YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY. |
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CAWG Foundation Awards $34,000 in Student Scholarships |
The CAWG Foundation has awarded $34,000 in college scholarships to seven students. The scholarships are awarded annually to students whose parent or legal guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower.
“The CAWG Foundation is honored to award these scholarships and show our support for vineyard employees who are valued members of our winegrape industry family,” said Davindar Mahil, chair of the CAWG Foundation board of directors. “The recipients exemplify excellence – in scholastic achievements, extracurricular activities and community service. We are so impressed with how hard these students have worked to pursue higher education, and we are pleased to help them with their academic goals.”
Thank you to CAWG members and the California wine community for your generous donations to CAWG Foundation scholarship funds. Since the program’s inception in 1998, the foundation has awarded $528,500 in scholarships.
Four-Year University Scholarship Recipients
$8,000 each
- Jocelyn Cervantes Cabrera, Bakersfield (Foothill High School)
- Dafne Cruz Rodriguez, Santa Rosa (Windsor High School)
- Lyzet Montañez Hurtado, Clearlake (Lower Lake High School)
Four-Year University Scholarship Recipient
$5,000
- Rebecca Hernandez, Windsor (Windsor High School)
Two-Year Community College Scholarship Recipients
$2,000 each
- Daniela Romero, Plymouth (Amador High School)
- Samantha Zavala Ferro, Ione (Amador High School)
Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship Recipient
$1,000
- Lauryn Allen, Templeton (Templeton High School)
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West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force Smoke Summit — Virtual
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WHEN: June 8 / 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
ABOUT: Several presenters will deliver the latest research and help us understand how industry operators can use lessons learned from last year’s wildfire smoke experience to better cope with the next wildfire event. The task force was formed by industry leaders and three West Coast winegrowing associations: CAWG, Oregon Winegrowers and Washington Winegrowers.
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2021 Update to Wildfire Guide |
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Drought and Reservoir Conditions |
As of June 1, most counties are in extreme or exceptional drought conditions. Read a drought summary for the West and see statistics comparing current conditions to this time last year. The latest reservoir conditions map shows most of the major reservoirs are well below the historical average mark.
DROUGHT ARTICLES
Q&A with Scott Stephens, a fire ecologist at UC Berkeley.
Public Policy Institute of California, June 1
Capital Public Radio, June 1
SF Gate, June 1
Weather West blog, May 28
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Providing the very best California crop insurance services. |
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Drought the Main Focus of State Board of Food and Ag Meeting |
At its June 1 meeting, the California State Board of Food and Agriculture discussed recent drought actions as well as programs to assist farmers and ranchers. The board heard from four farmers and two state officials. Other meeting topics were sustainable agriculture and Gov. Newsom’s “May revise.”
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With excessive heat affecting regions of California now and in the coming weeks, Cal/OSHA is reminding employers to implement measures (plan, training, water, rest and shade) to protect outdoor workers from heat illness. This is particularly crucial for employees who are working in a high heat area for the first time. You can download heat illness prevention materials – posters, guides, fact sheets, videos, etc. – from the Cal/OSHA websites below.
Heat-related Illness and Injuries, Climate and Practical Solutions for Ag Workers
WHEN: June 7 / 4-5 p.m.
Learn more about recent research on heat-related illness and traumatic injuries among ag populations and adaptations in the context of climate change.
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Farmers with Crop Insurance to Receive Premium Benefits for Cover Crops |
USDA this week announced the Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP), which provides premium support to ag producers who have coverage under most crop insurance policies if they planted cover crops during the 2021 crop year. To receive the benefit, producers must file a report of acreage form (FSA-578) by June 15, 2021. To file the report, make an appointment with your local USDA Service Center.
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United for a Sustainable Future Website |
The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and partners from other states are promoting the U.S. wine industry's commitment to sustainable winegrowing through an all-new website. Sustainability programs in California, Oregon, Washington and New York – states that produce 95% of U.S. wine – are featured on the website. Click on the summit tab to find video recordings from this year’s U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit.
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Government Relations Report |
PAID SICK LEAVE VICTORY
AB 995 (Gonzalez, D-San Diego) would have increased the paid sick leave mandate from three to five days annually. The bill needed to be approved by the Assembly by June 4 for it to continue moving through the process. That will not happen, because today the author dropped the bill.
A big thank you to CAWG members who reached out to your assemblymembers asking for a NO vote. Your voices were heard loud and clear.
CAWG will continue to monitor this closely, as there is always the potential for a resurrection of the issue in the Senate later this year.
EARLY STATE BUDGET WITH A HEALTHY RESERVE
Historically, the California Legislature spends the first two weeks of June in budget conference committee hearings. In those hearings, senators and assemblymembers work through the differences between the versions of the budget approved by their respective budget committees. They also hear testimony from the Department of Finance relative to the governor’s proposed budget.
