LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN
October 17, 2022
To read the full version each week, please subscribe below.
FMCSA Fails to Extend Emergency Hours of Service Exemptions for Livestock Haulers
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an Expanded Emergency Declaration exempting livestock haulers from compliance with the federal Hours of Service rules that limit drive time.
The Emergency Declaration was extended ten times, most recently through this past Saturday.
As of this morning, however, the FMCSA has failed to extend the Emergency Declaration, meaning that haulers of livestock and livestock feed must now comply with the drive time requirements under the Hours of Service regulations.
Additionally, now that FMCSA’s Emergency Declaration has expired, Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order which exempted haulers engaged in intrastate or interstate transportation from California’s Hours of Service regulations has also expired (Newsom’s EO was only intended to be “in effect for the duration of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Emergency Declaration”).
As a reminder, livestock haulers remain exempt from electronic logging device requirements through December 15 (which is likely to be further extended through September 30, 2023).
CCA and our national partner, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, will continue to work to provide continued flexibility for livestock producers relative to Hours of Service regulations. For additional information, contact the CCA office.
SWRCB Updates Curtailments on Multiple Watersheds
As of October 12, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has imposed a watershed-wide curtailment of all water rights on the Sacramento River watershed with a priority date of 1960 or later. In addition to this watershed-wide update, curtailments remain on the Cache Creek subwatershed for appropriative water rights with a priority date of 1859 or later and on the Putah Creek subwatershed for appropriative water rights with a priority date of 1948 or later.
As noted in previous updates, appropriative water rights have been curtailed within the San Joaquin River watershed with a priority date of 1919 or later and within the Legal Delta with a priority date of 1960 or later. Water right curtailments have been imposed on the Stanislaus River with a priority date of 1897 or later along with the Fresno River subwatershed with a priority date of 1855 or later. Curtailments remain on the Tuolumne River with a priority date of 1914 or later, on the Merced River subwatershed with a priority date of 1859 or later and on the Mokelumne River subwatershed with a priority date of 1890 or later. Additionally, all appropriative and riparian water right have been curtailed in both the Calaveras River and the Chowchilla River subwatersheds.
Mill Creek and Deer Creek watershed diverters were required to cease or reduce diversions for each water right or claim, to maintain the drought minimum flow of 50 cubic feet per second and to submit an online Compliance Certification Form by October 15. If you have not yet submitted the Compliance Certification forms, use the login credentials provided on the curtailment order you received in the mail and submit that information through the Water Rights Form and Survey Submittal Portal.
Failure to submit a Compliance Certification Form may lead to enforcement action, including an Administrative Civil Liability Complaint that has potential fines of up to $500 per day per water right for each day of non-compliance. Tutorials for completing the Compliance Certification Form and Monthly Enhanced Reporting Forms are available on the Mill Creek and Deer Creek Drought response webpage under the “Curtailment Orders, Lists, and Reporting Portal” tab.
For questions about curtailment and suspension notices or assistance completing the Compliance Certification forms, please contact the Rancher Technical Assistance Program at (916) 409-6902 or rtap@wrstrat.com.
New Episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast
Earlier this month Cal Poly’s 66th Annual Bull Test Sale was held in San Luis Obispo. The program is the only one in the country completely ran by students! To talk about what this program provides students, share about the new opportunities coming to it through a grant that was just awarded and have a few laughs, Cal Poly’s Zach McFarlane and Aaron Lazanoff come on the podcast. Click here to listen.
National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) Beef Industry Scholarship Applications Now Available for Undergraduate Students
Applications for the 2023-2024 CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship are now being accepted. Sponsored by the CME Group the scholarship recognizes students who play a crucial role in the future of food production. To be eligible applications must be a graduating high school senior or full-time undergraduate student enrolled at a two or four-year institution. The deadline to apply is Nov. 11, 2022 at midnight Central Time. For further information on the scholarship and to apply click here.
Upcoming CCA Events
106th Annual CCA & CCW Convention
Nov. 30 – Dec. 2, Nugget Casino Resort, Sparks, Nev.
