California Association of Winegrape Growers

theCrush volume 43, issue 1

January 2016

New Resources For Vineyard Frost Protection Following a three-year study of springtime air temperature inversion conditions in North Coast and Central Coast winegrape growing regions, the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) has launched a website to begin posting real-time temperature data from weather stations to assist growers in deciding where to use, and when to operate, wind machines for frost protection. All green parts of the grapevine are susceptible to frost during the growing season.

This temperature monitoring technology has the potential to be used in other California grape growing regions as a new resource for frost protection. Mark Battany, UCCE viticulture farm advisor for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, has been gathering data on temperature inversions to assess the feasibility of using wind machines as alternatives to sprinkler frost protection. “Sprinkler frost protection is very effective, but it uses a lot of water, and water supplies are becoming tighter everywhere,” he explains. Water use for sprinkler frost protection has also become subject to more regulatory scrutiny in some locations, such as in the Russian River Watershed in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, and in the Paso Robles area in San Luis Obispo County.

Frost And California Vineyards All green parts of the grapevine are susceptible to frost during the growing season. The amount of damage is dependent on how long temperatures are below

32 degrees F. Damage starts when temperatures are at 31 degrees F. for more than 30 minutes. Vines are at risk for spring frost damage after budbreak and during early growth, which in California can be from February through May depending on the season and location. Spring frost can result in loss of crop, or delayed crop development and lower yields. Late season fall frosts can also be an issue, causing leaves to turn brown or fall off and stop sugar accumulation. Fruit may be damaged if the temperature is low enough. Wind machines provide frost protection only when a temperature inversion exists. When an inversion is present, air temperature increases with height above the ground surface. A wind machine fan moves warmer air located above the blades downward toward the ground, and also blows cold air upward where it mixes with the warm air. Wind machines are available as stationary, ground installed units, and other machines are portable and can be towed as trailer-mounted units for use where needed. Since noise produced by wind machines is sometimes a complaint from neighbors who live near vineyards where they operate, newer wind machines are available with quieter operation than older models. In addition, newer models are designed with more energy-efficient fuel use.

Tall unmowed grasses harbor the coldest temperatures (worst conditions) for frost risk.

Temperature Inversion Studies And Monitoring The temperature inversion study led by Battany was funded through a California Department of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant, and by the American Vineyard Foundation. Battany designed 35-foot temperature inversion monitoring poles with two temperature sensors — one at a height of 5 feet and one at 35 feet. These poles were placed at about 60 sites each spring from 2012 through 2014. About 20 monitoring sites were located in each of three counties — San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Sonoma. The data helped determine whether or not each site had useful inversion conditions. An inversion is considered useful if the temperature difference between the sensors on most nights is at least 2 degrees F. Useful inversions tend to occur on cold clear nights with no air movement. Battany explained, “A main driver is not having wind or air movement to let the stratification of temperature layers develop.” Some locations showed inversions with as much as 10 degrees F. difference on some nights. Citing data from San Luis Obispo County for specific nights, he said, “As the night progresses, by the time it gets to the coldest part of the night (from about midnight to 6:00 a.m.), many of the sites had useful inversions.” He also observed, “These inversion towers are cheap and easy to set up, and a number of growers in both the North Coast and Paso Robles have built them to evaluate conditions at frost prone sites for inversion suitability before making a major investment in wind machines that can cost $30,000 each.” The towers are portable, but are not intended for permanent use. They can be built for about $250 each, complete with sensors and a data logger. Battany has provided instructions on materials and assembly at http://cesanluisobispo.ucanr.edu/ files/164588.pdf.

