The most current version of the Farm Bill – signed into law by President Trump – will expire in 2023. Every five years, the legislative and executive administrations work to create a new Farm Bill. What can we expect to see with Congress and under the Biden Administration? Keep in mind two things: the orientation […]
This is pretty huge. The Inflation Reduction Act will help us all: $11 billion for USDA conservation programs $8.45 billion for a USDA program that funds climate smart agriculture and forestry $1.8 billion to the U.S. Forest Service and Private Forestry Provisions for hazardous fuels treatments within the Wildland-Urban Interface $7,500 tax credit for electric […]
After my many years working with the TTB on manufacturer/wholesaler permits, the agency has decided to begin interviewing applicants. And here are the questions they asked, along with a few of my recommended answers – of course, always be honest: To whom are you selling wines? To distributors in my home state, to retailers in my home state, […]
The brilliant Andy Perdue published a tasty article this week about his favorite wine picks if stranded on a deserted isle. This coincides with my annual viewings of Naked and Afraid – the Discovery show wherein a man and a woman are left to fend for themselves for 21 days without food or water. Why […]
Your favorite winemakers’ lawyer emails you: “Congrats! You’ve just gotten your OLCC WY ATO! But before you play music in your TR, beware of PRO letters from BMI or ASCAP or SESAC!” What on earth? Let’s break down those letters. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission, which licenses you an Authority to Operate for a Winery […]
Have you received a letter from Registrar Corp. Threatening your business unless you pay them $195 to renew your FDA food registration? It’s a scam. Throw it away. And no matter what you do, don’t give them your bank account information! First, an FDA registration is free. Second, the only things these folks would do […]
Oregon wineries – or at least some of them – will soon (starting August 8, although of course the state must create licensing and permit requirements) be able to ship wines directly to consumers in Pennsylvania soon. Producing wineries will have the ability to ship up to 36 cases annually per consumer (not address), but […]
Upon the heels of the Memorial Day weekend, the OLCC office reminds all liquor licensees — including wineries and breweries — that recreational marijuana sales or consumption upon your premises is not allowed. Nope. Not permitted at all. And, although you and your employees can possess up to 1 oz of marijuana, you and your […]
In the US and here in Oregon, employees must receive appropriate minimum wage ($9.25 from January 1, 2016 to December 31 — this will raise on New Year’s Day, so keep your eyes peeled) and overtime (time and a half after 40 hours worked in a workweek), unless an employee is ‘exempt’ from those two […]
Idly flipping through Facebook one day, I saw a happy post: “Doctors and scientists agree, red wine is good for health!” So good, so far — if I were Roman, I’d have been at the temple of Bacchus. But then, the dreaded violation of TTB Circular 2013 13-01 happened…. Immediately following that relink were two […]