CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

March 3, 2025

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Governor Newsom Proclaims State of Emergency to Address Wildfire Risks
On Saturday, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency “to fast-track critical wildfire prevention projects statewide,” according to a press release. The proclamation suspends the application of state laws within the jurisdiction of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) – including the California Environmental Quality Act and the California Coastal Act – to “critical fuels reduction projects…initiated this year” with the approval of the CalEPA or CNRA secretaries.

“Critical fuels reduction projects” exempted from environmental review under the proclamation include removal of hazard trees, vegetation removal for the creation or maintenance of strategic fuel breaks, vegetation treatment for “community defensible space,” roadside vegetation treatments and cultural burning and prescribed fire efforts.

The proclamation also directs the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to increase the California Vegetation Treatment Program’s (CalVTP) “efficiency and utilization” to streamline “environmental review for large wildfire risk reduction treatments.”

Finally, Newsom’s order instructs CalEPA and CNRA over the next two months to draft recommendations to increase the pace and scale of prescribed fire in the state, including strategies to maximize allowable burn days and ensure consistency among local air pollution control districts.

CCA will engage with CalEPA and CNRA to advance the Association’s wildfire resilience priorities as applicable under the state of emergency proclamation, particularly regarding prescribed fire and application of livestock grazing for fire fuels reduction.

Water Board to Begin Charging Late Fees for Delinquent Water Rights Reporting
The State Water Resources Control Board announced Thursday that it will begin assessing late fees on water rightsholders who still have not filed their annual Water Use Reports for the 2023-24 reporting year, which were due on Feb. 1. According to the Water Board, 38% of rightsholders have yet to file their reports.

Late fees are new this year and will be charged on rightsholders’ annual water rights fee billing, which will be sent to water users in the Fall. Late fees went into effect on Saturday, and will be charged based on the size of one’s water right and how late the filing is made. Late fees will be calculated as a percentage of a rightholders’ base water right fee, as detailed here (the water rights fee schedule used to calculate these percentages is available here).

If you have yet to file your 2023-24 Water Use Report, CCA urges you to do so as soon as possible, as late fees will increase in April.

Ranchers with questions or looking for help completing and submitting annual reports are encouraged to reach out to the Rancher Technical Assistance Program (RTAP) for free assistance. RTAP can be reached by phone at (916) 406-6902, by email at [email protected], or found online at calcattlemenfoundation.org/rtap.

Treasury Suspends Corporate Transparency Act Enforcement for Domestic Companies
As reported in last week’s California Cattleman Weekly, the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced last month that it intended to enforce beneficial ownership information reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) beginning March 21.

On Thursday, however, FinCEN issued an alert that the agency “will not issue any fines or penalties or take any other enforcement actions against” companies that fail to file by the March 21 deadline. Instead, the agency stated that it intended “to issue an interim final rule that extends [beneficial ownership information] reporting deadlines.”

Yesterday, the Treasury Department went even further, announcing that it will “not enforce any penalties or fines against U.S. citizens or domestic reporting companies or their beneficial owners” and that forthcoming regulatory revisions will “will narrow the scope of the rule to foreign reporting companies only.”

As a reminder, the CTA requires many small businesses with 20 or fewer employees to file with FinCEN “identifying information about the individuals who directly or indirectly own or control” the business.

For months now, new developments have emerged regarding CTA compliance on a near-weekly basis. In light of this uncertainty, CCA partner the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) urges ranchers “to consult an attorney and/or tax professional regarding personal impacts from the Corporate Transparency Act.” CCA will continue to keep members informed of any developments regarding the CTA’s beneficial ownership information reporting requirements, including forthcoming regulatory amendments forecasted over the past week.

New Episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast
A new episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast is out now! This week’s episode features two issues that came up at this year’s CattleCon: trade & taxes. In this conversation hear from past CCA President Tony Toso, who is now chair of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) International Trade Committee.

Later in the episode hear from NCBA’s Associate Director of Government Affairs Kelsea Kemp, who happens to hail from California. Listen as Kelsea shares about NCBA’s tax priorities and one specific act NCBA is lobbying on right now. To tune in, click here.

CCA-Sponsored Bills Introduced in State Assembly
CCA last month secured the introduction of two bills to benefit California’s cattle producers. Asm. Diane Papan (D-San Mateo) introduced CCA-sponsored Assembly Bill 411, which would legalize on-ranch composting of routine livestock mortalities. CCA also secured introduction of AB 525 (Lackey), which seeks to extend the current exemption for agricultural vehicles from the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Basic Inspection of Terminals (BIT) program. CCA thanks Assemblymembers Papan and Lackey for their service to California’s cattle producers. For additional information, see the Feb. 18 edition of California Cattleman Weekly or the March edition of the California Cattleman magazine.

Fish & Game Commission Delays Action Limiting Coyote Hunting after CCA Engagement
Last month, the California Fish and Game Commission considered a motion from its Wildlife Resources Committee (WRC) “that the Commission approve a future rulemaking to amend Section 472 to remove coyotes” while maintaining hunting opportunities. Section 472 allows nongame mammals – including coyotes – to “be taken at any time of the year and in any number.” Citing concerns outlined in a CCA letter, the Commission took no action on the motion, instead re-referring the issue to the WRC for further discussion. The WRC will take additional public feedback on the proposal at its next meeting, which will be held May 15 in Sacramento. For additional information, see the Feb. 18 edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

Upcoming CCA Events

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CCA in the News

Meat prices near record levels NBC Nightly News “Cattle ranchers are facing a host of problems including rising interest rates, high grain prices, and weather challenges that lead to shrinking herd sizes. It’s all factoring into why prices for beef and meats are, like eggs, soaring at the grocery store. NBC News’ Morgan Chesky talks with a California cattle rancher (Kevin Kester) about what’s behind the price people are paying.” To view the clip, click here.

Industry News

Forest Service chief retires after thousands of layoffs at the agency POLITICO “Forest Service Chief Randy Moore will retire effective March 3, according to an email sent to agency staff Wednesday and viewed by POLITICO. Moore wrote in his staff email that the past several weeks have been ‘incredibly difficult’ due to the Trump administration’s mass layoffs, which have led to 3,400 Forest Service employees — or 10 percent of agency staff — being fired.” To continue reading, click here.

NCBA President Testifies Before Congress on State of the Cattle Industry National Cattlemen’s Beef Association “‘The cattle industry is seeing better market conditions, strong consumer demand for beef, and optimism for the future of our industry yet challenges still remain,’ said Wehrbein. ‘Congress must always remember that food security is national security and the policy decisions they make will impact the hardworking cattlemen and women who produce our nation’s food. Passing a Farm Bill, axing the Death Tax, protecting beef in the Dietary Guidelines, rolling back excessive regulations, holding our trade partners accountable, combatting the New World screwworm, and protecting the Beef Checkoff are all tangible steps Congress can take to support American farmers and ranchers and protect our food security.’” To continue reading, click here.

Rule moves to roll back NEPA regulations Western Livestock Journal “In late February, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released an interim final rule to remove government-wide guidance on how to implement the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). Agencies will be directed to craft new agency-specific regulations, ensuring compliance with the new rule, future congressional permitting reforms and President Donald Trump’s executive orders on permitting.” To continue reading, click here.