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Following the three-year study, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recognized the value of these data and incorporated frost and inversion monitoring into its weather data for the North Coast. NOAA funded permanent weather stations (approximately $3,000 each) with inversion monitoring towers, data loggers and cellular phone technology to enable data transfer in real time. A new

website for this information, “UC Frost Protection Weather Data,” is now posted at http://ucanr.edu/ sites/russianriverhabitat/Inversion_Data/. This website provides current data from 17 temperature inversion weather stations in Sonoma and Mendocino counties near vineyard areas in the Russian River Watershed. It includes real-time temperature data for each site at both the 5-foot and 35-foot heights with a graph for the past week. Other weather station data include rainfall, relative humidity, and wind speed. Battany said the website is still being refined and more data displays will be added before the 2016 spring frost season. Funding is available to install four more weather stations in this area, and UCCE is looking for suitable sites. Up to 18 real-time permanent weather stations with inversion towers are planned for sites across the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin in the near future, and these will also provide data to the UC website. Battany expects to include data from some of these sites on the UC website before the end of 2016, but not in time for this year’s spring frost season. Growers who have independently gathered data with the earlier, simple-to-install sensor towers are now installing taller towers on permanent weather stations to gather inversion data continuously. Battany said it’s simple to add a 35-foot high tower and sensors to an existing weather station. Regional grower groups with weather station networks may want to consider adding inversion monitoring to their systems. During a presentation at UC Davis Grape Day in December, Battany cited a statewide weather network system operating across 120 locations in Oklahoma (Mesonet.org) that measures temperature inversions and other weather data. “This is a model for what we can do in California, either on a regional basis or statewide,” he observed.

A Closer Look At Passive Frost Protection Battany is also collecting more specific temperature data in the Paso Robles area to study the potential for passive frost protection measures based on trellis height and cover crop management. Temperatures are most often colder at night closest to Continued on page 7

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M E S S A G E

Last year proved once again that we would be wise to expect the unexpected. And, tragically, some of last year’s unexpected events were catastrophic and resulted in loss of life. In 2015, crazed gunmen sprayed a hail of bullets at innocents in a San Bernardino community center, a South Carolina church, an Oregon community college and on the streets of Paris. Nature unleashed raging fires in California’s Lake and Calaveras counties, destroying homes and businesses and threatening wineries and vineyards alike. Union dock workers demonstrated a taste for extortion with a work slowdown at West Coast ports, imperiling trade-dependent businesses and the livelihoods of many; high-profile cyberattacks against Anthem, one of the nation’s largest health insurers, and Ashley Madison reminded us of the risks and consequences associated with our Internet dependency. And, finally, the world economy seemed to narrowly avoid a meltdown when the European Union provided Greece with yet another financial bailout. Risk experts often refer to these events as low-probability, high-consequence events. In other words, events which seem unlikely to occur portend devastating consequences for you and your business if and when they do occur. It is a certainty that 2016 will usher in a new wave of unexpected and highly consequential events. So, the question is, are you prepared? Have you thought about “low-probability, high-consequence events” that could affect you, your family and business? We can’t know what harm a crazed North Korean dictator may perpetrate or whether tensions between India and Pakistan will spark a nuclear conflagration. But we do know that social, political and economic instability is a defining characteristic for many parts of the global landscape. With our world more interconnected than ever before, what happens in faraway places often affects us in profound ways. Life in California has its virtues, but every year carries with it the threat of a natural disaster: floods, drought, earthquakes, fire, mudslides and the potential introduction and spread of a devastating agricultural pest or disease. In a December 2015 interview published by Knowledge@Wharton, risk expert and Wharton School of Business Professor Robert Meyer said, “When you talk to companies or individuals and ask what risks they’re most concerned about, typically, they are the things that just happened yesterday. People tend to focus on the disaster that just happened.” In 2008, then Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff observed at a risk management conference that “Managing risk is not about looking backward at something that’s already happened, although that can be useful in terms of what we do going forward. Managing risk is fundamentally looking ahead.” So, what are you doing to anticipate and prepare for the unexpected? To prepare, you don’t necessarily need to know exactly what will happen, but you should contemplate aspects of your daily life, business and markets that could be disrupted by a lowprobability, high-consequence event. You should consider what you will do if you suddenly lose access to your labor supply; critical infrastructure — communications, water, electricity, transportation — is knocked out; your vineyard is severely damaged and your crop is lost; critical equipment is disabled or destroyed; or you can’t find a home for your crop. In response to a question about climate change, Meyer answered, “We have an enormous civilization which is built on the premise that nothing ever changes: number one, that the climate is invariant; and number two, that we somehow or another are independent of the climate. What’s happened is in recent years, there has suddenly come this big awakening that, in fact, all of the world is constantly changing.” Uncertainty has long been a defining characteristic of the human condition and last year, as in every year that preceded it, teaches us that we would be smart to expect the unexpected. —John Aguirre, President

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s t a t e State Roundup By Tyler Blackney

On January 4, the California State Legislature reconvened to start the 2016 law making process. The next several months will see thousands of new bills introduced, ranging from mundane to the extreme. It remains unclear what will be the top issues of 2016, but it is expected a variety of proposals will address water rights, worker safety, wage and hour issues and labor organizing, pesticide regulation, and another “Dig Safe” bill aimed at protecting underground utilities infrastructure.

