FAQs

About the Board and Funding

Q) Why was the assessment and PD/GWSS Board created?
A) California Assembly Bill 1394 created an assessment to raise funds earmarked for research related to the Pierce's Disease bacterium (Xylella fastidiosa) and the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter. As part of the bill, the Pierce's Disease/Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board was created to direct those funds. The assessment pertains only to grapes grown in California and crushed for wine, wine vinegar, juice concentrate or beverage brandy, and was renewed 2006. Senate Bill 1650 which extends the assessment until 2011, was signed by the governor was overwhelming passed by California's winegrape growers.

Q) How long has the PD/GWSS Board been in existence?
A) The Board was established in July 2001.

Q) How many people are on the board?
A) The board consists of at least 14 members and no more than 15 members, with a specific number of representatives who are producers and processors in the grape industry and appointed by the CDFA Secretary. Click here for a list

Q) At what rates have winegrape growers been assessed?
A) Each year the PD/GWSS Board makes recommendations to CFDA for the assessment rate which by law can be no greater than $3 per $1,000 of value. In 2001 the rate was set at $3 per $1000. In 2002 - $2 per $1000; 2003 - $2 per $1000; 2004 - $2 per $1000; 2005 - $2 per $1000; 2006 - $2 per $1000.

Q) How much has the assessment raised?
A) Approximately $17.8 million as of April 2005.

Q) How much has been spent on research.
A) Since 2000 approximately $35.9 million

Q) What is the total amount that has been spent on control, containment, research and inspections?
A) Since 2000, $210 million, which includes pilot projects, the Grapevine Loss Assistance Program and Nursery Pest Mitigation Program, the PD/GWSS Board and many other smaller programs.

Q) When did the GWSS arrive in California?
A) It is believed that it arrived in California in the late 1980s, probably from Florida. However, it wasn't until 1999, when grape vines started dying on a massive scale in Temecula, that the full extent of the threat the GWSS posed to California agriculture was recognized.

Q) Why is it a threat to grapes?
A) The GWSS carries a disease called Pierce's Disease that is deadly to grape vines.

Q) Does it pose a threat to other plants?
A) Yes - the GWSS is known to feed on more than 100 plant species found in urban and rural landscapes and spreads other diseases such as Leaf scorch to almonds and Alfalfa dwarf to alfalfa. In addition, GWSSs can weaken plants making them susceptible to diseases not carried by the GWSS itself.

Q) How can the GWSS be killed?
A) There are a number of effective ways of controll the GWSS ranging from chemical treatments to the release of biological control agents, such as a tiny wasp that feeds on the eggs of the GWSS. However, GWSS has established itself in much of Southern and Central California, so at this time total eradication of the insect from the state is not possible.

Q) How widespread in the GWSS in California?
A) As of October 2006 there were infestation of GWSS in 14 counties. Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Solano, Tulare, Ventura.

Q) What is Pierce's Disease?
A) The PD bacterium clogs a vine's water conducting vessels, interfering with their ability to draw water and other nutrients from the soil. In effect the vine slowly starves to death.

Q) How long has PD been in California?
A) PD was first identified in California over 100 years ago and was then called Anaheim Disease because it was killing grape vines in and around Anaheim. Over the decades, there have been several major outbreaks of the disease. The introduction of the GWSS into California has given PD an effective new vector to spread the disease.

Q) How long does it take to kill a vine?
A) Depending on the age and health of the vine, generally two to four years.