The Crush - March 2020 - 5

[ INDUSTRY NEWS ]

CAWG Urges Yes Vote on PD/GWSS Referendum
VOTING INFORMATION, PLUS GROWER SURVEY AND BOARD LEADERSHIP
As reported in the February issue of The Crush, California
winegrape growers will soon vote on extending the Pierce's
Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (PD/GWSS) assessment
until March 2026. Five years ago, more than 80 percent voted yes
to continuing the assessment. CAWG strongly urges a yes vote,
as the program has been effective in research and in addressing
PD/GWSS and other pest and disease threats of winegrapes.
From the PD/GWSS website:
VOTER ELIGIBILITY AND TIMELINE
To establish the list of eligible grower voters, CDFA will request
all wineries and winegrape processors to submit the names,
mailing addresses and assessment values of all producers who
paid the assessment on grapes crushed during the 2019 harvest.
Every entity that produced winegrapes in 2019 will receive a
ballot in March or April. Growers who operate multiple entities
will receive a separate ballot for each entity. Each ballot should be
voted and returned.
PASSAGE REQUIREMENTS
At least 40 percent of the eligible voting entities must cast ballots
for the referendum to be valid. Passage of the referendum
requires either:
*	 Of those who vote, 65 percent vote "yes," and the "yes" voters
must have paid the majority of the assessment that was paid
by those who voted.
OR
*	 Of those who vote, a majority vote "yes," and the "yes" voters
must have paid 65 percent or more of the assessment that was
paid by those who voted.

$34.3

$6.3

MILLION

MILLION

Invested in research
to find solutions to
PD/GWSS since 2001

Invested in research for
other designated
winegrape pests and
diseases since 2009

GROWER SURVEY RESULTS
Hundreds of winegrape growers participated in the PD/GWSS
survey in late 2019, which was conducted by USDA's National
Agricultural Statistics Service in cooperation with CDFA. The
18 questions focused on PD and GWSS in vineyards, as well as
research, programs and outreach by the PD/GWSS Board. The
survey results, released at the end of January, help determine
how to keep winegrape growers informed about PD, GWSS and
other designated pests and diseases. Results are available at
www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/California/
NEW PD/GWSS BOARD OFFICERS AND MEMBERS
ANNOUNCED IN FEBRUARY
*	 Chair: Domonic Rossini, partner/owner of Fratello Farming.
*	 Vice chair: William Drayton, technical viticulture manager with
Treasury Wine Estates.
*	 Treasurer: Randy Heinzen, president of Vineyard Professional
Services.
*	 New members: Rich Hammond, Hammond Family Vineyards,
and Aaron Lange, head of vineyard operations, LangeTwins
Family Winery and Vineyards.

Researchers Pursue Grant to Study Smoke Impacts on Grapes
University researchers are seeking input for a USDA grant that
would fund research on the impacts of smoke on grapes and
wine. Drs. Anita Oberholster (UC Davis), Elizabeth Tomasino
(Oregon State University) and Tom Collins (Washington State
University) conducted a meeting in Sacramento on Feb. 3 - one of
three meetings - to get feedback on wildfire smoke-related issues.
CAWG staff and members were among the dozens who attended.
"We need this grant so that we can actually put together a
coherent program (instead of) chipping here and chipping

there," Collins said at the meeting, as reported in a March 3 Wine
Business article.
CAWG President John Aguirre said, "CAWG is working with
Congress to fund research on ways to reduce crop risks when
vineyards are exposed to wildfire smoke. The winegrape
industry is fortunate to have such high quality researchers
addressing some of the most pressing questions surrounding
smoke exposure issues."

MARCH 2020 / 5
https://www.pdgwss.net/ http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/California/ https://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataId=226865 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataId=226865
The Crush - March 2020

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