The updated notices have been released by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) and the Employment Development Department (EDD).  Effective April 1, 2019 the DFEH requires all California employers to post the NEW Family Care and Medical Leave and Pregnancy Disability Leave poster.  This notice was previously named Family Care and Medical Leave (CFRA) and Pregnancy Notice and only employers with 50 or more employees had to post. This new updated notice has a revision date of March 2019 and all employers with 20 – 49 employees must post and employers with 50 or more employees must update their exiting notice.  Please be sure to update your bulletin board(s).  Click this link to print in English/Spanish.

In addition, the EDD has updated two pamphlets: California Paid Family Leave and Disability Insurance Provisions, both have a revision date of March 2019.  These pamphlets are to be provided to new employees and to employees either taking a covered leave of absence or a non-work-related disability leave.  Click this link to print in English/Spanish.

his past week the CalOSHA Standards Board held a public hearing on the proposed Nighttime lighting requirements for agricultural operations.  The Association attended the hearing and spoke in opposition to the proposed requirements.  The Association specifically noted the lack of accidents supporting such requirements, and specifically commented on the Board’s flawed economic analysis, which said that you could meet the lighting requirements by purchasing some cheap “rechargeable” lighting masts for only $200, and that you would only need one to comply.  The Association specifically referenced light measurements data submitted to CalOSHA during the Advisory Committee process that demonstrated it would take more than one, and that the “rechargeable” light mast only received the discounted price if you bought in bulk from China.  Proponents of the proposed changes cited alleged accidents and cases of sexual harassments, but did not provide documented proof.  The Standards Board is expected to vote at next month’s board meeting.  Joining the Association in opposition, was the California Farm Bureau Federation, California Association of Winegrape Growers, and the California Poultry Federation.

The last day to secure your hotel reservation for the CCGGA Annual Meeting at The Cliffs Hotel and Spa is Monday, April 22^nd. The CCGGA Annual Meeting will be held May 15^th-17^th in Pismo, CA including a welcome reception, Annual Golf Tournament at Avila Beach and Golf Resort, Annual Meeting Dinner featuring comedian Greg Warren and an informative business meeting on Friday covering the latest industry issues. Attendees will received updates from Association staff, USDA-AMS, researchers from the cotton ginning laboratories, National Cotton Ginners Association, National Cotton Council, Supima, Cotton Incorporated, University of California Cooperative Extension and much more. Additionally, attendees will receive critical updates on water, crop protection tools, including paraquat and glyphosate, as well as a Sacramento Update from George Soares.

Registration forms can be filled out and returned to our offies with a check (1785 N. Fine Ave. Fresno, CA 93710) or you may register, sponsor and pay online at www.ccgga-events.com . Forms must be returned by Wednesday, April 24^th. Accomodations can be made by calling The Cliffs Hotel and Spa at (805) 773-5000. In order to receive the group rate of $199/night, identify that you are with California Cotton Ginners & Growers Associaiton group.

If you have any questions, please contact our offices at (559) 252-0684.

Tentative Agenda

Regular Member Registration

Associate Member Registration

Attached is information regarding employers and Social Security “no matches,” courtesy of The Saqui Law Group, a division of Dowling Aaron. Click the button link below for the flyer or follow the direct link for more information: http://www.laborcounselors.com/news-resources/news/20-immigration/581-social-security-mismatch-and-immigration.

For the full six page advisory document click here: http://www.laborcounselors.com/files/Newest_Social_Security_Briefing_l_Final_4122019.pdf

Social Security Mismatch Flyer

Effective January 1, 2019 California law requires employers with 5 or more employees to provide not only two hours of sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training with Supervisors, but also a 1-hour training to all non-supervisory employees.  The Western Agricultural Processors Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association in partnership with AgSafe, will be offering 1-hour Nonsupervisory Webinars.  Click on the links below to register or visit our website Events and Training Classes page https://agprocessors.org/events.

Event Flyer

The University of California Agriculture and Nature Resources Cooperative Extension is offering FREE Weed science extension meetings. The first meeting is scheduled for April 2nd located at the Westside Research and Extension Center in Five Points, CA. The second the meeting is on April 11th at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier, CA. Space is limited so call the UCCE Merced County office at 209-385-7403 to register. Contact Lynn Sosnoskie at lmsosnoskie@ucanr.edu if you have any questions about the program. Please see the attached flyers below for more information.

April 2nd Flyer

April 11th Flyer

Association President/CEO Roger Isom and Director of Technical Services Christopher McGlothlin traveled to Ft. Collins, Colorado this week to participate in an important five (5) year Project Plan Workshop at the Plains Area Office in Ft. Collins.  Joining them was Association Chairman Tom Gaffney of the J.G. Boswell Company.  Many topics were discussed as the purpose of the meeting was to determine research priorities for the next five years for the cotton ginning laboratories in Las Cruces, New Mexico; Lubbock, Texas; and Stoneville, Mississippi.  Critical priorities identified for California included contamination, sticky cotton, roller ginning and drying alternatives.  Attending the meeting were researchers and scientists, regional administrative leaders, and industry stakeholders.

Effective January 1, 2019 California law requires employers with 5 or more employees to provide not only two hours of sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training with Supervisors, but also a 1-hour training to all non-supervisory employees.  The Western Agricultural Processors Association and California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association in partnership with AgSafe, will be offering 1-hour Nonsupervisory Webinars.  Visit our website Events and Training Classes page www.agprocessors.org for links to register online. To register click here:
February 8^th
http://www.agsafe.org/event/1-hour-sexual-harassment-prevention-webinar-non-supervisory-employee-training-6/
March 8^th

The California Cotton Ginners and Growers would like to congratulate Cannon Michael who was distinguished as the Far West honoree for the 25^th class of High Cotton Award winners! Michael is the president of Bowles Farming Company and the sixth generation of the Bowles and Lawrence families to work the family business. Michael is a leader when it comes to water policy, environmental stewardship, sustainability, as well as being an outspoken advocate for the California cotton industry. Michael previously chaired the California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association and the Cotton Foundation, as well as previously served on the National Cotton Council and the San Joaquin Valley Cotton Board. He currently serves on the California Cotton Alliance, Cotton Incorporated and the Board of the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. Not only a leader in the cotton industry, Michael currently chairs the San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority board, comprising of 29 member agencies and two million acres of land with varied users including farms, environmental and urban uses. Michael utilizes various technology and research in his cotton production including pioneering with Dr. Bill Weir, 30-inch row spacing to provide increased yield, integrated pest management practices, sub-surface drip irrigation, rotational cropping and drone technology to scout fields for nutritional deficiencies and pest outbreaks. California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association would like to thank Cannon for his dedicated leadership in the cotton industry and congratulates him on this distinguished honor!

After several years of debate, the CalOSHA Standards Board will consider lighting requirements for agricultural operations at night.  The proposed new standard entitled “Outdoor Agricultural Operations During Hours of Darkness”, will require specific lighting levels for certain agricultural operations at night.  It will also mandate employees wear Class 2 high visibility garments while working at night, as well as the need to conduct a safety meeting prior to every night shift to remind workers where the restrooms are, where the break areas is, and the location of water bodies and high traffic areas.  The new lighting requirements are as follows:

These requirements are modified from their original proposal which specifically mandated a lighting level of 10 foot-candles within a 25 foot radius of all agricultural equipment operating at night.  This would have been impossible and the Association opposed such a requirement at every Advisory Committee meeting.  The Association is currently reviewing this new proposal which will considered by the CalOSHA Standards Board on April 18^th in Sacramento.