While the California Legislature is just ramping up in the second year of the twoyear session, state regulatory agencies are starting the year with active agendas. 4

Last year’s “Dig Safe” bill, SB 119, by Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), threatened new restrictions on a farmer’s ability to dig and excavate his or her own land. CAWG actively campaigned to amend the bill, arguing that the proposed restrictions on digging and excavation activities would hamstring growers’ use of normal agricultural practices. Governor Jerry Brown ultimately vetoed SB 119, but a recent pipeline explosion in Bakersfield, resulting in the death of an excavation operator, has revived the issue of how to better protect underground utilities. On December 17, 2015, Senator Hill and Assembly member Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) held an informational hearing in Bakersfield to examine why fatal pipeline accidents continue to occur. Government officials, utility companies and excavation contractors testified at the hearing and all blamed others as being at fault. Senator Hill asked for the utilities and contractors to convene a “lessons learned case study” and to report back to the legislature in early February.

While the California Legislature is just ramping up in the second year of the two-year session, state regulatory agencies are starting the year with active agendas. Here follows a few of the many issues CAWG is engaged in on the regulatory front: ALRB – Pushing for Access to Farmers’ Property The Agriculture Labor Relations Board (ALRB) is drafting regulations to allow “board representatives” access to agricultural workers at their worksites for the purpose of educating workers on their rights and protections under the Agricultural Labor Relations Act (ALRA) and California law. The regulations will require an employer (upon notice) to provide ALRB with “the location of the employer’s fields, the number of employees employed in the week during which notice was filed, and the employer’s peak seasonal employment.” CAWG is watching closely as ALRB enters the early stages of developing new regulations. This issue is a high priority for the association. DWR – The Saga of SGMA Continues Implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) continues as the Department of Water Resources (DWR) drafts regulations and guidelines outlining requirements for a basin-wide Sustainable Groundwater Plan (SGP). DWR outlined their regulatory intentions in a meeting last month, which CAWG staff attended. CAWG is working with a coalition of agricultural interests to develop a comment letter to DWR. DIR – Simplifying the FLC Licensing Process CAWG is working with a number of stakeholders, including the Wine Institute and Farm Bureau, to improve the licensing process for Farm Labor Contractors (FLCs). A number of meetings have been held with the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) to address longstanding concerns over the

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inability of DIR to timely renew FLC licenses. Working closely with Farm Bureau, CAWG will press its concerns and proposed solutions with DIR Director Christine Baker in a meeting this month. Cal/OSHA – Confusing the Definition of a Repeat Violator CAWG joined a coalition of agriculture and business interests to oppose Cal/OSHA’s proposal to change the meaning of a “Repeat Violation.” Higher penalties are levied for repeat violations. Cal/OSHA’s proposal would extend the window (from three years to five years) in which a violation would be considered

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repeat and will broaden the geographic scope of what is categorized as a repeat violation. Currently, distinct violations occurring among separate operating divisions of a company in differing regions of the state are considered independently, but Cal/OSHA’s proposal would consider all of a company’s violations occurring anywhere within the state for the purpose of determining what a repeat violation is. For more information on these issues and other matters dealing with state policy, please contact CAWG’s Director of Government Relations, Tyler Blackney, at tyler@ CAWG.org or by phone at (916) 379-8995.

