NAPA COUNTY FARM BUREAU

Report on Board of Supervisors actions on Winery Definition Ordinance

On February 2, 2010 the Board of Supervisors spent 2.5 hours hearing testimony on potential changes to the Winery Definition Ordinance (WDO) and deliberating the next steps and options for economic stimulus.   Farm Bureau presented strong testimony to defend the integrity of the WDO yet provide modest changes to address the current and long-term economic health of the county, agriculture and the winegrape sector.  

After months of winegrape industry stakeholder meetings (Napa Valley Vintners,  Napa Valley Grapegrowers, Winegrowers of Napa Valley and Farm Bureau), our industry groups were able to present a unified position on a Statement of Principles related to changes within the Winery Definition Ordinance.

Additionally, NCFB, NVV & NVG agreed to a few specific changes to the WDO to promote economic stimulus without jeopardizing the Ag Preserve or conflicting with the General Plan.  Both of those documents are attached for your review.   

With major legal issues related to constitutional rights and General Plan consistency, we did not find agreement on the option to use Special Event Permits as a means to allow cultural/social events on ag parcels.   

At the hearing, the four winegrape industry groups spoke first followed by fifteen more speakers.  Seven

advocated for relaxing the WDO and allowing weddings/cultural/social events at wineries.  Eight spoke in favor of retaining the WDO restrictions on events and preventing further commercialization of ag parcels.  Attorney Kay Phillipakis presented a letter stating that any changes to allow social/cultural events on ag parcels would require a Measure P vote.  Past County Planning Director Jim Hickey stated, “No matter how you craft it, opening more commercial activities on ag parcels will ultimately undermine ag. It’s a one-way door – you can give it away but can never get it back.”   

The outcome of the Supervisors deliberations is a bit unclear.  Supervisors Luce & Dodd strongly support changing the WDO and definition of marketing to allow weddings & social events at wineries.  Supervisors Dillon, Caldwell & Wagenknecht supported economic stimulus, but were cautious about whether changing the WDO would actually create economic benefit and considered the long-term impacts/risk to agriculture.  They acknowledged our longstanding policies that promote commercial activities in urban areas and the primacy of agriculture in the county.   

County staff was directed to do further research and provide more options at the March 2^nd Supervisors meeting. Additionally, the issue will be discussed with the Planning Commissioners on Feb. 17^th.  County staff said they would:

1)     Analyze the WDO changes recommended by the winegrape industry groups

2)     Clarify what type of business meetings at wineries are now allowed under the current WDO

3)     Try to define the differences between cultural/social events and marketing events

4)     Further explain the constitutional rights and General Plan consistency issues with the Special Event Permit option 

We will have a detailed discussion on these developments at next Monday’s Land Use Committee meeting.  Please let us know your thoughts on these issues.   

Many thanks to Jon-Mark Chappellet & Volker Eisele for serving as our NCFB representatives in the winegrape industry group meetings and for speaking eloquently at today’s hearing.  

 The European grapevine moth is a known pest of grapes in Europe, the Mediterranean, southern Russia, Japan, the Middle East, Near East, and northern and western Africa.
 The Napa County Department of Agriculture is working with the USDA and the California Department of Food and Agriculture to trap and survey in the area in an attempt to detect additional European grapevine moths. Regulatory actions are under review.
 Studies of the European grapevine moth internationally show that larvae feed primarily on the flowers and fruit of the grape, and that they can also feed on number of other hosts,  including olives, blackberries, cherries, nectarines, persimmons and pomegranates.

Best way to handle larvae infested fruit

Harvested winegrapes containing EGVM lifestages should pose minimal risk due to the nature of winegrape processing (crusher/stemmer/pressing), the acidity the of juice, and fermentation.  This would seem especially true for soft bodied larvae and most likely for pupae although this uncertain at this point. Proper composting or disposal of any waste product (as required under the LBAM program) should further reduce the survivability of any insect lifestages.  

Larvae infested fruit that is unharvested should be dropped from vines, placed into the middle of the rows, and disced into the soil. This would seem to be more effective and efficient than other options, such as off site disposal, chemical treatment, or leaving on the vine. Soil incorporation of infested clusters will not only prevent off site movement of larvae and pupae, but also expose these lifestages to mechanical and biological (micro-organisms, predators, etc.) action that should reduce any population that might emerge next season.

Programs that might compensate growers for crop loss/damage associated with European Grapevine Moth (EGVM)

A preliminary inquiry has been made to the USDA Farm Service Agency regarding any possible financial assistance available for crop loss or damage associated with EGVM.  Attached is some information about FSA’s Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program that growers might want to consider. It is important to note that in order to be possibly eligible for the 2009 SURE program, producers must have:  experienced more than 50% loss in this year’s crop,  losses determined to be exacerbated by weather conditions, been covered by crop insurance.

Questions about assistance and eligibility should be directed to the local FSA office in Dixon (707-678-1931).  Growers must be diligent in documenting losses attributable to EGVM and exacerbated by weather, and maintain the information in the event they want to consider or apply for assistance through the SURE program or any future program that might exist.   

2008 Farm Bill Fact Sheet

Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008

The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, or simply the Farm Bill, is an omnibus bill covering nutrition and farm programs for 2008-2012. Click on the attached PDF document for more information.

Pest Prevention Update - July 2009

The Napa County Agricultural Commissioner asked the NCFB to share the attached update on local pest prevention programs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported cases of H1N1 virus infection in people in the United States. The CDC has determined that this virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. At this time, they have not determined how easily the virus spreads between people.  Napa County Farm Bureau encourages employers to display the flu prevention flyers, that can be downloaded on our website, and educate employees on the disease.
Click here for more information.