The California Farm Bureau and three other organizations that represent California farmers, ranchers and rural residents joined in a letter to ask for $30 million in the 2026-27 state budget to fund the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Wolf Program.
The funding is essential to ensure that California’s recovering gray wolf population continues to thrive without jeopardizing livestock production, which stewards one-third of the state’s lands and forms the backbone of the state’s rural economies.
The California Cattlemen’s Association, Office of Kat Taylor and Rural County Representatives of California were the other groups that asked for the funding.
California Farm Bureau and others have been successful in funding the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program at $5.3 million since 2021. The program is recognized as being one of the national leaders in compensation for livestock loss from predators. There are currently 10 recognized wolf packs in the state and additional areas of wolf activity.
Avian flu
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has lifted the ban on poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions at fairs and shows, saying that the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza associated with such exhibitions has sufficiently decreased.
The ban was first implemented last January due to continued spread of H5N1 bird flu. At that time, more than 700 dairy herds and 60 poultry flocks in the state were affected by the disease.
CDFA said its decision to lift the ban was “based on a comprehensive review of current H5N1 infection trends, improved understanding of transmission dynamics and enhanced mitigation measures now in place.”
CDFA said it will continue to ensure that biosecurity practices are met. To that end, the department has extended its biosecurity measures through June for organic poultry by asking California producers to continue keeping their birds indoors.
The department has also asked organic certifiers to exempt the outdoor access requirement so that organic poultry can remain certified.
In recent months, California has detected highly pathogenic avian influenza in commercial and backyard poultry flocks, CDFA said. Detections also continue to be found in domestic and wild birds and dairies nationally.
Commercial driver’s license
There is significant confusion about the current state of commercial driver’s licenses for nondomiciled persons in California and whether commercial driver’s licenses are being canceled. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) says the extension given is valid, but the U.S. Department of Transportation argues otherwise.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on Sept. 26, 2025, issued a preliminary determination of noncompliance letter to DMV relating to the issuance of commercial learner’s permits and commercial driver’s licenses for people in California whose permanent home is elsewhere. In accordance with the direction provided by the FMCSA, DMV has ceased issuing commercial learner’s permits and commercial driver’s licenses to people who are not California residents. People whose commercial learner’s permits or commercial driver’s license status has changed will receive a letter and/or email advising one of the following:
• Nondomiciled commercial learner’s permits and pending nondomiciled commercial driver’s license applications will be canceled.
• Nondomiciled commercial driver’s licenses issued out of compliance with state law and federal regulations at the time of issuance will be canceled.
• Valid/unexpired nondomiciled commercial driver’s licenses issued in compliance with state law and federal regulations at the time of issuance will remain valid until the expiration date.
DMV on Dec. 30, 2025, extended the cancellation date for some 17,000 nondomiciled commercial driver’s licenses by an additional 60 days while the state continues to work with representatives of the FMCSA to resolve concerns with the commercial driver’s licensing process prior to March 6.
This extension provides additional time for DMV and FMCSA to identify a solution that allows affected drivers to continue working and serving California communities. Impacted drivers will receive letters shortly informing them of the extension. — California Farm Bureau Federation
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