Deadline Extended For Crucial Winegrape Disease And Pest Referendum
May 27, 2015
The CDFA has extended the voting deadline for continuation of the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (PD/GWSS) Referendum to June 10. The extension was granted to ensure the minimum eligible grower participation rate is reached. At least 40% of all ballots are needed in order to count the votes for extending the program until 2021.
“The PD/GWSS assessment has been one of our industry’s most effective and proven means of proactively addressing the growing threat of winegrape diseases and pests in California. Losing the ability to quickly and efficiently address emerging threats like Pierce’s disease, European grapevine moth, red blotch, vine mealybug, and brown marmorated stink bug because of unreturned ballots would be tragic,” Paul Kronenberg, president of Family Winemakers of California, says.
Duplicate ballots will be sent to all growers whose votes had not been received as of May 11. These growers are asked to vote and return their ballots by June 10.
The CDFA sent more than 7,000 ballots on April 10 to every grower who paid the assessment on grapes crushed in 2014. Therefore, many growers may have received more than one ballot. They are not duplicates. Each ballot should be voted and returned.
Growers who use management companies should check with them, as some ballots may have gone to these companies, depending on how wineries report their grower information.
Growers who did not receive a ballot can call the CDFA Marketing Branch at 916-900-5018.
The referendum has strong industry-wide backing. In addition to Family Winemakers, the California Winegrape Growers Association and the Wine Institute, which are jointly funding a campaign to support the referendum, nearly 20 regional winegrape organizations from every corner of the state are urging their members to cast their ballots in favor of extending the PD/GWSS assessment.
“The failure to renew this program would squander the tremendous gains we have made in preventing the spread of Pierce’s disease and jeopardize the next generation of grapevines and the tools we need to battle the disease,” John Aguirre, president of California Association of Winegrape Growers, says.
In place since 2001, the assessment has been reauthorized by growers twice, in 2005 and 2010. The assessment raises essential dollars for research aimed primarily at addressing the threat posed by PD and GWSS and other designated pests.
For additional information on the PD/GWSS Referendum, visit YesonPDref.org.
Sources: YesonPDref.org, pdgwss.net
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