CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

December 2, 2024

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State Legislature Kicks Off Special Session and 2025-26 Regular Session
The California Legislature convened today for a special session called by Governor Gavin Newsom to “Provide additional funding to the California Department of Justice….to support the ability to immediately file affirmative litigation challenging actions taken by the incoming Trump Administration.”

The special session kicked off today with two bills introduced by Assembly Budget Committee Chair Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino). The first, AB X1-1, would provide an additional $25 million to the Department of Justice for litigation – more than double the amount typically appropriated to the agency over four years for litigation expenses. The second, AB X1-2, would immediately allocate a half million dollars “to fund initial case preparation.”

Today also marked the beginning of the 2025-26 regular Legislative Session, with lawmakers gathering in Sacramento for an organizational session during which legislators were sworn in and introduced their first bills of the Session. The Legislature will next reconvene on January 6.

UPDATE: Importation of Cattle from Mexico Halted Amid Detection of New World Screwworm
On November 22, Mexico’s Chief Veterinary Officer notified the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that New World screwworm has been detected in the Mexican state of Chiapas, along the nation’s southern border with Guatemala. According to APHIS, New World screwworm “are fly larvae that infest living tissue of warm-blooded animals, causing infection.”

Given the threat that New World screwworm presents to domestic livestock herds, APHIS has announced that it is restricting imports of live cattle and bison “originating from or transiting Mexico effective immediately and pending further information from Mexican veterinary authorities on the size and scope of the infestation.”

In a call with industry stakeholders last week, USDA APHIS stated that it is working with Mexican authorities to establish a pre-clearance protocol for Mexican cattle to resume importation, though the agency estimates that the border will remain closed to cattle imports for at least three weeks.

CCA will share further updates on this development as they become available.

CDFW Issues Gray Wolf Updates
As reported in the November 18 edition of California Cattleman Weekly, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife recently provided a number of gray wolf updates. It now appears that California has nine known wolf packs, including the recently-named Diamond Pack in eastern Plumas and southern Lassen counties and an as-yet-unnamed pack where the counties of Shasta, Tehama, Lassen and Plumas converge. CCA estimates a minimum statewide population of 65 resident wolves, with at least four additional wolves identified in “areas of wolf activity” in eastern Shasta County and eastern Tehama County. For more information, see the November 18 edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

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Where California reservoir levels stand after atmospheric river-fueled storm The San Francisco Chronicle “Across the state, reservoir storage was estimated at 22.9 million acre-feet of water Monday, or 115% of average for this time of year. One acre-foot is equivalent to 325,851 gallons, or just under half the volume of an Olympic swimming pool.” To continue reading, click here.

2 new wolf packs emerge in Northern California, continuing ‘noteworthy’ return SFGATE “Two new wolf packs have emerged in Northern California, wildlife officials confirmed earlier this month, marking a continued resurgence of the endangered species a century after its disappearance from the state.” To continue reading, click here.