CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY
June 23, 2025
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Memory Wall for Dr. Ken Tate
CCA is saddened by the loss of Dr. Ken Tate, a respected leader and friend. Ken will be greatly missed by many CCA members and livestock producers who shared numerous moments with him. If you would like to share your memories or condolences, please post them on the memory wall linked here.
New Episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast
A new episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podast is out now! CCA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Kirk Wilbur joins host, Katie on the podcast to provide an update on the the current legislative session so far. To listen, click here.
USDA Announces “Plan to Combat New World Screwworm’s Northward Spread”
As previously reported in California Cattleman Weekly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture on May 11 suspended imports of live cattle from Mexican “due to the continued and rapid northward spread of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Mexico” (after previously halting imports between November and February).
NWS has not been detected in the U.S., and the nearest cases at this time are 700 miles south of the U.S./Mexico border. To prevent the northward spread of NWS, though, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins on Wednesday announced a five-pronged plan “to enhance USDA’s already robust ability to detect, control, and eliminate this pest.”
The plan includes collaborating with Mexican authorities to halt the spread of NWS in that country; strengthening protections at the U.S.’s southern border; enhancing America’s readiness to respond should any animal health threat emerge at home; strengthening producer education and research into treatment options; and taking the fight to NWS by aggressively producing and deploying sterile flies.
CCA’s national partner, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, has established an online hub with New World Screwworm Resources for cattle producers. Out of an abundance of caution, NCBA recommends that producers begin familiarizing themselves with the signs of screwworm infection, develop a plan to effectively monitor herds and discuss NWS treatment options with your veterinarian.
Sen. Monique Limón Elected Senate President Pro Tempore Designee
Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) has announced that Sen. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) has been elected as the “Pro Tem Designee,” with leadership of the upper chamber to formally transition from McGuire to Limón “early in 2026.” Limón’s tenure as Senate President Pro Tempore will be brief, as the Senator will be termed out of office in 2028. Although Limón is considered “one of [the] most progressive environmental champions” in the Senate, it should be noted that the Senator’s environmentalism includes recognition of the ecological benefits of livestock grazing. Last year, Senator Limón successfully pushed legislation to expand state grants for prescribed grazing and requiring prescribed grazing to be incorporated into the state’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.
Upcoming CCA Events
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Registration for Midyear Meeting & Cattle-PAC Auction is Now Open! |
Upcoming Industry Events
NCBA Summer Business Meeting
July 7-9, 2025, Hilton San Diego Bayfront, San Diego, CA
Join the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) for their Summer Business Meeting. This meeting will include discussing critical issues, form initiatives and much more. To learn more and register, click here.
RTAP Stockpond Workshop
July 23, 2025, 4:00 PM, Virtual
Register now for this FREE stockpond workshop hosted by the Rancher Technical Assistance Program’s (RTAP). The twenty minute discussion will cover the legal requirements for stockpond owners discussing water rights, reporting, and registration, including the registration application process. RTAP can assist ranchers in completing registration applications and encourages any rancher with a stockpond to attend the workshop to learn more. Questions from participants will also be encouraged during the workshop. RTAP is provided by the California Cattlemen’s Foundation and funded by the California Cattle Council. To register, click here.
Public Lands Council 57th Annual Meeting
Sept. 16 – 18, 2025, Flagstaff, Arizona
The Public Lands Council 57th Annual Meeting will take place Sept. 16 – 28 in Flagstaff, Arizona. To learn more about the lineup of speakers and to register, click here.
Industry News
Secretary Rollins Announces Bold Plan to Combat New World Screwworm’s Northward Spread United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins this morning launched an $8.5 million sterile New World screwworm (NWS) fly dispersal facility in South Texas and announced a sweeping five-pronged plan (PDF, 434 KB) to enhance USDA’s already robust ability to detect, control, and eliminate this pest. These urgent actions are necessary to finish the fight against NWS and protect the United States.” To continue reading, click here.
We set a big chunk of California wilderness on fire. You’re welcome Los Angeles Times “On a sun-kissed hillside in remote Northern California, I watched in awe as a crackling fire I’d helped ignite consumed the tall, golden grass. Then the wind shifted slightly, and the dense gray smoke that had been billowing harmlessly up the slope turned and engulfed me.” To continue reading, click here.
A new episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podast is out now! CCA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Kirk Wilbur joins host, Katie on the podcast to provide an update on the the current legislative session so far. To listen, click here.
