Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/62409
GRAPE GRO WING Ross: After Gov. Brown proposed his budget in January, I be- gan working with senior staff at CDFA to identify and convene key agricultural and industry individuals while still in my posi- tion at USDA. This consortium has helped us evaluate programs and assess potential impacts. The consortium began its work in January 2011 and represents a broad cross-section of Califor- nia agriculture. I want to thank these industry leaders for their commitment in helping us reach the governor's budget reduction target of $15 million for 2011-12, and another $15 million for 2012-13. For 2011-12, we have agreed to a series of proposals that hit at some of the core functions of the department. To date, the solutions identified include a mixture of fund shifts, new or increased fees or assessments identified by industry groups, program efficiencies and reduction or elimination of programs. For example, in 2011-12, the Pierce's Disease Control Program would replace more than $1.1 million from the general fund with increased assessments. Everything in our general fund was on the table; all were unpleasant choices. As it stands now, a cut I want to mention to you is nearly $2 million from our border-protection stations. We have 16 stations positioned around the state. They are a first line of defense against invasive species in our state, catch- ing thousands every year, so we could definitely feel the effect of this reduction. Other cuts will be made to trapping programs, our noxious and weed-management programs and our biological control program. We don't want to cut from any of these programs. We know the reductions will hurt. And, unfortunately, it could get much worse. Moth eradication success ne bright spot, according to Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is the success of the European Grapevine moth Program. (See "EGVM Almost Gone, Not Forgotten" on page 17.) "We recognize what a critical program this is, and we have had O great success, so far, with our approach," Ross says. "Quaran- tines for the pest are in place, where necessary; the Department of Food and Agriculture has treated non-commercial properties, and grapegrowers have handled treatment on their properties." The program, she adds, appears to be working. "Trap counts were way down in the napa Valley, which turned out to be an epicenter for the moth. This is a moth that that goes into diapause; like a bear, it hibernates for the win- ter. So as spring unfolds and trapping builds up again, we'll start to get a new picture of the European grapevine moth in California." L.D. Wines & Vines JAnUARY 2012 97