f e d e r a l Government Funding, Tax Extenders Legislation Advances The House and Senate passed legislation providing funding for government operations until September 30, 2016, and extending certain tax provisions. The Omnibus Bill not only provides funding for key research, pest and disease and food safety programs, but served as the vehicle for important policy provisions such as nutrition policy provisions and the repeal of mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements which are discussed below. Among the highlights are: • $7.5 million for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to address citrus greening. • $104.5 million in additional funds for implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act. • $37 million in additional funding for research programs of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and $11.2 million in additional funding for the Agricultural Research Service. The legislation also proposes to increase and make permanent the expensing and depreciation limitation on property purchased or repaired under Section 179 of the tax code. The bill also extends bonus depreciation on property acquired and placed into service from 2015-2019, and modifies bonus depreciation to include qualified improvement property and to permit certain trees, vines, and plants bearing fruit or nuts to be eligible

for bonus depreciation when planted or grafted, rather than when placed in service. The President signed the legislation into law before Christmas. WTO rules against U.S. on COOL, Omnibus repeals COOL A provision in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill repealed mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), which would bring the U.S. into WTO compliance. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) characterized this achievement as a win for the entire industry, as many other sectors, including the wine industry, faced imminent retaliatory affects.

A provision in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill repealed mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), which would bring the U.S. into WTO compliance.

The good news from Capitol Hill comes after a World Trade Organization (WTO) arbitrator ruled that Canada and Mexico may impose tariffs of $1.01 billion on U.S. imports in retaliation to the COOL rules. The proposed retaliatory amounts would be up to $782 million for Canada and $227.76 million for Mexico. Canada and Mexico originally requested retaliatory tariffs exceeding $3 billion. The Canadian government announced in June that it would target U.S. products, including wine, and said the tariffs “will be vigilantly maintained until the United States honors its international commitments with the WTO and completely eliminates the COOL measures.”

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i n d u s t r y Assemblymember Dodd to Lead Agriculture Committee Assemblymember Bill Dodd (D-Napa) was appointed by Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins to chair the Assembly Agriculture Committee.

Assemblymember Bill Dodd shakes hands with President Obama at the White House.

“I am honored Speaker Atkins has selected me to lead this committee and help steer our state’s agricultural policy forward,” said Dodd. “The Agriculture Committee will look at issues critical to our economy and our environment, and I look forward to ensuring both are robust and sustainable.” California’s agricultural output leads the nation. Agriculture and related industries employ millions of Californians. The wine industry alone accounts for approximately $61.5 billion in annual economic impact. According to a report from the UC Agricultural Issues Center, for every 100 jobs in

agriculture, 94 additional jobs created throughout the state. The counties in Assemblymember Dodd’s district have tens of thousands of acres in agricultural production and account for tens of billions of dollars in total economic impact annually. “From apples to zucchinis, and everything in between, our state is truly the breadbasket of the world. I am excited to serve our communities and advance our state and region as Chair,” said Dodd. “The issues covered by the Agriculture Committee are truly crucial for our district and the state of California.” Assemblymember Bill Dodd represents the 4th Assembly District, which includes all or portions of Yolo, Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Solano, and Colusa Counties. You can learn more about Assemblymember Dodd and the district at www.asm. ca.gov/dodd.

2016 California Green Medal: Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards California vineyards and wineries are encouraged to apply for the 2016 Green Medal: Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards. Applications are due February 5. The awards are presented by California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, California Association of Winegrape Growers, Wine Institute,

Lodi Winegrape Commission, Napa Valley Vintners, Sonoma County Winegrowers and The Vineyard Team. More than a dozen regional winery and winegrowing association partners are also involved. For more information, visit www.greenmedal.org.

National Grape and Wine Initiative Seeks New President

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John Aguirre, CAWG president and NGWI board chair, recently appointed Kathleen Nave of the California Table Grape Commission and Vicky Scharlau of the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers to co-chair a search committee seeking the next NGWI president. Established in 2003 as a 501(c)(3), NGWI is a nationwide coalition of grape and wine producers, grape processors and allied industry members, established to identify, prioritize and support the research needs of the U.S. grape industry.

