LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN

CDFW Confirms New Wolf Pack in Tulare County
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) released a press release on Friday confirming that a new wolf pack has settled in Tulare County, more than 200 miles south of any other wolf packs currently known to CDFW.
 
According to the press release, the wolf pack consists of at least five wolves. The pack’s breeding female is descended from OR-7, which became the first modern wolf in California after it crossed into northern California from Southern Oregon back in 2011. CDFW has also confirmed at least four offspring, including two males and two females. While CDFW has not identified a breeding male, genetic profiles of the four offspring suggests the breeding male is from California’s Lassen Pack.
 
CDFW was initially tipped off to the wolf pack last month based on a reported sighting within the Sequoia National Forest. In addition to photographic evidence, the Department was able to collect scat and hair samples to assist in confirming the wolf pack.
 
This is the fourth recognized wolf pack in California, joining Siskiyou County’s Whaleback Pack, Plumas County’s Beckwourth Pack and the Lassen Pack, which straddles Lassen and Plumas counties. CDFW has also acknowledged sightings of at least two other “groups” of wolves in Tehama and Lassen counties. It is unclear whether the Tulare pack may be related to either previously-identified “group.” At present only two wolves – both from the Whaleback Pack – are fitted with functioning GPS collars, complicating efforts to track dispersing wolves which may mate and establish packs.
 
Some Tulare County ranchers may now be eligible for CDFW grants to offset costs of implementing non-lethal deterrents or to provide payments to compensate for the impacts of wolf presence upon livestock (“pay-for-presence”). Information and application materials for those grants are available at the CDFW website, here. 
 
Any Tulare County ranchers and others with questions or concerns about gray wolves may contact Kirk Wilbur in the CCA office.
 
Governor Newsom Signs Executive Order to Prepare for the Next Wet Season
On August 4, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order aimed at streamlining debris removal and levee repairs in regions of the state hard hit by the series of severe winter storms that battered the state between late 2022 and early 2023. According to a press release issued by the Governor’s office, the executive order is “ In anticipation of another possible wet season with record rain and snowfall.”
 
The order seeks to streamline debris removal and levee repair projects by exempting them from various environmental laws, including those pertaining to lake and streambed alteration agreements, water quality certification and review under the California Environmental Quality Act. The order is effective for the San Joaquin River, the Tulare Lake Basin, the Salinas River, the Pajaro River and for tributaries to those rivers. 
 
New Episode of Stories from California Cattle Country
Stories from California Cattle Country “Agritourism, Long Horned Cattle and Inspirational Quotes in Nicasio w/ Melissa Daniels of Cow Track Ranch” is out now.  To listen to the episode click here. Stories from California Cattle Country is produced by The California Cattlemen’s Foundation with support from the California Cattle Council. If you want a glimpse into our travels, follow the podcast’s Instagram account @calcattlecountry.

Infection in Equine in Eight California Counties Consistent with Vesicular Stomatitis Virus 
From the California Department of Food and Agriculture
Multiple cases of concerning oral lesions and vesicles in horses consistent with Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) infection have recently been reported and confirmed in California, Texas and most recently Nevada. Clinical signs of VS include excessive salivation, vesicles (blister-like lesions), erosions or ulcerations around the mouth, tongue, nostrils, teats, feet and coronary bands. As VS is highly contagious among susceptible species (primarily equids and cattle, but also camelids and small ruminants, and occasionally swine) as well as potentially zoonotic, ensuring proper personal protective equipment and biosecurity measures are in place on your facilities is essential to prevent spread. While VS is rarely fatal, it is highly contagious and can cause severe discomfort and significant production losses in affected individuals. The lesions are clinically very similar and indistinguishable from those associated with the devastating Foot and Mouth disease. Vector mitigation (specifically black fly and sand fly control) is critical in containing a potential VS outbreak. Please ensure adequate fly protective measures are in place on your facilities; such as insecticide use on animals and around facilities, manure management and reduction of fly breeding areas. Any suspect lesioned animals should be immediately isolated upon detection. As VS can also be transmitted via contaminated surfaces; extra precautions should be in place on dairies to avoid transmission of VS to other animals or personnel during milking.

Please reach out to your local CDFA district office for additional information on vector mitigation strategies, biosecurity recommendations and movement requirements. Please notify your CDFA district office immediately if animals with consistent lesions are observed. To learn more about VS, click the following links. Vesicular Stomatitis, USDA Factsheet, USDA.

Applications Due August 31 for FARMER Program to Replace Ag Equipment in 15 Air Districts
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently announced that applications will be accepted through August 31 for CARB’s Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emissions Reductions (FARMER) program in 15 air districts. The FARMER program will be distributing up to $5.4 million in funding to replace older agricultural vehicles and equipment with newer, cleaner equipment that “helps reduce emissions of harmful diesel exhaust and greenhouse gases and improves local air quality,” according to CARB. For more information, see last week’s edition of Legislative Bulletin or the FARMER Shared Allocation Pool webpage.

2023 CCA Scholarship Applications Now Available 
Applications for the 2023 CCA Scholarships are being accepted now through October 1, 2023. CCA awarded $59,000 in scholarships to students studying agriculture, although scholarship amounts and quantities vary year to year. Current CCA members (producer, feeder or YCC) that are currently enrolled at a university or college are eligible to apply. Past recipients of her CCA scholarship program may also apply again this year. For a complete list of awards and to download the application visit calcattlemen.org/scholarships. Contact Maureen in the CCA office at maureen@calcattlemen.org with any questions.

CCA Seeking Applications for a Membership and Events Coordinator
CCA is hiring a Membership and Events Coordinator to be responsible for managing the organization’s membership programs and coordinating events. This role involves promoting membership benefits, recruiting new members, organizing events and activities, and providing excellent customer service to members. See the full job description and details on applying at https://calcattlemen.org/careers.

Tune into RTAP’s Climate Issues Update for Ranchers Webinar
Tune in to the Climate Issues Update for Ranchers Webinar on Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 5:00pm. The Rancher Technical Assistance Program’s (RTAP) Jack Rice and Noah Lopez will cover carbon market updates, local climate action plan updates and CCA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur will provide a legislative climate update. To register for the webinar, click here.