellence Reception is free to attend with no RSVP needed. Sponsorship opportunities are available (please contact Jenny Devine for more information)!
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Webinar: Preparing for Potential Immigration Audits and Raids
Join CAWG and Fisher Phillips LLP for a webinar focused on navigating ICE raids and audits. This timely presentation will provide critical insights and actionable strategies for managing labor compliance and safeguarding your business during audits. This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from legal experts with extensive experience in employment law and immigration compliance.
Key Topics will include:
- Best Practices for I-9 Compliance: Learn effective strategies to ensure your business is meeting federal requirements and avoiding costly penalties
- Conducting Periodic Internal Audits: Understand the importance of regular I-9 audits and how to identify and address potential vulnerabilities in your workforce documentation.
- Labor & Employment Issues During Audits: Gain insights into employment discrimination and wage/hour issues that could arise during ICE audits or investigations.
When and Where:
Register Here
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Exploring Different Aspects of Vine Health Seminar
The Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis is hosting the Exploring Different Aspects of Vine Health seminar at the UC Davis Conference Center.
Topics include:
- Advancing the development of powdery mildew and Pierce’s Disease-resistant cultivars
- Studying wild grapes to envision the next generation of grapevine cultivars
- Interactive effects of trunk disease and water stress on grapevine physiology
- Spotted Lanternfly: The need to remain vigilant
- Achieving sustainability and quality in a warming world
- How to protect pruning wounds from grapevine trunk diseases
When and Where:
- February 19, 9 AM - 3:30 PM, UC Davis Conference Center, 550 Alumni Lane, Davis, CA 95616
Learn more and register here.
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