California Association of Winegrape Growers

Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), new chair of the Assembly Ag Committee, is in the middle of a three-week statewide tour to hear from farmers, farmworkers and other ag industry members. Today’s visit was at Balletto Vineyards in Santa Rosa, where CAWG staff and board members were able to talk with him about current challenges and ongoing efforts within the wine/winegrape industry. Joining Rivas were Assemblymembers Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) and Marc Levine (D...-Marin County) and legislative staff. THANK YOU to CAWG board members John Balletto (host), Tom Slater, Duff Bevill and Karissa Kruse for your participation in this educational event. Mike Martini of Sonoma Alliance for Vineyards and Environment and employees of Bevill Vineyard Management also attended. CAWG Director of Government Relations Michael Miiller said, CAWG's top priority is advocating in Sacramento and in D.C. for our growers. When lawmakers can meet one-on-one with growers who are directly affected by the policies they pursue, it helps them appreciate how things really work on the ground. I cannot overstate the value of meetings like this.

Wildfires and smoke have challenged growers in new and unexpected ways this year, prompting many questions about grape contracts and crop insurance. Join the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) on Friday, October 9th for a webinar discussing issues surrounding crop insurance and winegrape contracts in the event of a wildfire. Presenting will be Jeff Yasui, USDA Risk Management Agency and Dale Stern, Downey Brand, LLP. ... https://register.gotowebinar.com/regist/6997435345702598414

"It’s a big win for winegrape growers and while an announcement went out about two weeks ago, it may have gone unnoticed by some." --Article on the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 includes CAWG's Sept. 18 press release, plus quotes from Tom Slater (CAWG vice chair).

WINE INDUSTRY AFFECTED BY WILDFIRES SEEKS EXTENSION OF DISASTER PAYMENT PROGRAM SACRAMENTO, Sept. 21, 2020 With growers and winemakers facing unprecedented losses from the devastating West Coast wildfires, leaders of 10 wine industry groups are seeking help from Congress to obtain immediate disaster relief. Specifically, they are requesting an extension of the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) to cover 2020 wildfire-related losses. Administered by the U....S. Department of Agriculture, WHIP+ provides disaster payments to producers to offset losses from wildfires, hurricanes and other qualifying natural disasters. In 2019, California growers received WHIP+ payments for 2018 covered crop losses due to wildfires, as well as quality losses due to smoke exposure. Farmers are resilient and they accept the many risks inherent to agriculture, but 2020 has produced more challenges than any could have ever anticipated. It’s absolutely essential that Congress extends disaster assistance to California winegrape growers, said California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) President John Aguirre. A jointly signed letter was recently sent to Congressional leaders by the 10 organizations, including CAWG, California Farm Bureau Federation, Oregon Wine Board, Oregon Winegrowers Association, Oregon Farm Bureau, Washington Winegrowers, Washington Farm Bureau, WineAmerica, Wine Institute and Winegrape Growers of America. >Letter to Congress: https://files.constantcontact.com//6d6a9b16-387f-49dc-b43f >USDA WHIP+ webpage: https://www.farmers.gov/recover/whip-plus

CAWG STATEMENT ON USDA ADDING WINEGRAPES TO CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 2 SACRAMENTO, Sept. 18, 2020 In response to today’s announcement that winegrapes are now eligible for Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) funds, California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) President John Aguirre issued the following statement: We are extremely pleased with the announcement by the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) that winegrape growers are eligible to app...ly for assistance through the expanded Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. CFAP 2 will provide growers with much-needed financial assistance to help them with the significant and continuing market disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to an analysis by Jon Moramarco in June, California winegrape growers could suffer at least $437 million in lost sales from this year’s grape harvest due to COVID-19 related economic disruptions. CFAP assistance has been an important goal for CAWG for the past five months. Since May, CAWG and other agricultural organizations have urged USDA to include winegrapes on the list of specialty crops eligible for CFAP funding. In addition, Congressman Mike Thompson's (D-Napa) leadership and the support of the California Congressional delegation proved invaluable to this effort. We are grateful for Rep. Thompson’s ongoing advocacy for the winegrape industry. >USDA press release: https://go.usa.gov/xGnet >CFAP 2 webpage: https://www.farmers.gov/cfap

Coronavirus has taken a huge hit on so many agricultural producers, including grape growers in our district and across our nation. That’s why Rep. Dan Newhouse ...and I led a bipartisan letter asking the Secretary of Agriculture to include wine grapes on the list of specialty crops that are eligible for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. Without this help, family farmers, local workers and our local economy will be hurt. Read our letter below and know I will continue working to bring relief for grape growers and agricultural producers across our district. See more

MIke Boer of Grow West and Leticia Chacón Rodríguez of UC Davis have been selected as the 2021 Unified Wine and Grape Symposium's Program Development Committee ...co-chairs. They lead a 30-member committee, all of whom volunteer their time to find applicable and timely topics in winemaking, grapegrowing, business and marketing, and pursue appropriate speakers for the Unified Symposium program sessions. Registration for 2021 Unified Symposium will open on Tuesday, November 3. Read more about this at unifiedsymposium.org.

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our dear friend, Tom Berryhill. Tom served on the CAWG board of directors from 1998-2006, and then went on to serve in the Assembly and Senate from 2006-2018. After his time in state office, he returned to Ceres, where he was a current Stanislaus County Supervisor. Tom has always been a strong advocate for agriculture, water issues, and public safety. He was born in Ceres and was a small businessman and fourth-generation ...farmer who came from a family steeped in politics; his brother Bill, current CAWG director, also served in the Legislature, and their father, the late Clare Berryhill, was a longtime Republican legislator who also served as state director of food and agriculture. CAWG expresses its deepest condolences to the Berryhill family. State Sen. Andreas Borgeas, said it best, "Our community has lost a giant!" https://www.recordnet.com//longtime-san-joaqu/5675769002/

CAWG President John Aguirre and San Joaquin Farm Bureau Executive Director Bruce Blodgett are interviewed in this story.

Join CAWG tomorrow morning, Wednesday, August 26 @ 9:30am for a webinar focused on Wildfire and Smoke Exposure Events. This webinar will be focused on the following topics: 1. Smoke Exposure and Risks to Grape Quality 2. Winegrape Contracts Smoke Exposure Language ... 3. Crop Insurance Claims 4. Worker Safety and Air Quality: Mask Requirements and CA Wildfire Smoke Regulation REGISTER: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/regist/8779373157957543440

Cal/OSHA is reminding all employers with outdoor workers to take steps to prevent heat illness during a period of high heat across the state. The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat warnings and watches in effect Friday through early next week for many interior and coastal parts of the state from Shasta and Sacramento Counties, through the San Francisco Bay Area and Fresno, Kern, Ventura, Los Angeles Counties and more. Press Release: https://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2020/2020-70.html Heat Illness Standard: https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/3395.html

There have been several reports of people receiving seeds in the mail from China that they did not order. The seeds are sent in packages usually stating that th...e contents are jewelry. Unsolicited seeds could be invasive, introduce diseases to local plants, or be harmful to livestock. Here's what to do if you receive unsolicited seeds from another country: Do NOT open seed packet. Do NOT throw package away. Do NOT plant the seeds. Call the San Joaquin Agricultural Commissioner at (209) 953-6000 to drop off or have them pick up the package. Please keep all packaging material to submit. Please spread this info to others to protect our country.

UNIFIED WINE & GRAPE SYMPOSIUM MOVES TO A VIRTUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW IN JANUARY 2021 Press release: https://www.unifiedsymposium.org//unified-wine-grape-sympo