YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY.
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SB 1 -- California Environmental Defense Act -- Deemed Job Killer
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SB 1 (Atkins, D-San Diego)
– which would create the California Environmental, Public Health and Workers Defense Act of 2019 – has been identified as a job killer by the California Chamber of Commerce. SB 1 is a reintroduced version of last year’s SB 49 (De Leon, D-Los Angeles), a job killer bill that was defeated in the California Assembly. Job killer bills normally do not fare well in the state Legislature. In 2018, only one job killer bill made it to the governor’s desk -- and it was vetoed.
Atkins claimed the bill “ensures that no matter what the Trump administration or Congress does, California won’t lose the protection of landmark federal environmental laws like the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.” The website
Preserve California
was created by the California Senate to focus on these efforts.
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Government Relations Report
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PAID FAMILY LEAVE
Last Tuesday, U.S. Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduced the CRADLE Act to let workers tap Social Security for paid family leave. President Trump has also proposed a six-week federal paid family leave program. Additionally, Congressional Democrats are pushing the FAMILY Act, which would establish a federal paid leave program which would be funded through a new payroll tax.
Business groups and economists are concerned with all three approaches for essentially the same reason. No matter how paid family leave starts out, it will inevitably expand over time. With that as a backdrop, this week the California Assembly held an
informational hearing
on the Newsom administration’s efforts to
expand family leave
in California.
Paid family leave was implemented in California in 2004 and provides up to six weeks of partial pay to employees who take time off from work to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child. Newsom is proposing to expand that program by allowing six months of paid parental leave, to be split between two parents.
The informational hearing provided few details about whether that leave would be paid through disability insurance, employer wages or some other source.
-Michael Miiller / michael@cawg.org / 916-379-8995
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California Jury Rules Against Glyphosate; Trial Enters Phase Two
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A jury in a San Francisco federal court found that glyphosate was a “substantial factor” in causing a Sonoma County man’s non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This was the first phase of the trial. According to an
Associated Press article
, the trial will now proceed to the second phase to determine whether Bayer is liable and if so, for how much.
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TTB Extends Comment Period on Proposed Rulemaking: Modernization of Labeling and Advertising Regulations for Wine
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The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is proposing to amend its regulations governing the labeling and advertising of wine, distilled spirits and malt beverages. TTB aims to reorganize and recodify the regulations to simplify and clarify regulatory standards, incorporate guidance documents and current policy into the regulations, and reduce the regulatory burden on industry members where possible. Due to requests from industry trade associations, the comment period was extended 90 days to June 26. To submit comments on the proposal click
here
, then click on the green “submit a formal comment” box.
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NRCS Seeks Applicants for Ag Conservation Easement Program
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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 12.
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CDFA Seeks Proposals for 2019 Limited Specialty Crop Grants
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CDFA is accepting limited proposals for the 2019 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) and will award up to $1 million. Grants will be up to $100,000 per project, which may last for up to two years. The agency intends to provide a process through which organizations that have been historically underrepresented in the SCBGP can participate. Nonprofits and tribal government entities with experience in supporting socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers are eligible to apply. A webinar will be held March 27 and applications are due April 10.
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New Webpage on Pests and Diseases Unveiled by USDA-APHIS
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USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has launched a new
webpage that features all pest and diseases
that are regulated, monitored or managed by APHIS. Details include the location of the threat, crops at risk, source of the threat, signs and symptoms, and what you can do. One of the newer threats is the spotted lanternfly. Although this pest is currently based on the East Coast, CDFA officials are watching this potential threat to California winegrapes.
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CAWG Member Employees On Forty Under 40 List
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Congratulations to the following CAWG member employees who were recognized by the North Bay Business Journal as influential business people: Joshua Bruder, Moss Adams; Summer Jeffus, American AgCredit; Ann Petersen, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley; John Serres, Serres Corporation/Serres Ranch; and Vivian Stapp, Jackson Family Wines.