After several hours-long hearings, the conference committee would approve a conference committee report, which ultimately becomes the final budget which the Legislature would send to the governor before the June 15 deadline.
However, for this year's budget, Assembly and Senate leaders announced early this week that they reached an early agreement on the 2021-22 state budget, which includes a record $186 billion in spending. It also includes total reserves for the 2021-22 budget year of $25.2 billion.
The budget committees of both houses are meeting separately to hash out and approve the details of that spending plan agreement. The details of the final budget will be made clearer in the next week.
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Former Farm Bureau President Calls Proposed Mill Tax a Threat to Ag |
Paul Wenger, Stanislaus County farmer and former California Farm Bureau president, wrote a commentary in Ag Alert criticizing the proposed mill tax. “One of this year's most serious threats to agriculture is a proposed mill tax increase of as much as 115% on products registered by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). Buried in the 2021-22 legislative budget bill is a millage tax that increases the costs to manufacturers on everything from bleach and disinfectants to the pesticides farmers need to grow the world's best fruit, nuts and produce. What this means to the average Californian and business is as disturbing as it is simple: The state wants to make it more expensive to buy disinfectants and food, while [DPR] gets $45 million in additional tax money – a jaw-dropping 40% increase to its budget. For farmers, the tax is yet another example of how Sacramento is regulating them to death. Growing food is an essential service that should be protected, not made more difficult.”
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Biden Releases FY 2022 Budget |
From Cornerstone Government Affairs: President Biden on May 28 released his FY 2022 budget request detailing his proposals to advance his administration’s agenda. The $6 trillion budget complements the investments proposed through the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan. It includes proposed changes to the U.S. tax code that would predominately affect the corporate tax, capital gains and top income tax bracket earners. The plan estimates total spending to surpass $8.2 trillion by 2031 and would take the country to its highest sustained levels of spending since World War II.
Agriculture: The president’s budget provides increased funding for ag research and education, climate smart ag and expanded broadband access for rural America. It seeks an increase of $4 billion for discretionary spending on USDA programs, as well as increased funding for wildfire suppression.
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UCD Geneticist Dr. Andrew Walker Announces Retirement |
UC Davis (UCD) professor and geneticist Dr. Andrew Walker will retire June 29 after more than 30 years on the UCD Department of Viticulture and Enology faculty and as a winegrape breeder. His important breeding projects include the introduction of five new PD-resistant grape varieties and five new nematode resistant rootstocks. Read the full article by Ted Rieger in the June 2 issue of Wine Business.
CAWG appreciates Walker’s extensive and incredibly valuable contributions to the winegrape industry over the past three decades. We wish him the best in retirement and future endeavors.
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COVID-19 Resources and Articles |
NEW
AP/NBC Bay Area, June 3
JD Supra, June 1
Press release, May 27
CDPH guidance on the state reopening – and county color tiers ending – on June 15.
Press release, May 21
COUNTY DATA AS OF JUNE 1:
Substantial/red = 4 (May 25 = 8)
Moderate/orange = 35 (May 25 = 35)
Minimal/yellow = 19 (May 25 = 15)
COVID19.CA.GOV
CAWG
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June 3
Press release, June 1
Q&A with Atlas Vineyard Management co-founder and CEO Barry Belli.
North Bay Business Journal, June 1
AgNet West, May 31
May issue
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CAWG PAC Honors Sen. Bill Dodd |
Jackson Family Wines to Host Special Event at La Crema Estate/Saralee's Vineyard in Windsor
WHEN: June 17 / 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Join us for an evening of fantastic appetizers, wine, networking...plus a special celebration and award to Sen. Bill Dodd for his years of leadership and public service.
>FLYER (event details, registration, sponsorships)
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With over 30 harvests, the G3 Ag Team has deep experience in winegrape hauling. Our operational expertise and agile planning combine to provide responsive service for wineries and grape growers large and small. Click on image or here to view video.
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Labor and the Harvest Season
ABOUT: A discussion on how the worsening labor shortage may impact the harvest season and ways that integrated logistics planning and scheduling can help you prepare.
HOSTS: CAWG and G3 Enterprises
PRESENTER: Yvonne Sams, senior director of CA logistics for G3’s hauling team.
The Importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Grape and Wine Industries
WHEN: June 7 / 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
PRESENTERS: Representatives from UC Davis and individuals working in the wine/winegrape industries.
Office Hours with Dave and Anita: Delayed Spring Growth and Cold Damage in the Vineyard
WHEN: June 17 / 2 – 3 p.m.
ASEV-NGRA Precision Viticulture Symposium
WHEN: June 21 / 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
ABOUT: This symposium convenes precision viticulture experts, as well as growers applying precision technology and techniques. Segments: Keynote presentations, vine management, pests and diseases, crop estimation and other tools, and early adopters.
HOSTS: American Society for Enology and Viticulture and National Grape Research Alliance
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