Lodi Grape Growers Excluded from Critical Crop Insurance Program, Harder Demands USDA Fix Mistake
Lodi grape growers were left off the Grapevine crop insurance program, putting grape producers’ livelihoods at stake
Lodi produces nearly 40% of California's premium wine grapes; Grapes produced $421 million in sales in 2022 alone
STOCKTON – Representative Josh Harder (CA-9) is demanding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) fix their massive mistake of leaving San Joaquin County grape growers out of the Grapevine crop insurance program. Without being able to participate in this crucial program, Lodi grape growers’ livelihoods are put at risk. The Grapevine program is a lifeline for grape growers following disasters like fire, extreme heat, and flooding that can wipe out an entire year’s worth of grapes.
“Lodi grape growers are a cherished part of our community and economy. I refuse to have their livelihoods threatened because of a stupid bureaucratic error,” said Rep. Harder. “I’m demanding USDA add Lodi back into the Grapevine program so that our grape growers have access to crop insurance when they need it most.”
San Joaquin County grape growers were excluded from the Risk Management Agency (RMA)’s Grapevine program, which provides specialty crop insurance to protect producers from disasters. Rep. Harder is pressing for an immediate fix to this and he’s also pressing RMA to add smoke exposure to the list of covered events after wildfire smoke taint deemed many grapes unfit for wine production. He’s also requesting an extension for applications from November 1st to December 15th to allow local growers originally left off the Grapevine program to apply without unnecessary time restrictions.
Read Rep. Harder’s letter to the Secretary of Agriculture HERE or below:
October 27, 2023
RE: San Joaquin County Grape Growers’ Exclusion from the Risk Management Agency (RMA)’s Grapevine program
Dear Secretary Vilsack,
I’m writing today to express my concern regarding the recent decision to exclude San Joaquin County grape growers from eligibility for specialty crop insurance under the Risk Management
Agency (RMA)’s Grapevine program.
The Lodi region in San Joaquin County produces nearly 40% of California's premium wine grapes spanning over 110,000 acres. Grapes are also the second-highest-producing commodity in San Joaquin County with $421 million in sales in 2022 alone. Given that the Central Valley is California’s largest grape growing region, it is unacceptable that our growers were left off RMA’s Grapevine program. Without crop insurance, our grape producers can’t protect their livelihoods from the uptick in natural disasters, such as flooding, extreme heat, and fires. I urge RMA to
correct this mistake and ensure San Joaquin County grape growers have access to crop insurance.
In addition, the Grapevine program fails to shield growers from the devastating consequences of smoke taint. Grapevines exposed to wildfire smoke are tainted with smoky, ash-like flavors
causing the grapes to be unfit for winemaking or commercial sale. Losing a year’s worth of crops due to smoke exposure threatens our farmers’ security and puts the country’s food supply at risk. I respectfully request that RMA include smoke exposure as a covered loss in the Grapevine Program.
As a result of these necessary changes to the Grapevine program, the deadline to sign up by November 1st, 2023 is unrealistic for our producers. Extending the deadline to December 15th,
2023 will allow our growers to properly assess their needs, gather required documentation, and submit their applications without the unnecessary time pressure.
Thank you for your consideration of this request. I look forward to working together to fix this issue and support Lodi area grape growers.
Sincerely,
Josh Harder
Member of Congress
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