YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY.
|
|
Due to ongoing concerns related to COVID-19, next week’s CAWG events in Sacramento have been cancelled. Several industry organizations are cancelling their upcoming Sacramento events as well. CDFA’s Ag Day, which was set for March 18, has
also been cancelled
.
The COVID-19 situation is fluid and new developments, restrictions or closures continue to roll out. President Trump addressed the nation last night and urged a variety of measures, including social distancing. Gov. Newsom also urged organizations to cancel or postpone “non-essential” events. SEE COVID-19 RESOURCE LINKS BELOW.
Additionally, the Senate Rules Committee has advised senators and staff to limit in-person interactions. “
Instead of physical meetings with constituents, lobbyists, advocates and others, consider offering conference calls or utilizing...alternative technology platforms
.”
Some legislators are already refusing face-to-face meetings with the public and are doing only conference call meetings instead. Yesterday, the Los Angeles Times questioned how much longer the California State Capitol will be open for business as usual.
We thank everyone who volunteered to participate and apologize for any inconvenience these cancellations may have caused. We look forward to next year’s events and will communicate future dates once they have been scheduled.
|
|
Government Relations Report
|
CORONAVIRUS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES
This is because many public agencies work in office buildings that house several hundred employees. In these buildings, those workers share workspace, conference rooms, ventilation systems, restrooms, cafeterias, etc. For example, the Department of Food and Agriculture employs more than 2,000 workers. County ag commissioners and USDA also have a large workforce in California and work in public office buildings.
As sporting events, concerts and other events are cancelled, it seems likely public officials will turn their focus toward large office buildings and public agencies. Today, the Assembly Republican caucus asked Gov. Newsom to authorize state employees to work from home.
Additionally, regulatory agencies are currently reevaluating how they hold public meetings and allow public participation. For example, hearings and stakeholder meetings of Cal/OSHA Health and Safety Standards Board, State Water Resources Control Board, and other agencies often include a few hundred people in attendance. Regulatory agencies are currently considering electronic remote meetings and other methods of public participation.
BROADBAND IN AG LAND
An estimated 1.4 million Californians lack access to wired broadband internet at any speed. California ag communities are reported to have some of the
slowest internet speeds
in the country.
Unfortunately, the efforts to address this problem have been as slow as the internet speed in those communities. However, there is recent and growing reason for hope.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on March 11 announced that his office
reached a settlement with T-Mobile
and California won’t appeal a district court judge’s decision to allow the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint. The settlement agreement includes a commitment to extend access to telecom services for rural communities.
Additionally, Gov. Newsom is pursuing a
Broadband for All initiative
. Lenny Mendonca, the governor's chief economic and business advisor and director of the Office of Business and Economic Development, will be heading the effort, which he described as “advancing digital equity.”
The USDA is also piloting the
ReConnect program
, which has now offered nearly half of its $600 million in funds to rural businesses for investing in high-speed internet. While touring California last summer, USDA Secretary Sonny Purdue called broadband “a transformational opportunity” and said, “We’re all for it.”
Let’s hope that these combined efforts will result in much-needed focus and funding in rural communities who need high speed broadband.
|
|
|
COVID-19 Resources and Information
|
|
|
Grape Crush Report Final 2019
Stats-at-a-Glance
|
- Winegrape crush totaled 3,919,146 tons, down from the 2018 crush of 4,281,111 tons.
- Red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes crushed, at 2,157,061 tons, down 11.9 percent from 2018.
- The 2019 white wine variety crush totaled 1,762,085 tons, down 3.9 percent from 2018.
- Average prices for the 2019 crop: Red winegrapes, $1,019.56, nearly the same as 2018. White winegrapes, $589.54, down 7.2 percent from 2018.
- Leading grape varieties crushed were chardonnay (15.6 percent), cabernet sauvignon (14.1 percent), zinfandel (8.5 percent), French colombard (7.8 percent), pinot noir (6.5 percent), rubired (6.1 percent), pinot gris (6 percent), merlot (5.4 percent) and muscat of Alexandria (4.7 percent).