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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 via
email
. Paid sponsorship: CA license No. 0F89850.
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Providing creative, integrated solutions for our beverage and agricultural industry partners with quality packaging products and supply chain services.
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Save on labor with mechanical pruning compatibility. Ask about Eco Trellis today.
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Providing the very best California crop insurance services.
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IF YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN SPONSORING
CAWG eNEWS,
CALL 916-379-8995.
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CA Water Allocations Increase
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- North-of-Delta, in-Delta and American River ag water service contractors’ allocations are increased to 100 percent (previously 70 percent).
- South-of-Delta ag water service contractors’ allocations are increased to 55 percent of their contract total (previously 35 percent).
In addition, the California Department of Water Resources
announced
that most State Water Project contractors will now receive 70 percent of their requests for the 2019 calendar year, which is double the allocation announced last month.
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Be Aware of Scams During Tax Season
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Check out the
“Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams for 2019
published by the IRS to educate taxpayers about schemes during tax season and throughout the year. Among the major scams are phishing, phone scams, identity theft, inflated refund claims, falsifying income to claim credits, falsely padding deductions on returns and excessive claims for business credits. States the IRS: “Taxpayers should remember that they are legally responsible for what is on their tax return even if it is prepared by someone else.”
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CAWG / CAWG FOUNDATION / CAWG PAC
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CAWG Dues and Membership Directory
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Please make sure your CAWG dues are current by March 30, 2019
or you'll miss your opportunity to be listed in CAWG's 2019 Membership Directory. This annual publication is a great way to be seen in the winegrape industry. The directory is a valuable communications vehicle with a long shelf life and features grower member listings, associate member listings and additional valuable informational content. If you have membership questions, call the CAWG office at 916-379-8995.
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The full-color version of the March issue is now online.
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Participate! CAWG Day in the Capitol and CAWG Foundation Gala
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WE NEED YOU FOR GRASSROOTS LOBBYING:
We want a strong turnout of CAWG members for Day in the Capitol – an important opportunity to meet with key legislators and other decision-makers to discuss current issues or bills that have an impact on your business.
SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS:
In the evening, join CAWG members, legislators and special guests for an enjoyable reception at The Sutter Club. We’ll promote the accomplishments of the foundation and raise money for the scholarship fund. The reception will feature delicious food and wine, a silent auction, and a wine tasting competition with political VIPs judging California wines.
PLEASE DONATE AUCTION ITEMS!
Contact Carolee at 916-379-8995 or carolee@cawg.org.
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Support CAWG PAC: Join Us at Balletto Vineyards in Santa Rosa
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live music * food * wine * networking
We hope you'll attend this special evening event that will also include a recap of our recent legislative efforts, what lies ahead for our industry in California, and insights into the 2020 election.
WHEN: April 4 / 5:30-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Balletto Vineyards, 5700 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa
EVENT HOSTS: Balletto Vineyards and Vino Farms, Inc.
RSVP & SPONSORSHIPS: Email info@cawg.org
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Napa Valley Grapegrowers announced the beginning of the winegrape growing season.
Napa Valley Register, March 18
Wine Business, March 19
North Bay Business Journal, March 18
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Farmers for Free Trade, March 18
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UCD Viticulture and Enology On the Road in Lake County
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WHEN: March 28 / 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Soper-Reese Community Theater, 275 So. Main Steet, Lakeport
TOPICS: Professors and UCCE specialists will cover: smoke taint research, canopy management, trunk diseases and rootstocks.
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April 4
CAWG PAC Fundraiser, Balletto Vineyards, Santa Rosa
April 10
CAWG Day in the Capitol, Sacramento
April 10
CAWG Foundation Gala, Sacramento
April 11
CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Sacramento
June 24
CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Sonoma
June 25
CAWG Summer Conference, Sonoma
June 25
CAWG Awards of Excellence Program and Dinner, Sonoma
June 26
CAWG Foundation Golf Tournament, Sonoma
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