California winegrape growers have until June 8 to vote on whether or not to continue the Pierce's Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (PD/GWSS) Assessment to fund research and outreach on Pierce's disease, the glassy-winged sharpshooter, and other designated pests and diseases of winegrapes through 2026.
Ballots were mailed in April to winegrape producers that paid the assessment on grapes crushed in 2019. At least 40 percent of the eligible voting entities must cast ballots for the referendum to be valid. The last time growers voted, over 80 percent favored the continuation of the assessment. Voting results will be announced in mid-June. The PD/GWSS Board advises the California Department of Food and Agriculture on the use of assessment funds for research and outreach on PD, GWSS, and other designated pests and diseases of California winegrapes. The Board sets the annual assessment rate, with a maximum of $3.00 per $1,000 of value. The annual assessment rate has averaged $1.39 over the last 19 years, and was $1.00 per $1,000 of value for 2019.
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