Ruling: State can withhold quarantined dairy locations
on a boat for a long time,” he said. “But with something like strawberries, it’s going to be hard to divert that sort of trade from California.” Sayre said California commodities such as almonds have more secure access to the Canadian market because the state effec- tively holds a monopoly on production. With about 80% of the world’s almonds grown in the Central Valley, “I don’t even know where else you’d go (for almonds) in this hemisphere,” he added. As negotiations around the renewal of the USMCA continue, Viohl, the Farm Bu- reau policy advocate, said free trade agree- ments with Canada had generally benefit- ted California’s agriculture sector—even if they weren’t perfect. “USMCA has been productive for all three countries,” he said. “That doesn’t quarantine information is protected by laws governing livestock disease investiga- tions and that disclosure could undermine disease-control efforts, harm agricultural producers and discourage prompt report- ing of suspected infections. The ruling leaves intact the depart- ment’s longstanding practice of publicly identifying outbreaks only in broad geo- graphic terms rather than naming individ- ual dairy operations. The case drew attention from public health experts and open-government advocates, some of whom argued that greater transparency could strength- en confidence in the state’s response
mean there aren’t ways that we would like to see it improved.” Viohl said that because California farm- ers and ranchers are subject to some of the most stringent environmental and labor regulations, which increase their operating costs, the state’s producers want to ensure international trade partners adhere to the minimum production standards outlined in trade agreements. “We just want to make sure that other countries are holding up their obligations, too,” he said. “What we really stress when it comes to trade is stability and fairness.” Officials from the U.S., Mexico and Canada are scheduled to hold another round of talks related to the renewal of the USMCA in September. Caleb Hampton is an editor at Ag Alert. He can be reached at champton@cfbf.com. to emerging infectious diseases. Agri- culture groups, however, warned that releasing the identities of quarantined dairies could expose producers to eco- nomic losses and unnecessary public backlash even after quarantines had been lifted. It was not immediately clear whether California Rural Legal Assistance would appeal the decision. The H5N1 outbreak, first detected in U.S. dairy cattle in 2024, prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency later that year as officials worked to contain the virus and monitor infections among livestock and dairy workers.
A Sacramento County judge has upheld California’s decision to keep confidential the names and locations of dairies placed under quarantine during the state’s 2024- 25 H5N1 bird flu outbreak, rejecting argu- ments that the records should be released under the state’s public records law. In a ruling issued last month, Sacramen- to County Superior Court Judge Shelley- anne W.L. Chang denied a petition filed by California Rural Legal Assistance, which sought disclosure of the identities and lo- cations of dairy farms quarantined after H5N1 infections were detected in dairy cattle. The nonprofit legal organization argued that making the information pub- lic was essential to protecting farmworkers, nearby communities and public health. In her decision, Chang said the Califor- nia Department of Food and Agriculture lawfully withheld the records under state law, finding that confidentiality provisions governing animal disease control out- weighed the public interest in disclosure. The lawsuit, filed in late 2025, challenged the department’s refusal to identify affect- ed dairies during an outbreak that made California the epicenter of the nation’s H5N1 dairy cattle epidemic. More than 770 California dairies were infected during the outbreak, and the state accounted for the majority of confirmed human H5N1 cases linked to infected dairy workers.
California Rural Legal Assistance argued that withholding the locations prevented health providers, worker advocates and lo- cal organizations from directing education and outreach to people at greatest risk of exposure. The group also contended that the California Constitution and the Califor- nia Public Records Act favor broad public access to government records. State officials maintained that
Trade Continued from Page 3
relationship, which we see as benefiting businesses on both sides of the border.” California exporters of fresh fruits and vegetables also reported losing Canadian trade partners due to boycotts last year of U.S. goods. However, federal data showed overall exports of fresh California produce to Can- ada remained relatively stable. While Canadian consumers might be able to shift wine consumption to domes- tically produced wines or imports from Europe, South America or Australia, Sayre said, it isn’t as easy for Canada to source perishable goods from other continents. “Wine doesn’t degrade if you ship it
August 5, 2026 Ag Alert 15
Powered by FlippingBook