June 4, 2020
YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY.
COVID-19 NEWS
CAWG COVID-19 Resources Webpage
Visit our resources webpage for all of our COVID-19 news alerts; state, federal and ag industry resources; webinar recordings; county orders and more.
New CDC/DOL Guidance for the Ag Industry
Interim guidance for COVID-19 for ag workers and employers was released this week by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and U.S. Department of Labor. The guidance provides a template of action to protect ag workers from COVID-19. Employers can adapt these recommendations to protect workers at their particular work sites or in specific work operations. The Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (at UC Davis) and other National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Ag Centers helped develop the new guidance.
Update on Paycheck Protection Program
Bipartisan Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act Awaits President's Signature
H.R. 7010 amends the CARES Act to provide small businesses with greater flexibility for their use of PPP loans. The House passed the legislation 417-1 on May 28 and the Senate passed it unanimously on June 3. It is now headed to the president’s desk for his signature.


Paycheck Protection Program Report - Loans Approved Through May 30
The agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting subsector (national) had 127,465 loans totaling nearly $7.6 billion – just 1.5 percent of the total $510 billion in approved loans. California businesses accounted for nearly 524,172 loans totaling $66.4 billion.

> REPORT
> PPP FAQS - Updated May 27
Webinar: Navigating Through COVID-19 / Reducing Risk in the Workplace
DATE 1 : Thursday, June 11 / 10-11 a.m.
DATE 2 : Monday, June 15 / 9-10 a.m.
PRESENTERS: Dr. Jill Rosenthal, Jan Rhodes and Vanessa Galvan of The Zenith.
DETAILS : Participants can include owners, managers, safety coordinators, HR professionals and supervisors. Presenters will discuss having the proper guidance, information and resources to protecting their business and the health of their employees.

California Launches Contact Tracing Program
California Connected, the state’s comprehensive contact tracing program and public awareness campaign, is now underway to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. According to the California Department of Public Health, “Contact tracing is a simple, confidential process that has been used by public health departments for decades to slow the spread of infectious disease and avoid outbreaks.”

Related Resources and Articles
Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety

County Variance Attestations
As of June 4, 50 of California’s 58 counties have been approved to move more quickly through stage two.

ARE Update
Giannini Foundation of Ag Economics-University of California, May/June issue

The forecast for wine imports is reduced $400 million from the February 2020 forecast as a result of reduced demand as consumers shift from dining out to staying at home during the pandemic.
USDA ERS, May 29

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NEWS ITEMS
**BALLOTS DUE JUNE 8**
PDCP: Please Vote Yes for the Future of Our Industry!
If you haven’t already voted, CAWG urges you to vote yes on the referendum to continue the Pierce’s Disease Control Program (PDCP). Thank you to all those who sent in your ballot; please encourage your fellow grape growers to also vote. If you still need a ballot, contact Beth Jensen at CDFA at beth.jensen@cdfa.ca.gov.
Government Relations Report
OUTDOOR AG LIGHTING STANDARD APPROVED
The Office of Administrative Law today approved a regulation from Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board creating a standard for  Outdoor Agricultural Operations During Hours of Darkness . This is the final step in the regulatory process.

The regulation as originally proposed in March 2019 would have required excessive and costly lighting in vineyards. CAWG worked closely with our ag and wine coalition partners and pushed for substantial amendments that allow for lighting to be provided at an appropriate level using portable or area lighting or both. The regulation was amended to address our concerns. In its final form, it now requires a lighting standard that ag employers are already including in their Injury and Illness Prevention Program.

The new standard will take effect July 1, 2020. Ag employers may want to consult with legal counsel or a HR professional for how this standard may apply to a specific workplace.    
 
SENATE & ASSEMBLY ANNOUNCE BUDGET DEAL
Leaders in the California Legislature yesterday announced a  unified budget plan  that proposes spending more from reserves, borrowing more money from internal accounts and delaying spending reductions until later this year. The plan also rejects many of the proposals Gov. Newsom announced in May. In part, the deal rejects about $14 billion in cuts proposed by Newsom, by relying on an anticipated federal bailout.
 
The governor had proposed an across the board 10 percent pay cut for state workers. The Legislature rejected this and instead is asking public labor unions to give some unquantified concessions. The Legislature will reevaluate after unions and the Newsom administration make agreements.
 
