November 13, 2024 — The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) and Watts & Associates invite winegrape growers and insurance partners across California to join a series of listening sessions— both virtual and in-person—focused on the proposed Cost Protection Policy. This innovative crop insurance policy aims to help winegrape growers manage rising input costs by providing coverage for essential expenses such as fuel, fertilizer, and interest rates.
A virtual session, hosted by CAWG, will take place on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 11:00 AM and will offer the opportunity to learn about the policy’s details and provide feedback to ensure it meets the specific needs of the winegrape sector. Additionally, two in-person sessions are being planned in Lodi and Napa/Sonoma, where growers can discuss the policy in more depth and share insights directly with policy developers.
“These listening sessions offer an invaluable opportunity for California winegrape growers to shape a policy tailored to their needs, providing a proactive tool through the Cost Protection Policy to manage unpredictable input costs and enhance financial stability,” said CAWG President Natalie Collins.
About the Cost Protection Policy
The Cost Protection Policy is designed to offer financial security against rising expenses through the Federal Crop Insurance Program. By locking in input costs at the beginning of the season, this policy could provide peace of mind by offering indemnity payments if costs increase unexpectedly over the winter and spring.
Development and Feedback Opportunity
Watts & Associates, under contract with the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA), is leading the data analysis and policy development to align with the unique needs of California’s winegrape growers. The listening sessions will be integral to refining this policy and ensuring it is tailored to industry needs. Once developed, this policy would need to be reviewed by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation board for consideration.
Join one of these sessions and contribute to this important dialogue.
• Virtual Session: November 25, 2024, at 11:00 AM. REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pduGppjsiE9Rhj-kT1fgr7vpBTTrHQ_Zl#/registration
• In-Person Sessions: Locations and dates in Lodi and Napa/Sonoma to be announced soon.
