Napa, CA, Feb. 19, 2024 – Lumo, a smart irrigation company that supports growers and tackles water challenges head-on using the most advanced water technology available, is proud to announce its exclusive retail partnership with Central Valley, a leading supplier of vineyard equipment and materials in Northern California. Lumo is the only irrigation automation solution sold by Central Valley, marking a significant milestone in advancing sustainable viticulture practices and enhancing water management in the region. Central Valley, a trusted name in the industry with a rich history of serving pro builders and vineyard operators, has recognized the transformative potential of Lumo’s state-of-the-art irrigation technology. By selling Lumo’s innovative solution, Central Valley aims to help its customers elevate their vineyard management practices, streamline irrigation processes, and provide them with valuable insights to optimize resource utilization. “We’re

Employment laws in California are always changing, and it is important for employers in California to keep up with these changes to ensure their policies and practices are compliant. This blog post provides key updates to the California employment laws that all employers should know for this year. Minimum Wage Increase  Beginning January 1, 2024, the state minimum wage for all employers has been increased to $16.00 per hour. This rate reflects a 3.5% increase from this year’s minimum wage based on the law’s provision that allows this increase if the national Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) is over 7%. All employers must post the current minimum wage rate in a common area where employees can easily view it. With this new rate of $16.00/hour, the minimum salary for exempt employees in 2024 has also increased to $66,560.00/year. Note that the minimum salary is tied to the state minimum wage rate, not individual municipalities. Employers should also check if there

Afternoon Brief, September 26th

Champagne Pickers Treated 'Like Dogs': French public prosecutor opens two human trafficking investigations after France shuts down grape picker accommodation sites...

On June 23, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a California regulation allowing union organizers to enter an agricultural employer’s property is unconstitutional. The regulation, on the books since the mid-1970s, requires farms to permit unions to speak with and recruit farmworkers in the hour before and after work and an hour during lunchtime for up to 120 days each year. (Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid (U.S., June 23, 2021, No. 20-107) 2021 WL 2557070.) In the case, a strawberry plant nursery and a fruit shipment company sued the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board arguing that the regulation gave farmworker unions an easement to enter and conduct business on their land without authorization or compensation. The Court agreed, holding that the regulation took away the agricultural employer’s right to exclude trespassers from its private property, amounting to a “taking” of company property without “just compensation” in violation of the Fifth