The Legislature and governor agreed on changing certain business tax rules to generate about $4.4 billion in revenue. They raise taxes by suspending the net operating loss deduction and prohibiting businesses from claiming more than $5 million in tax credits per tax year in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Below is a partial list of tax credits that would be subject to the $5 million limitation:
 
  • Research and development tax credit
  • Jobs tax credit
  • GO-BIZ California Competes credit
  • Credit for costs of transporting donated ag products
  • New employment credit
  • Donated fresh fruits and vegetables credit
 
Both houses of the Legislature are scheduled to take up the budget on June 15.


-Michael Miiller / michael@cawg.org / (916) 204-0485
Grapes Hold at No. 2 California Commodity in 2018
The California Agricultural Statistics Review 2018-2019, recently published by CDFA, features 136 pages of county and sales statistics and other information about the state’s $50 billion ag industry.

The top six commodities in 2018 were: Milk and cream, $6.37 billion; grapes/all, $6.25 billion (up 6.9 percent from 2017) ; almonds/shelled, $5.47 billion; miscellaneous crops, $4.72 billion; cattle and calves, $3.19 billion; and pistachios, $2.62 billion.

On pages 82-86, the report features the Grape Crush Report overview, summary of grape tonnages and prices, leading grape varieties and districts, leading varieties crushed and other statistics.

The state’s 69,400 farms and ranches received a total of $49.9 billion for their output in 2018, up slightly over 2017. The average value of California farm real estate increased in 2018 to $9,350 per acre, up 4.2 percent from 2017 . The value for irrigated cropland increased 4.4 percent in 2018 to $14,300 per acre.


Promising New Tool to Fight Powdery Mildew: Robots with UV Light
Cornell AgriTech researchers have helped develop robots fitted with UV light lamps that roam vineyards at night and effectively kill powdery mildew. According to an article from the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences , the autonomous vehicle robots are expected to hit the market this year. “For chardonnay grapes, we’ve got effective suppression of powdery mildew over a period of two years, with treatments once a week,” said one of the senior researchers.

> VIDEO

EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS
Consumer & Trade Perceptions of Sustainable Wine
WHEN: Friday, June 5 / 9-10 a.m. (PDT)
PRESENTERS: Lulie Halstead, Wine Intelligence; Christian Miller, Full Glass Research; and Allison Jordan, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance 
DETAILS: Wine industry research experts will present new data and insights from recent consumer and trade research on perceptions of sustainable winegrowing, certification and practices. 

Spotted Lanternfly - A Threat to Winegrapes
WHEN: Thursday, June 11 / 10-11 a.m.
PRESENTERS: Dr. Matt Kaiser, CDFA senior environmental scientist, and Dr. Andrew R. Cline, Pierce’s Disease Control Program acting statewide coordinator.
DETAILS: Presenters will provide an overview of SLF efforts in California, detection and regulatory possibilities, and how growers can be on the lookout for this invasive pest. All members of the wine industry are invited to join.
HOSTED BY: CAWG, Wine Institute and Family Winemakers of California.

You Did or Did Not Get a PPP Loan - Now What?
Moss Adams provided information on the Paycheck Protection Program, payroll tax provisions, other business financing alternatives, and business continuity. If you have additional questions from this webinar, contact Kirk.Faris@mossadams.com or William.Vyenielo@mossadams.com

> PDF  of presentation
> RECORDING  

ARTICLES OF INTEREST
VINEYARDS & WINE

Wine Industry Advisor, June 3

Ag Alert, June 3

Ag Alert, May 20

Press release, June 3

Wine Industry Advisor, June 2

Vineyard managers use mechanical tools in tandem to stretch labor savings.
Good Fruit Grower, May 28

AGRICULTURE

USDA has revised its previous forecast for Chinese purchases of U.S. ag products during this 2020 fiscal year. 
USDA Radio, June 3

CALENDAR
JUNE
17 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #3, Santa Rosa - CANCELLED
17 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #4, Napa - CANCELLED
23 / CAWG Foundation Golf Tournament - CANCELLED
24 / CAWG Annual Meeting Roadshow #5, Lodi - CANCELLED

JULY
20 / CAWG Regional & Board of Directors dinner, Santa Rosa - TBD
21 / CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Santa Rosa - TBD