LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN
May 8, 2023
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5/11 Final Day to Register Online for Feeder Meeting, Prices Will Increase on Site
The final day to register online for the California Cattlemen’s Association Feeder Council and Arizona Cattle Feeders Association Meeting happening May 24-26 will be Thursday, May 11. To Register click here. Prices will increase on site.
To make your reservation at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, call (877) 622-3056.
CARB Approves “Advanced Clean Fleets” Rule
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has unanimously approved its “Advanced Clean Fleets” regulation, requiring the phased-in adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) within some commercial trucking fleets. The regulation applies to trucking fleets of 50 or more vehicles or to trucking companies which make at least $50 million in annual revenues, as well as to local government vehicles and port trucks (the trucks impacted by the regulation are medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks, defined as those with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 8,500 pounds). For more information, see last week’s edition of Legislative Bulletin.
USFWS Re-opens Proposed Threatened Species Listing of Bi-State Sage Grouse
In late April, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) published a notice that it is “reopening the comment periods on [its] October 28, 2013, proposed rules to list the Bi-State distinct population segment (DPS) of greater sage-grouse … as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.” USFWS had previously withdrawn the Proposed Rule, but that withdrawal was overturned last year in a lawsuit in the Northern District of California, reopening the 2013 comment period. Comments on the proposal, which are due June 26, may be submitted here. For further details, including a discussion of a state proposal to list the species as threatened or endangered, see last week’s edition of Legislative Bulletin.
Storm Recovery Assistance Available Via USDA’s NRCS, FSA
The California State office of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced $2 million in financial assistance available for agricultural producers impacted by recent flooding. Financial assistance is also available via the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), with the deadline to apply for ECP recently extended through October 13. Impacted producers in every county except Lake, Lassen, Mono, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties are eligible to apply for both programs. For more information, see last week’s edition of Legislative Bulletin. To apply for assistance through FSA or NRCS, locate your local USDA service center here.
SWRCB Extends Scott River Watershed Curtailment Suspensions Through May 31
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) announced Tuesday that it has extended suspensions of curtailments within the Scott River watershed through at least May 31 so long as minimum flows of 150 cubic feet per second (cfs) are maintained at the Fort Jones gage.
As reported in last week’s Legislative Bulletin, suspensions and conditional suspensions of curtailments within the Shasta River watershed had previously been extended through at least May 31.
Curtailment orders have been fully rescinded for the Russian River and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watersheds.
New Episode of Stories from California Cattle Country
Stories from California Cattle Country, “Learning about the interface between Roosevelt Elk and ranches with ranchers Jason Hunt, Dean Hunt, Justin Mora and CDFW Biologist Carrington Hilson” 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.
Final Reminder for California Ranchers!
From UC Davis and UC Cooperative Extension
We invite you to participate in a survey about California ranchers’ and farmers’ concerns, perceptions, information, and education needs related to changing climate conditions and adaptation. This survey is part of a research study funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and conducted by researchers at UC Cooperative Extension, UC Davis, and the USDA California Climate Hub. Survey results will be used to develop extension and education programs for farmers and ranchers.
Participation is voluntary and responses will be kept confidential; responses will be aggregated and shared in reports, academic papers, and presentations.
We expect the survey to take approximately 20 minutes. As a thank you, you can choose to enter a drawing to win one of forty $50 gift cards to Amazon (details at the end of survey).
Please click bit.ly/rangeland23 to take the survey by May 15, 2023.
For any questions about this survey or study, contact Leslie Roche, lmroche@ucdavis.edu, Tapan Pathak, tpathak@ucanr.edu, Vikram Koundinya, vkoundinya@ucdavis.edu, or Namah Taku-Forchu, taku@ucdavis.edu.
CBCIA + CAA Tour
The California Beef Cattle Improvement Association and the California Angus Association Industry Tour is taking place May 16-18. Participants will visit the Central Valley and have the opportunity to tour an array of livestock operations, local agricultural businesses and hear from industry leaders. Limited space is available and spots are on a first come first serve basis. To view the agenda and register for the tour click here.