The 2022 CCA/CCW Convention is headed back to the Nugget Casino Reno and will be held in conjunction with the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association’s Annual Convention. Attendee and exhibitor registration for the event are now open! Register, reserve your room in CCA’s room block and get more information at https://calcattlemen.org/convention2022. Click the links below for more resources related to the event.
Reserve Your Tradeshow Booth Now | Sponsorship Opportunities | Book Your Room in CCA’s Block
Participate in the 2022 Cattlemen’s Poster Session
Participate in the 2022 Cattlemen’s Poster Session at the 106th Annual CCA/CCW Convention and California Cattle Industry Trade Show in Reno happening Nov. 30 – Dec. 2. The goal of the session is to inform attendees about the ongoing beef cattle research and education efforts being conducted in California. Posters can be on something that was presented at previous meetings and there is no limit to the number of posters brought from each lab/program. Click here for full details on how to reserve a place for your poster by Nov. 4.
Upcoming Industry Events
Stockmanship & Stewardship Event
November 1, 2022, Virtual
Stockmanship & Stewardship will host a virtual education event providing live coverage of low-stress cattle handling and industry updates. Learn of consumer concerns on beef sustainability and livestock welfare, their impacts on the industry and receive hands on training to improve their operation. For more information click here. To register for the event click here.
Chico State University Farm 60th Anniversary Celebration
November 5, 2022
Come and join Chico State University Farm to celebrate their 60th anniversary! There will be an open house, farm tours, President and Dean’s Reception, dinner and dancing. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here. To view the agenda click here.
California Natural Resources Agency Virtual Expo Series
October 25 – November 17, Virtual
The California Natural Resources Agency is hosting a virtual expo to build on the 30×30 Partnership Kick-Off Event. Hear from partners across state agencies, learn about program funding and other outlets to reach California’s 30×30 goal. Q&A sessions will be available at the end of each Virtual Expo. For more information regarding the event, click here.
Tuesday October 25, 3-3:30pm – California Department of Food and Agriculture (register here).
Thursday October 27, 10:30-11am – Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Wildlife Conservation Board (register here).
Tuesday November 1, 3-3:30pm – Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Tahoe Conservancy (register here).
Thursday November 3, 10:30-11am – CA Nature Team (register here).
Tuesday November 8, 3-3:30pm – California Biodiversity Network and California’s 5th Climate Assessment Team (register here).
Thursday November 10, 10:30-11am – California Department of Fish and Wildlife (register here).
Tuesday November 15, 3-3:30pm – Ocean Protection Council and State Costal Conservancy (register here).
Thursday November 17, 10:30-11am – Baldwin Hills Conservancy and California Conservation Corps (register here).
Industry News
A herd of wild horses just moved into this iconic California destination. No one knows what comes next San Francisco Chronicle“Beneath the distant peaks of California’s Sierra Nevada, just east of Yosemite National Park, a bicyclist was pushing through a 100-mile road race last month when the unthinkable happened.” To continue reading, click here.
Drought-stricken California approves smaller desalination plant Capital Press “With California struggling through historic drought, the state’s Coastal Commission on Thursday approved a smaller desalination plant that could turn up to 5 million gallons of seawater a day into drinkable water.” To continue reading, click here.
New technology helps to diagnose BRD sooner Western Livestock Journal“Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is one of the most common and costly diseases in the beef industry, costing millions of dollars in losses and significantly impacting the industry’s economic stability.” To continue reading, click here.
How Prop 12 could Impact Crop and Livestock Producers Drovers “More than half of Californians voted in favor of stricter restrictions on animal confinement, commonly called Prop 12, which took effect on Jan. 1.The law not only altered its livestock raising standards, but it also banned the sale of animal-derived products that do not comply with statute’s regulations. This means producers in other states cannot sell eggs, veal and pork products in California unless they meet Prop 12’s standards.” To continue reading, click here.
Earlier this month Cal Poly’s 66th Annual Bull Test Sale was held in San Luis Obispo. The program is the only one in the country completely ran by students! To talk about what this program provides students, share about the new opportunities coming to the it through a grant that was just awarded and have a few laughs, Cal Poly’s Zach McFarlane and Aaron Lazanoff come on the podcast. Click here to listen.