NGWI represents and serves all segments of the industry including raisin, juice, table and wine grapes. NGWI members include growers, processors and wineries, as well as representatives of academic institutions and federal research agencies committed to advancing the grape industry. To apply: Qualified persons should email a resume, cover letter and salary history before February 5 to [email protected]

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Cwggf Scholarshop Program The California Wine Grape Growers Foundation (CWGGF) is continuing the tradition of supporting the scholarship program created by the California Association of Winegrape Growers in 1998 with an exciting new event. Each year, the Foundation awards two $8,000 scholarships and four $2,000 scholarships to high school seniors whose parent or legal guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower. In addition, one Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship is awarded each year, which provides a special scholarship to a young person planning to attend Alan Hancock Community College or Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, on the Central Coast. The annual CWGGF Wine Reception and Dinner has served as the main annual fundraising event for the scholarship fund. This year the CWGGF’s Board of Directors has decided to revamp and bring new light to the annual foundation event by creating a new and exciting format. The event will once again be paired with CAWG’s Day in the Capitol, which will bring together legislators, other political VIPs and CAWG members to promote the accomplishments of the foundation and to raise money for the scholarship fund. In addition to the usual food, wine, and silent auction, this year’s CWGGF Gala will feature a wine tasting competition, with a host of political VIPS participating. The blind tasting will incorporate wines from around the state that have been preselected by the legislators and VIPs themselves. The winning wine will be able to tout the achievement of being considered the best wine as decided by California’s political elite. The goal in reformatting the event is to increase sponsorship and grow the foundation for the benefit of the young people it serves. Since its inception in 1998, the California Wine Grape Growers Foundation has awarded 132 scholarships totaling $342,000 — a number and amount that CWGGF Board would like to grow exponentially in the years to come. The 2016 CWGGF Gala will be held on March 15 at the Senator Hotel in Sacramento. For more information please contact the CAWG office, info@ cawg.org or (916) 379-8995, or visit the CAWG website at www.cawg.org.

Fred Franzia to Open 2016 Symposium with Keynote Address Fred Franzia, CEO of Bronco Wine Company, will present the keynote luncheon address on the first day of the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium on Tuesday, January 26, 2016. Franzia started Bronco Wine in 1973 with his brother Joseph S. Franzia and cousin John Franzia. According to Wine Business Monthly, Bronco Wine is the fourth largest wine producer in the United States offering more than 60 brands nationwide. Fred is credited with creating one of the most successful wineries in the U.S. through competitive pricing models and inventive marketing techniques that have introduced a new generation of people to wine. “With the benefit of extraordinary vision and gritty determination, Fred Franzia fundamentally changed the marketplace for growers, wineries and consumers alike,” said CAWG President John Aguirre. “And, given the current state of the wine market, I can’t think of a more interesting person.” CAWG provided registration codes via mail and email to all members in early October. Please contact the CAWG office directly for your code if you still need to register for the 2016 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. Please visit the Unified website at www.unifiedsymposium.org for further details. 

New Resources for Vineyard Frost Protection | continued from page 2 the ground surface. The warmest ground temperatures usually occur with bare moist ground that absorbs solar radiation during the day. Areas with cover crops or weeds should be mowed low to the ground during frost season. Tall unmowed grasses harbor the coldest temperatures (worst conditions) for frost risk. Using a weather station with eight temperature sensors at onefoot intervals from ground level to 8 feet high, Battany has found differences up to 9 degrees F. between 1 foot and 5 feet above ground level. This indicates that training vines with a higher trellis

over bare ground, or ground with a low cover crop, may offer better protection in frost-prone locations. However, he cautions that actual conditions are very site specific and each site should be evaluated before making long-term decisions. “In the past we may not have had the incentive to look at these specific conditions this closely due to the availability of water for sprinkler protection, but now the situation is different. It’s a game of fractions of a degree of temperature, and these are now very important things to consider.” 7

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c a l e n d a r January 26–28 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium — Sacramento, CA 27

Winegrape Growers of America Leadership Luncheon — Sacramento, CA

March

This edition of The Crush is sponsored by:

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Board of Directors Meeting — Sacramento, CA

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CWGGF Wine Reception, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. — Sacramento, CA

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Day in the Capitol — Sacramento, CA

May 12

CAWG Board of Directors Meeting — Sacramento, CA

22–24 National Grape & Wine Policy Conference — Washington, DC

July 20

CAWG PAC Golf Tournament — Monterey, CA

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Awards of Excellence Program — Monterey, CA

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CAWG Summer Conference — Monterey, CA

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CAWG Board of Directors Meeting — Monterey, CA