CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

September 30, 2024

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Governor Newsom Finalizes Action on 2023-24 Legislative Session
Today was the Constitutional deadline for Governor Gavin Newsom to sign or veto any bills advanced to his desk by the Legislature this Session. After acting on hundreds of measures over the weekend, Newsom this morning announced that he had completed “his final act of the legislative session” with one final round of bill signings.

As reported in last week’s California Cattleman Weekly, there were still a handful of CCA-priority bills awaiting the Governor’s action in the final week of September. Below are the results of the Governor’s deliberations on those bills:

• Newsom vetoed CCA-opposed AB 99 (Connolly), which would have restricted CalTrans’ ability to apply pesticides in local jurisdictions with pest management policies more restrictive than the state’s.
• Newsom signed into law CCA-opposed AB 1963 (Friedman) and AB 2552 (Friedman), which seek to restrict the availability of the pesticide paraquat dichloride and of first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, respectively. While CCA remained opposed to both measures, agricultural interests forced significant amendments to both bills this session which softens their impacts upon the industry.
• Newsom approved CCA-supported AB 2900 (Soria), which establishes the Small Agricultural Truck Fleet Assistance Program at the California Air Resources Board, charged with providing technical assistance for farmers and ranchers subject to CARB regulations.
• Newsom also signed into law CCA-supported SB 1101 (Limón), which will streamline CAL FIRE’s contracting ability for large-scale prescribed fires.

More details on these bills, as well as a full rundown of CCA’s legislative efforts this Session, will appear in the November edition of the California Cattleman magazine.

California Politicians Seek Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Park, Borel Fires
As California Cattleman Weekly reported earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom has proclaimed multiple states of emergency related to wildfires throughout the state in recent months. The Governor proclaimed a new state of emergency yesterday to facilitate recovery from the Boyles Fire, which damaged or destroyed 39 structures in the town of Clearlake earlier this month.

California’s elected leaders are also turning their attention to aiding Californians in recovering from the Park Fire, which burned 429,603 acres in Butte and Tehama counties this summer, and the Borel Fire, which scorched 59,288 acres in Kern County over a 53-day period.

Governor Newsom sent a letter to President Joe Biden last week requesting a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for the fires. If approved, the Declaration would render residents and businesses in the impacted communities eligible for USDA Emergency Loans, Small Business Administration Disaster Loans and other relief. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA01) and Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA20) have written in support of the request. As of press time, President Biden had yet to authorize the Declaration.

For information regarding wildfire assistance, visit the Ranchers Technical Assistance Program website.

New Episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast
A new episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast is out now! In this week’s episode, Dr. J.J. Goicoechea, a Nevada rancher and the Director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, answers questions ranchers may have about the new USDA traceability rule going into effect on Nov. 5. Hear why J.J. believes this change to make tags electronically readable, not just visually readable, needed to happen, and more about traceability in this episode. To listen, click here.

CNRA Issues 30×30 Initiative Progress Report
The Newsom Administration announced earlier this month that it has released it’s 2024 Annual Progress Report for the state’s 30×30 Initiative, an effort to durably conserve 30% of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030. According to the Progress Report, the state now considers 25.2% of California lands to be “durably protected,” an improvement upon the 24.4% identified as conserved last year. For additional details, see the September 16 edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

Plan ahead for new traceability rule beginning Nov. 5
If you expect to move cattle in November, start planning now for a new USDA traceability rule that may require you to use an electronic identification device (EID) in some of your cattle beginning Nov. 5.

In 2013, a USDA Animal Disease Traceability rule required that all sexually intact cattle over 18 months, rodeo and exhibition cattle and dairy cattle moved interstate have official identification. Under this new 2024 Animal Disease Traceability rule, starting on Nov. 5, all sexually intact cattle over 18 months, rodeo and exhibition cattle and dairy cattle moved interstate must have an official ID with an EID. The only EID technology approved by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at this time is an 840 tag—that will be required starting Nov. 5 for these classes of cattle.

CCA members voted and chose to support the adoption and implementation (see CCA’s policy on animal disease traceability) of EIDS for interstate movement for these groups of cattle only. In short, the change coming Nov. 5 is going to require tags to be electronically readable on top of visually readable.

A webpage with information to answer questions and help producers prepare for this change is now available on the CCA website. Visit calcattlemen.org/EID to download FAQS for producers, FAQs for livestock markets, factsheets on how to get 840 tags from the state at no cost and more. Today’s episode of Sorting Pen with Dr. J.J. Goicoechea, a Nevada rancher and the Director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, also discusses this new rule and the importance of traceability.

Questionnaire on Wolf-Livestock Compensation Programs
From Oregon State University Graduate Student Tyler Allen
Oregon State University’s (OSU) Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences is seeking help to understand livestock producer’s thoughts about wolf-livestock compensation programs. Graduate student, Tyler Allen asks that you or another member of your household or company over the age of 18 please complete the following questionnaire in the next few days.

The accuracy of conclusions OSU makes depends on opinions from all livestock producers being represented, so even if you live outside of the current range of wolves or have not applied for compensation in the past, your participation is still very much needed and greatly encouraged.

The questionnaire should take less than 15-20 minutes to complete and the survey can be accessed here.

This research study is part of a requirement for Tyler Allen to complete his Master’s degree, and this study is not being funded by any agency or organization. Participation is voluntary, responses are confidential, and you can refuse to answer any question(s) for any reason.

OSU and Allen value your time and opinions. Completing this questionnaire will help them understand how livestock producers think about, engage with, or could engage with compensation programs.

If you have questions about this questionnaire, please contact Tyler Allen at Tyler.Allen@oregonstate.edu or (503) 998-9537.

2024 CCA Scholarship Applications Due Tomorrow! 
The application period for the 2024 California Cattlemen’s Association Scholarships and Convention Internship are now being accepted. To learn more, click here. Any young, regular or feeder member are eligible to apply for the scholarship and internship. Past recipients and interns are eligible to reapply. If you are not currently a CCA member and would like to join visit https://calcattlemen.org/join. Contact Maureen in the CCA office at maureen@calcattlemen.org with any questions. CCA Scholarship Applications are due tomorrow, Oct. 1. CCA Internship Applications are due Oct. 11.

California Beef Cattle Improvement Association Now Accepting 2024 Seedstock Producer of the Year Award Applications
The California Beef Cattle Improvement Association (CBCIA) is now accepting applications for the CBCIA Outstanding Seedstock Producer of the Year Awards. The awards recognize progressive beef cattle breeders who use practical, scientifically accepted selection and management methods and integrate them into successful ranching operations. Applications are due Oct. 1. To learn more about the award and view the informational flyer click here and here. To download the application click here.

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Industry News

State commission approves Marin tule elk fence removal Marin Independent Journal “In addition to removing the fence, the preferred alternative calls for removing tanks, troughs and pipelines installed in 2021 during extreme drought; removing 12 vegetation monitoring plots; and installing a low fence that would prevent cattle from entering the Tomales Point area.” To continue reading, click here.

After Park Fire Devastation, an Unexpected Boon for Butterflies KQED“Don Hankins examines a bright yellow-green patch in the meadow. The land all around is charred by fire. But here, there’s a sort of miracle at work. Native milkweed has sprung up and bloomed for the second time this year. This is not something these plants, Asclepias eriocarpa, also known as Indian milkweed, are known to do.” To continue reading, click here.