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- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Like many agricultural crops, cannabis cultivation has the potential to impact fish and wildlife. To help cultivators and other farmers reduce environmental impacts, CDFW is offering wildlife friendly tips for those engaged in farming activities.
"We all have an obligation to be good stewards of the watershed," said Sunshine Johnston Owner and Operator of Sunboldt Grown. "Farmers of all types can utilize the natural aspects of the surrounding ecosystem and let nature do the work for you. With this approach, native wildlife and plants can have a role on your farm while improving sustainability."
Below are suggestions for utilizing natural resources and coexisting with wildlife.
Post bat boxes: Bats eat millions of insects each night and can help control pesky insect populations, reducing the need for harmful pesticides. To encourage bats on your property, install bat boxes. These are artificial roosts that allows bats to live in an area with otherwise limited roosting habitat. To learn more about utilizing bat boxes visit: https://batworld.org/bat-house-information/.
Post owl boxes: Similar to bat boxes, providing owl boxes on your property can encourage these handy raptors to help control rodent populations. Reliance on harmful rodenticides which impact the entire food chain (including mountain lions) can be significantly reduced when you let owls do the work for you. Learn more at: www.ucdavis.edu/one-health/how-build-owl-box/.
Location selection: Location is everything for a business and commercial cannabis cultivation is no exception. To reduce impacts to sensitive habitats and avoid engaging in take of listed species during cultivation or construction activities, research your location thoroughly. Some parcels are better suited for farming activities as compared to other locations near sensitive streams or with listed species on or near the property. Your regional CDFW representative can provide feedback on your proposed cultivation site and how to address potential impacts to fish and wildlife resources.
Employ companion planting: Some plant species naturally repel pests. By planting these types of crops adjacent to cannabis, you will have another 'natural' insecticide and can be less reliant on the more toxic alternatives that often move from points of application through spray drift, surface runoff or irrigation return flows.
Use natural vegetation: Retaining natural vegetation around the property will result in a more diverse landscape with more food resources, nest sites, and shelter for bird species that forage on insects and predators that prey on small mammals. The natural vegetation will also help animals to move around without being seen or disrupted by interactions with people.
Choose the right crop for the right climate: To reduce water use during the hot summer months, cannabis cultivators can choose a cannabis strain that is best suited for the climate in which it is being produced. The right strain, for the right location, in the right amount is a win-win for all. This will help produce a plant with better yields that is more environmentally friendly.
If you are a cannabis cultivator and have ideas for helping native wildlife or have questions about the suggestions, please email
For more information on upcoming permitting workshops, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/cannabis and click on the events tab.
CDFW encourages cannabis cultivators to obtain a state license with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (which includes notifying CDFW about any proposed activities), a county permit, permits from the State Water Boards and implementing best management practices to reduce environmental impacts.
To report environmental crimes such as poaching or water diversions, please call the CalTIP hotline at 888-334-2258 or text "CALTIP" followed by a space and the desired message, to 847411 (tip411).
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
In May, President Trump authorized USDA to provide up to $16 billion in programs to support farmers, which is in line with the estimated impacts of unjustified retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods and other trade disruptions. ATP is one of three programs that will assist agricultural producers while President Trump works to address long-standing market access barriers.
“China and other nations haven’t played by the rules for a long time and President Trump is standing up to them, sending a clear message that the United States will no longer tolerate their unfair trade practices,” Secretary Perdue said. “At USDA, we are always looking to expand existing markets or open new ones and this infusion of money will do just that. American farmers are so productive that we need to continue to expand our markets wherever we can to sell the bounty of the American harvest.”
The 48 recipients are among the cooperator organizations that applied for $200 million in ATP funds in 2018 that were awarded earlier this year. As part of a new round of support for farmers impacted by unjustified retaliation and trade disruption, those groups had the opportunity to be considered for additional support for their work to boost exports for U.S. agriculture, food, fish, and forestry products.
