CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY
Sept. 8, 2025
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Assembly and Senate Begin Final Week of Legislative Year
The California Legislature has entered the final stretch of the first year in the 2025-26 Legislative Session; pursuant to joint legislative rules, legislators face a Friday deadline to act on any outstanding bills. When the Assembly and Senate gavel to a close on Friday evening, the chambers will begin their Interim Study Recess, reconvening on January 5, 2026.
CCA-sponsored AB 411 (Papan), which would legalize on-ranch composting for routine livestock mortalities, passed out the Senate this afternoon. The bill will now go back to the Assembly – where members will vote on whether to concur in amendments taken in the Senate – after which the bill will await final action by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Other CCA priority bills still awaiting final action in the Capitol include CCA-opposed AB 1156 (Wicks), which would facilitate conversion of Williamson Act contracts to solar use easements, and CCA-opposed AB 1264 (Gabriel), which would prohibit schools from serving “ultraprocessed foods of concern” and “restricted school foods,” terms so ambiguously defined that they may inadvertently impact the availability of nutritious beef products in California schools.
After the Legislature concludes its business, Governor Newsom will have until Oct. 12 to sign or veto any bills advanced to his desk. CCA will keep members apprised of major legislative developments via this newsletter, with a full legislative recap to come in the November or December editions of the California Cattleman magazine.
Registration Now Open for the 2025 CCA & CCW Annual Convention
Attendee registration is officially open for the 2025 California Cattlemen’s Association and California CattleWomen’s Convention & California Cattle Industry Tradeshow, happening Dec. 3–5 at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, Nev.
Join us for meetings, networking, and entertainment. Full registrations include access to general sessions, the tradeshow, and meals at the Welcome Party, Thursday breakfast, and Thursday lunch. Tickets for special events such as the CCW Awards Breakfast, Cowbelle of the Year Lunch, and CCA/CCW Awards Banquet are available separately.
Rates start at $100 for Young Cattlemen’s Committee members and $300 for CCA/CCW members. Secure your spot soon as prices will increase after Nov. 13. To register, click here.
Apply for a CCA Scholarship
In 2024, CCA awarded over $51,000 in scholarships to students studying agriculture. The application period for CCA’s 2025 scholarships is open now through October 1. Any young, regular, or feeder member are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Scholarship amounts and quantities vary year to year and recipients of the CCA scholarship program can re-apply the following year. To learn more and to download the application, click here. Applications must be typed and returned in full to the CCA office by Wednesday, October 1, at 11:59pm PST via email to Katie Roberti at katier@calcattlemen.org.
Apply now to intern Dec. 3-5 at CCA’s Annual Convention
The application period for the 2025 California Cattlemen’s Association Convention Internships are being accepted now through Oct. 10. Interns assist with registration, directing attendees, running the CCA merchandise table and much more. Additionally, interns have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, and attend select meetings, general sessions, and the tradeshow with a complimentary registration. To apply send a resume and cover letter detailing why you would like to serve as a convention intern to Katie Roberti at katier@calcattlemen.org by Friday, Oct. 10, at 11:59 p.m. PST. Any young, regular or feeder member are eligible to apply for this internship. Past interns are eligible to reapply. If you are not currently a CCA member and would like to join visit calcattlemen.org/join.
Upcoming CCA Events
Register now for Midyear Meeting & Cattle-PAC Auction
Aug. 14 – 15, Paso Robles Event Center, Paso Robles
Our Midyear Meeting and Cattle-PAC Dinner Dance & Auction are next week! Join CCA Aug. 14 – 15 at the Paso Robles Events Center for industry updates and an evening full of good food and dancing. The final day to register online is Monday, Aug. 11. To register for Midyear Meeting and/or purchase your Cattle-PAC Dinner tickets, click here. Click here to download a form to register for Midyear and purchase tickets that can be mailed into the CCA office.
CCA & CCW Convention and California Cattle Industry Tradeshow
Dec. 3 – 5, Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, Reno, Nevada
Upcoming Industry Events
Public Lands Council 57th Annual Meeting
Sept. 16 – 18, 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.
Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Tradeshow
Feb. 3 – 5, 2026, Nashville
The largest event in the beef cattle industry is heading to downtown Nashville. Registration and housing open Aug. 20. There are several exciting opportunities to get involved in the event with upcoming deadlines including the national anthem contest, convention internships for college juniors and seniors, scholarships for attendees (young producers, students, and first timers), and grants to offset the cost of attending. Learn more and apply at convention.ncba.org.
CCA in the News
California wolf crisis: Cattle easy prey for the apex predator Tri-State Livestock News “The state does compensate ranchers for proven wolf kills. Kirk Wilbur, the California Cattlemen’s Association Vice President of Government Affairs points out that wolves – and the destruction they leave behind – put a mental strain on ranchers that has no price tag.” To continue reading, click here.
Cattle-PAC Event Brings California Ranchers Together Western Ag Reporter “With immense support from donors and sponsors, the 2025 California Cattlemen’s Association Cattle-PAC (Political Action Committee) Dinner, Dance, and Auction held in Paso Robles, California, on Friday, August 15 raised nearly $250,000 for Cattle-PAC and the work they do supporting California ranchers.” To continue reading, click here.
Industry News
Drones blasting AC/DC and Scarlett Johansson are helping biologists protect cattle from wolves Associated Press “Ranchers in Northern California who have hosted USDA drone patrols agree that they have reduced livestock deaths so far. ‘I’m very appreciative of what they did. But I don’t think it’s a long-term solution,’ said Mary Rickert, the owner of a cattle ranch north of Mount Shasta. ‘What I’m afraid of is that after some period of time, that all of a sudden they go, “Wow, this isn’t going to hurt me. It just makes a lot of noise.”’” To continue reading, click here.
A $30 million deal opens a contentious new chapter for Point Reyes The San Francisco Standard “For months, Kevin Lunny got ready to leave the land at Point Reyes National Seashore where his family had lived for three generations. He shipped out the cows, sold off equipment, and moved most of what he owned. In late May, it was time to go, with his wife, Nancy, and his 94-year-old father, Joe, to Auburn, in the mountains east of Sacramento.” To continue reading, click here.
Some increases in biodiversity on working landscapes are easier to handle than others. We asked Meghan Hertel, California Natural Resources Agency Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat, to be our guest on this episode to talk about a positive, voluntary initiative that is trying to drive funding, support and increased awareness into the important role that ranchers and rangelands can play in conserving and achieving the 30×30 initiative – an effort to conserve 30% of lands and coastal waters by 2030. Click here to listen or stream it wherever you listen to podcasts.
