The Crush - November 2021 - 6

STATE FOCUS
Ag Overtime, Minimum Wage Changes Kick in on Jan. 1
AB 1066, passed by the California Legislature in 2016, phased out
the 10-hour day/60-hour workweek overtime exemption for ag
workers to put these workers on par with workers in most other
industries.
Effective Jan. 1, 2022 (OT required after the following hours per
day/hours per workweek):
* Employers with 26 or more employees: 8/40
* Employers with 25 or fewer employees: 9.5/55
Ag OT timetable
Also effective Jan. 1, California's minimum wage will increase
from $13 per hour to $14 per hour for employers with 25 or
fewer employees, and from $14 per hour to $15 per hour for
employers with 26 or more employees. Due to SB 3, signed into
law in 2016, the minimum wage is adjusted on an annual basis
until it reaches $15 per hour (2022 for large businesses and 2023
for small businesses). Some cities and counties have also set a
local minimum wage. If a city or county has adopted a higher
minimum wage, employees must be paid the local wage where it
is higher than the state or federal minimum wage rates.
Minimum wage FAQs
DPR Seeks Input on
Statewide Pesticide
Notification System
The 2021-22 state budget allocated $10 million to the California Department of Pesticide
Regulation (DPR) to develop a statewide system that will notify people prior to
pesticide applications near where they live, work or play. DPR hosted a series of focus
group sessions in August, followed by webinars in early November to get input from
the public. The agency plans to hold additional public workshops in January 2022.
Details / DPR pesticide notification webpage
Focus groups summary
Apply for a SWEEP Grant
CDFA is now accepting applications for the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement
Program (SWEEP), with grants up to $200,000 for projects that improve irrigation
systems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save water. Many vineyard operations
have received grants in the past. Funded projects can include elements such as soil,
plant or weather sensors; micro-irrigation systems; pump retrofits or replacements;
renewable energy and variable frequency drives and more. The application window
will end Jan. 18, 2022 or earlier if funding is depleted.
Details
New Undersecretary at
CDFA
Christine Birdsong on Nov. 1 was sworn in as the new undersecretary for the California
Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). She will work closely with CDFA
Secretary Karen Ross on numerous issues important to CAWG and the ag industry.
" Christine's leadership experience at the federal level as well as in the private sector
is perfectly suited for the important work of CDFA and the many challenges and
opportunities facing California agriculture, " Ross said. Birdsong served as senior vice
president, general counsel and director of people and culture for the Sun Valley Rice
Company since 2016. She was general counsel for the National Cotton Council of
America from 2011 to 2016, counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee
on Agriculture from 2005 to 2010, and federal government affairs leader for CropLife
America from 2004 to 2005. Birdsong earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University
of California Hastings College of the Law.
6 NOVEMBER 2021

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB1066 https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB3 https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Overtime-for-Agricultural-Workers.html https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/FAQ_MinimumWage.htm https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pesticide_notification_network/ https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pesticide_notification_network/notification_system_focus_groups_summary.pdf https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/egov/Press_Releases/Press_Release.asp?PRnum=21-133

The Crush - November 2021

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