CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

Oct. 27, 2025

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CDFW Removes Beyem Seyo Pack from Sierra Valley
On Friday, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that, in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it had removed the Beyem Seyo Pack of gray wolves from the Sierra Valley, including through lethal removal of four wolves. Despite what CDFW acknowledged as “extensive adaptive management deterrence efforts” by ranchers and wildlife officials in recent months, the Beyem Seyo Pack produced 92 confirmed or probable livestock depredations since March of this year (which, according to reporting from The Sacramento Bee, is a greater level of depredation “than the roughly 200 wolves in neighboring Oregon attacked in an entire year”).

According to the Department’s press release, it is evident that the Beyem Seyo Pack had “become habituated to cattle as a primary food source,” a pattern which “undermines recovery efforts for the species” and necessitated the “difficult step of lethally removing four gray wolves” from the pack.

According to CDFW, the wolves which were lethally removed include the breeding pair, designated WHA08M and LAS23F, an adult female (BEY01F) and a “juvenile wolf” (BEY12M) which “was mistaken for the breeding male” during the operation. Two additional juvenile wolves (BEY15M and BEY17M) died prior to the operation, likely of natural causes. CDFW plans to transfer three additional juvenile wolves, which it has not yet captured, to wildlife sanctuaries.

For more information, see CDFW’s press release or the reporting from The Sacramento Bee.

Your Vote Matters on Nov. 4
The California Special Election is Nov. 4. For rural communities, this election is crucial as Proposition 50 proposes to redraw congressional district maps. The outcome could reshape representation and influence federal policies including wildlife management, property and water rights, and many others important to California’s ranching families and producers. Your vote is vital in ensuring that rural perspectives are heard and considered. Vote by mail or in person by Nov. 4!

USDA Announces “Plan to Fortify the American Beef Industry”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday announced the release of a “Plan to Fortify the American Beef Industry,” an effort undertaken by USDA in collaboration with the Department of the Interior, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Small Business Administration to reinforce and prioritize “the American rancher’s critical role in the national security of the United States.”

Several elements of the Plan would directly advance CCA policies and priorities. For instance, the Plan directs the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to “jointly assess the viability of vacant grazing allotments and prioritize reopening them for permitted use.” The document also calls for the USDA and Department of Interior to “develop new standards of evidence for compensating ranchers for predations by wolves” and other federally protected species and directs the USDA Farm Service Agency to “to offer higher and earlier payment rates to producers” under programs like the Livestock Indemnity Program and Livestock Forage Program.

USDA’s Plan also outlines strategies for “Expanding Processing, Consumer Transparency, and Markets for Ranchers” and “Building Demand Alongside Domestic Supply.”

While the Plan announced by USDA is largely favorable for California ranchers, its prioritization of increasing the domestic beef supply has been somewhat undercut by recent suggestions from the Trump Administration that the U.S. will explore quadrupling imports of Argentine beef into the country, a proposal which has been roundly criticized from every corner of the U.S. cattle community.

USDA Releases New World Screwworm Response Playbook
The United States Department of Agriculture has announced the release of a “response playbook” which will guide the agency’s activities in the event of a New World Screwworm (NWS) detection within the United States. USDA has suggested the playbook is a “living, dynamic document,” and the agency is accepting feedback to inform their response strategy. CCA staff is carefully reviewing the documents and will share insights with USDA. As previously reported in California Cattleman Weekly, CCA recently worked with Representative David Valadao (R-CA22)’s office to secure a bipartisan Congressional request letter seeking “enhanced surveillance at the California-Mexico border to help secure our country against the threat of New World screwworm.” For more details on USDA’s NWS response strategy, see last week’s California Cattleman Weekly.