- The 2019 chardonnay price of $912.72 was down 6.0 percent from 2018 and the cabernet sauvignon price of $1,769.32 was up 5.1 percent from 2018. The 2019 average price for zinfandel was $583.42, down 2.7 percent from 2018, while the pinot noir average price was down 6.3 percent from 2018 at $1,570.59 per ton.
- Grapes produced in District 4 (Napa County) received the highest average price of $5,769.31 per ton, up 3.4 percent from 2018. District 3 (Sonoma and Marin counties) received the second highest return of $2,845.92, up 1.0 percent from 2018.
|
|
|
H-2A Brief Published by Cato Institute
|
|
|
Legislators Seek Clarity for Ag Commodity Definition Pertaining to Trucking
|
More than 30 Congressional representatives – including some from California – are seeking clarification on the definition of “agricultural commodity” associated with regulatory changes around the use of the electronic logging device. On March 4, they
sent a letter to transportation subcommittee leaders
requesting the inclusion of more specific language. “We strongly urge the committee to include this language as part of FY2021 appropriations to provide clarity for drivers, farmers and enforcement officers,” the letter states. Without this clarification, long-recognized agricultural commodities -- such as nursery and greenhouse production -- remain in limbo.
|
|
|
NRCS Seeks Applicants for Ag Conservation Easement Program
|
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
(ACEP). ACEP provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve ag lands and wetlands and their benefits. Under the
Agricultural Land Easements
component, NRCS helps Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations protect working ag lands and limit non-ag uses of the land. Under the
Wetland Reserve Easements
component, NRCS helps to restore, protect and enhance enrolled wetlands.
Applications are due by April 10.
|
|
|
|
CAWG's preferred partner for insurance products for more than 20 years. Group workers' comp, wine industry package, federal crop insurance, employee benefits...and more. For more information: 209-955-2600 or
email
.
|
Providing the very best California crop insurance services.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Central Valley Water Bill Passed by House Natural Resources Committee
|
|
|
VINEYARDS & WINE
Merced Sun-Star, March 12
Wine Business, March 10
Penn State developing management techniques for invasive pest.
Good Fruit Grower, March 10
Research paper by Cornell University’s Viticulture and Enology Program.
Appellation Cornell newsletter, March issue
Packaged imports grow +6.70% by value over last 12 months through January 2020; packaged exports decline -3.20%.
Bw166, March 10
WATER
Public Policy Institute of California, Feb. 11
|
|
On the Road in San Joaquin County
Presented by UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology
WHEN
: March 17 / 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
WHERE:
Burgundy Hall, Lodi
Upcoming Conference: Farm Labor 2020 - Technology, H-2A and Immigration
WHEN:
March 20 /
CANCELLED
Lodi Mealybug and Virus Outreach Meeting
This event is the result of intense studies by Lodi’s Mealybug Biocontrol and Grapevine Virus Research Focus Groups, which discuss strategies to solve mealybug and virus challenges. It is part of an outreach grant funded by the American Vineyard Foundation and the PD/GWSS Board.
WHEN:
April 9 / 8:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
WHERE:
Cabral Ag Center, 2101 E Earhart Ave, Stockton
|
|
|
MARCH
18 /
CAWG Day in the Capitol, Sacramento
CANCELLED
18 /
CAWG Foundation Gala, Sacramento
CANCELLED
19 / CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Sacramento
MAY
12 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #1, Buellton
13 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #2, Paso Robles
13 / CAWG Regional & Board of Directors dinner, Paso Robles
14 / CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Paso Robles
JUNE
17 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #3, Santa Rosa
17 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #4, Napa
24 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #5, Lodi
JULY
20 / CAWG Regional & Board of Directors dinner, Santa Rosa
21 / CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Santa Rosa
|
|
|
|
|
|
|