YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY.
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July Issue - Digital Format
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The Crush is now available in digital format (the PDF was emailed last week). With the digital version, all links will appear briefly in
yellow highlight
when you flip the pages.
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Government Relations Report
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CAL/OSHA ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
Employers should be aware that Cal/OSHA is aggressively enforcing compliance with the federal, state and local COVID-19 guidelines and orders. Below is a summary of the information CAWG is receiving from several lawyers representing employers:
- Cal/OSHA is requiring all employers to have a written COVID-19 plan. A failure to have a written plan will likely result in a citation.
- In enforcing the Illness and Injury Prevention Program regulation, Cal/OSHA is now issuing serious citations for noncompliance with COVID-19 guidelines.
- Cal/OSHA is also focusing on outdoor heat injury prevention and shade requirements. A failure to provide workers with adequate shade sufficient to allow for social distancing will likely result in citations.
- It’s important to know that Cal/OSHA does not consider a personal motor vehicle as satisfying shade requirements, unless the vehicle is running with A/C.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Gov. Newsom on May 6 issued an
executive order
allowing employees working outside their homes who test positive for COVID-19 to receive workers’ compensation benefits – regardless of when or where the worker actually contracted the virus. The executive order expired on July 5, but a positive test result or diagnosis through July 20 may still entitle the employee to receive coverage. This is because symptoms may not appear for up to two weeks after contracting the virus.
The future status of workers' compensation coverage for COVID-19 is uncertain. Gov. Newsom wants workers' compensation coverage to include COVID-19. To accomplish this, he may issue a new executive order or sign pending legislation into law.
CAWG is very engaged in the efforts of a coalition to ensure state proposed policies and regulations to protect and support workers affected by COVID-19 don’t impose unsustainable burdens on employers.
For now, employees who test positive for COVID-19 may still claim workers’ compensation benefits. However, those employees must prove they were likely exposed to COVID-19 at work.
Q&A ON CONFUSING CAL/OSHA POSTER
Cal/OSHA has created a
workplace poster
to provide guidelines for when to use face coverings, masks and respirators to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, the poster may create some confusion.
-Michael Miiller / michael@cawg.org / (916) 204-0485
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Webinars: COVID-19 Industry Briefs for Agriculture
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Join The Zenith team of experts for these 30-minute webinar briefings:
JULY 31:
COVID-19 and Your CA IIPP
AUG. 7:
The Ins and Outs of COVID-19 Testing
AUG. 14:
Employee Transportation Best Practices Under COVID-19
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Paycheck Protection Program Report
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The Small Business Administrations released its
PPP
report
on loans approved through July 17.
California
businesses accounted for 590,512 loans totaling $67.6 billion. The agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting subsector (national) had 140,725 loans totaling $7.9 billion (only 1.52 percent of the total amount).
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California Farm Bureau Federation:
Follow-up survey
to learn how farmers are coping with the impacts of COVID-19.
Counties added to monitoring list:
A total of 35 counties are now on the state’s
watchlist
. Together they are home to 94 percent of the state population.
Beverage Daily, July 23
Wine Industry Advisor, July 22
Press release, July 22
Farmer Joe Del Bosque, Manuel Cunha (Nisei Farmers League) and Lupe Sandoval (CFLCA) are quoted.
Vida en el Valle, July 21
Twenty-one Republican governors sent a letter to congressional leadership advocating for any additional coronavirus response package to include liability protections for businesses, educators and health care workers.
July 21
Warning to consumers.
FDA, July 2
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Two AVA Boundary Modifications Proposed in Monterey County
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The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) on July 20
published a proposed rule in the Federal Register
for the modification of two AVAs. The first proposal would remove approximately 376 acres from the northern part of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA; the area is within the Salinas River floodplain and no vineyards are planted there. The second proposal would remove 148 acres from the western side of the Arroyo Seco AVA and place them entirely within the southeastern region of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. Comments on this proposal must be received on or before Sept. 18, 2020.
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Sanchietti Farming Receives Viticulture Award of Excellence
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Congratulations to Sanchietti Farming (CAWG member) on being honored with the 2020 Viticulture Award of Excellence by Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW). The Sanchietti family was selected “for its 100+ years of farming legacy, meticulous farming techniques, its support of SCW’s sustainability initiatives, and for being exceptional contributors to the Sonoma County community.”
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Californians Named to USDA-USTR Ag Trade Advisory Committees
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Four individuals representing California specialty crop groups have been
appointed to serve on ag trade advisory committees
(ATAC). Serving on the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee is David Puglia of Western Growers Association. Serving on the ATAC for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables Committee is Casey Creamer, California Citrus Mutual; Jodi Devaurs, California Table Grape Commission; and Caroline Stringer, California Fresh Fruit Association.
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New Resources from UCCE-SJV
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NEW SJV TREES AND VINES WEBSITE
VIT TIPS NEWSLETTER
The
July issue of Vit Tips
(SJV viticulture newsletter) includes viticulture advisor articles on bunch rot, Pierce’s disease and potassium nutrition in vineyards.
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Nominations Open for Rich Smith Award
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The Rich Smith Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual who has made major contributions to the American grape and wine industry and research, while emulating Smith’s defining traits of passion, commitment and collaboration. It is co-sponsored by Winegrape Growers of America, National Grape Research Alliance and WineAmerica. Nominations are due by Oct. 30, 2020.
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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 to view video.
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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
email
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Providing the very best California crop insurance services.
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Santa Barbara County: Winegrapes No. 2, Decrease in Value
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The total value of winegrapes in Santa Barbara County was $106.1 million in 2019 (down from $121.3 million in 2018 and $146.1 million in 2017). Total production in 2019 was 50,181 tons and harvested acreage was 14,927. In comparison, total production in 2018 was 59,119 tons and harvested acreage was 16,166. The top five varieties by value in 2019 were pinot noir ($42.3 million), chardonnay ($30.8 million), syrah ($9.1 million), sauvignon blanc ($3.7 million) and cabernet sauvignon ($3.1 million).
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DPR Report Shows Pesticides Below Health Screening Levels
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Air monitoring results released this month from DPR conclude that none of the 36 pesticides monitored exceeded any of their health screening levels or regulatory targets for 2019. In 2019, DPR monitored 31 pesticides and five breakdown products in eight ag communities: Shafter (Kern County), Santa Maria and Cuyama (Santa Barbara County), Watsonville (Santa Cruz County), Chualar (Monterey County), Lindsay (Tulare County), Oxnard (Ventura County) and San Joaquin (Fresno County). Of the 36 chemicals monitored, 10 were not detected, 16 were only detected at trace levels, and 10 compounds were detected at quantifiable levels. Of the 14,616 analyses conducted, 96.2 percent did not return a detectable concentration.
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VINEYARDS & WINE
July issue
CAWG members quoted.
Western Farm Press, July 22
AGRICULTURE
Politico, June 29
WATER & WEATHER
While attention is naturally on managing drought, two new studies suggest that the state’s flood risk has been vastly underestimated.
Public Policy Institute of California, July 20
Western Farm Press, July 20
Weather West blog, July 15
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