CCA-Sponsored AB 411 Signed Into Law
Governor Gavin Newsom announced earlier this month that he had signed into law CCA-Sponsored AB 411 (Papan), which legalizes on-ranch composting of routine livestock mortalities and butcher waste (though ranchers may not initiate compost operations until after CDFA approves best management practices). The legislation provides ranchers a disposal option that is proven to reduce predator interactions – though, importantly, the bill does not requireranchers to cease bone piling or to begin composting. Despite opposition to the bill, CCA’s Government Affairs team and a broad coalition of supporters ensured that the bill never received a “no” vote throughout this year’s legislative process. CCA thanks Assemblymember Diane Papan for authoring this important bill. For more information on AB 411, see the November edition of the California Cattleman magazine.

CDFA Accepting Comments on Climate Resilience Strategy for Agriculture
The California Department of Food & Agriculture announced earlier this month that it is accepting public comment on its Climate Resilience Strategy for California Agriculture (a free account signup is necessary to view the strategy document). According to CDFA’s news release, the Strategy “outlines a comprehensive vision to help California farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and agricultural communities prepare for and adapt to current and future climate impacts.” Tomorrow morning at 9:00am, CDFA will host a workshop for farmers and ranchers to learn more about the Climate Resilience Strategy and to share feedback. To register for that webinar, click here. CCA is reviewing the Strategy and will provide feedback to CDFW prior to the November 7 deadline.

RMAC Accepting Comments on Local-Regional Grazing Guidance
The Range Management Advisory Committee of the California Board of Forestry & Fire Protection has released a draft Local-Regional Grazing Guidancemandated by SB 675 (Limón, 2024) and is accepting comments in response to the draft through November 7. For more information, visit the RMAC webpage.

Federal Government Shutdown Enters Fifth Week
The federal government shut down on Wednesday, October 1 after federal legislators failed to agree on a short-term continuing resolution to fund government operations. Today was the 27^th full day of the shutdown, and with the House of Representatives not set to reconvene this week, federal operations are likely to remain shuttered at least for the remainder of the week. For details of how the government shutdown impacts federal agencies upon which cattle producers rely, see the October 6 edition of California Cattleman Weekly. For greater details, ranchers can view USDA’s “Lapse of Funding Plan” and the Department of Interior’s “Operations in the Absence of Appropriations” plan.

Apply for a National Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship by Nov. 7
The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) is now accepting applications for the 2026 CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship. Ten scholarships of $1,500 each will be awarded to college students pursuing careers in the beef industry.

The program, sponsored by CME Group since 1989, supports students who are committed to advancing the future of food production. Eligible applicants include graduating high school seniors and full-time undergraduates studying education, communication, production, research, or other beef industry–related fields. Applicants must submit a one-page career goals letter, a 750-word essay describing an issue in the beef industry with proposed solutions, and two letters of recommendation. Either the applicant or a family member must be a member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

The application deadline is November 7, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. Scholarship winners will be announced during CattleCon 2026 in Nashville. Visit www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org to apply.

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CCA in the News

Exclusive: California kills 4 wolves, removes pack after Sierra cattle attacks The Sacramento Bee “‘It was pretty amazing that the ranchers in Sierra Valley restrained themselves and had such patience in such a battle,’ said Rick Roberti, an area rancher who is president of the California Cattlemen’s Association. ‘It was a very difficult time, and I’m glad not one of my neighbors or friends got hurt or did something they would have got in trouble for.’” To continue reading, click here.

Industry News

Worth Sharing: Where Do Cows Go When They Die? Chico State Today“A new law changes that, thanks to animal and range science Professor Kasey DeAtley. She authored Assembly Bill 411 that Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed, allowing California’s 13,700 cattle ranches to bury their livestock on their own land, following appropriate legal and environmental regulations.” To continue reading, click here [Editor’s Note: CCA was the sponsor of AB 411 (Papan), and worked closely with DeAtley to get the measure signed into law.]

Cattle markets react to Argentina import talk Western Livestock Journal “The cattle markets were alit over the past week as political speculation collided with market fundamentals. Following the Trump administration’s proposal to expand beef imports from Argentina, the markets nosedived lower.” To continue reading, click here.