Upcoming CCA Events
CCA Steak and Eggs Legislative and Regulatory Breakfast + Lobby Day
May 16, 2023, Sacramento, CA, The Sutter Club
Join the California Cattlemen’s Association and other CCA members at the 42nd Steak and Eggs Legislative and Regulatory Breakfast + Lobby Day. Plan to be in Sacramento on Tuesday, May 16. Breakfast starts at 8am! Over breakfast, enjoy sharing about your ranch while meeting representatives from regulatory and legislative offices in Sacramento. Following the breakfast, attendees will head across the street to the state Capitol to continue conversations about ranching in California.
Feeder Meeting
May 24 – 26, San Diego, CA, Marriott Marquis
The final day to register online for the California Cattlemen’s Association Feeder Council and Arizona Cattle Feeders Association Meeting happening May 24-26 will be Thursday, May 11. To Register click here. Prices will increase on site.
To make your reservation at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, call (877) 622-3056.
Midyear Meeting
June 21-22, Paso Robles, CA, Paso Robles Inn
Registration for Midyear Meeting is now open! To register, click here. The last day to pre-register is Wed., June 14. All registration prices will be increased onsite. No registration refunds will be given after Wed., May 31.
The California Cattlemen’s Association Room block at the Paso Robles Inn is open. To make your reservations call (805) 238-2660 and mention “California Cattlemen’s Association.” Further registration details and the tentative schedule can be found here.
Upcoming Industry Events
Sustainable Management of California’s Fire-Prone Landscapes
The Range Management Advisory Committee Educational Workshop Series will host three field tours across the state and a virtual learning session. Participants will learn about prescribed grazing efforts to manage wildfire and other ecosystem services.
Ecological Management of Fire-Prone Landscapes: Prescribed Grazing in the Ojai Valley
Tuesday, May 16, 2023, In Person, Ojai, CA, Ventura County Field Tour
To learn more information about this event and to register click here.
Prescribed Herbivory for Fuels Reduction: Grazing Planning and Permitting in the State of California
Friday, May 19, 2023, Virtual Learning Lesson
To learn more click here. To Register click here.
Salinas River Vegetation Management Project: Grazing for Riparian Corridor Fuels Management
Friday, May 26, 2023, In Person
To Register email Kristina.wolf@bof.ca.gov.
CBCIA + CAA Tour
May 16-18, 2023, Turlock, CA
The California Beef Cattle Improvement Association and the California Angus Association Industry Tour is taking place May 16-18. Participants will visit the Central Valley and have the opportunity to tour an array of livestock operations, local agricultural businesses and hear from industry leaders. Limited space is available and spots are on a first come first serve basis. To view the agenda and register for the tour click here.
CCA in the News
U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef concludes 2023 General Assembly Meeting BEEF“The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) recently concluded its 2023 General Assembly Meeting in Boise, Idaho. The USRSB reported progress on a variety of its sustainability efforts programs, which were published in the 2022 USRSB Annual Report. Newly elected officers include:
- Chair: Chad Ellis, Partnership of Rangeland Trusts
- Chair-elect: Mike Williams, California Cattlemen’s Association
- Secretary/treasurer: Scott Anderson, PhD, CRI Feeders
- Immediate past-chair: Debbie Lyons-Blythe, Kansas Livestock Association”
To continue reading, click here.
Industry News
Lawmakers tell Forest Service: Do more to fight wildfires The Daily Progress “Moore acknowledged that environmental groups’ lawsuits over timber projects and endangered species along with previous policy decisions to limit access to roadless areas in the National Forest System made it harder to treat areas.” To continue reading, click here.
California Dairy Sector Poised for Climate Neutrality by 2030, per UC Davis Researchers Morning Ag Clips “In a peer-reviewed paper recently published by CABI Biological Sciences, Conor McCabe, Hamed El-Mashad and Frank Mitloehner argue that California’s dairy sector can reach climate neutrality in the coming years with aggressive methane mitigation, something few, if any, other sectors can achieve.” To continue reading, click here.
Seeking More Funding for an FMD Vaccine Bank AgInfo.net “The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association seeks more funding for the Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine bank from the next Farm Bill. Allison Rivera, NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs, explains.” To continue reading, click here.
A New episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast is out now. This week’s episode is a conversation we originally recorded for WSR’s Insurance Unscripted Podcast! Tune in as Katie talks with two California beekeepers on the current challenges and issues facing beekeepers and the industry. To listen to the episode click here.