Already, since the $200 million in assistance was announced in January, U.S. exporters have had significant success, including a trade mission to Pakistan that generated $10 million in projected 2019 sales of pulse crops, a new marketing program for Alaska seafood that led to more than $4 million in sales of salmon to Vietnam and Thailand, and a comprehensive marketing effort by the U.S. soybean industry that has increased exposure in more than 50 international markets. These funds will continue to generate sales and business for U.S. producers and exporters many times over as promotional activity continues for the next couple of years.
The list of ATP funding recipients is available at: https://www.fas.usda.gov/atp-funding-allocations .
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- Written by: Lake County Association Realtors
Nearly 60 homes will be available viewing throughout the county.
Purchasing a home is often one of the most important decisions in a person’s life and deciding on a particular house comes with many options.
Forty-five percent of recent buyers used open houses as a way to narrow down their choices and find their dream home.
“Realtors will open the doors to an assortment of homes in the local area that are taking part in this year’s Open House Extravaganza,” said Mary Benson, 2019 president of the Lake County Association of Realtors. “This event is a great way for buyers to get an idea of what they can afford and what kinds of homes are available in the local market. It’s also a chance for sellers to market their home and attract potential buyers.”
Realtors and affiliate members will be available at open houses to answer questions about the home buying process and local market conditions. Homes will be available in many of the county’s diversified neighborhoods.
The event is an excellent opportunity for both in-county residents and out-of-county buyers. In-county residents who are first time home buyers or looking to upsize or downsize their current residence will have the ability to view multiple homes at their leisure.
Out-of-county buyers will find Lake County home prices affordable and attractive be it as a second home or a new residence.
“Buyers need to have a clear idea of what features are important to them and know where they are willing to compromise;” said Benson. “That is where visiting open houses can be helpful. Also, working with a Realtor can be a real asset. Realtors visit hundreds of homes with buyers each year, and have a unique understanding of what buyers value in their local markets. Their expertise and knowledge can help you achieve the dream of homeownership.”
Consumers can go to www.lakecountyopenhouses.com to view a list of open houses that will be available and download maps to help them plan their open house viewings.
The Lake County Association of Realtors, established in 1947, provides services to Realtors throughout Lake County.
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- Written by: Pacific Fishery Management Council
The public is encouraged to comment at the September and November council meetings as management of this halibut fishery transitions from the International Pacific Halibut Commission, or IPHC, to the council.
In June, the council committed to working closely with the IPHC and stakeholders on the transition. The council will focus on a smooth transfer of management authority for the commercial directed fishery, and will rely on the IPHC to continue to issue licenses for this fishery in the near-term.
The council intends to maintain the current management structure, but may consider changes to vessel poundage limits and open periods.
At its September and November meetings, when the council typically considers changes to its halibut catch sharing plan, it will also make management recommendations for the 2020 directed commercial halibut fishery trip limits and fishing periods.
These meetings will provide an opportunity for public, agency and advisory body comment.
The Groundfish Advisory Subpanel meetings held in conjunction with the September and November council meetings will also provide an opportunity for public comment on this issue.
As always, public comment will be accepted through the council’s e-portal before the meetings.
The September meeting will be held Sept. 11 to 18 at the Riverside Hotel in Boise, Idaho. The November meeting will be held Nov. 13 to 20 at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa in Costa Mesa, California.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will hold public meetings Aug. 5 to 8 to discuss fishing periods and trip limits for the 2020 directed commercial halibut fishery.
Meeting dates and locations will be posted online; information is also available at 541-867-4741. Currently, the Departments of Fish and Wildlife for Washington and California do not have public meetings scheduled to discuss the non-Indian commercial directed halibut fishery season structure for 2020.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 for the purpose of managing fisheries 3-200 miles offshore of the United States of America coastline.
The Pacific Council recommends management measures for fisheries off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington.
All council meetings are open to the public.