CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

Jan. 5, 2026

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Legislature Reconvenes for Second Year of 2025-26 Session
The California Legislature reconvened today for the second year of its 2025-26 Legislative Session. Legislators’ first order of business in the second year will be considering bills introduced in 2025 still pending in their chamber of origin – January 31 is the deadline for such ‘two-year bills’ to advance out of their house of origin. Thousands of bills will be introduced in the Legislature between today and the February 20 bill introduction deadline. Stay tuned to California Cattleman Weekly and CCA’s other publications for details on any bills with significant ramifications for California’s livestock producers.

The Senate begins the legislative session under new leadership, with Sen. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) having taken the reins as Senate President pro Tempore in November. Limón’s predecessor, Sen. Mike McGuire (D-North Coast), is term limited at the end of this year and stepped down from his leadership role ahead of announcing his candidacy last year for the newly redrawn 1^st Congressional District.

Just before Christmas, Limón announced her leadership team, noting that Sen. Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) will serve as the Senate Majority Leader. Limón also announced her appointments to the Senate’s standing committees, with changes to the Budget committees and Natural Resources and Water Committee (which Limón herself previously chaired) taking effect immediately and all other transitions occurring February 1 after standing committees have dispensed with their two-year bill loads.

In other Sacramento news, Governor Gavin Newsom has a busy week to kick off his final year in office: on Thursday he will give his State of the State Address in the Assembly Chamber and late this week he will unveil his Proposed Budget for the 2026-27 Fiscal Year ahead of a Saturday Constitutional Deadline.

CDFW to Attempt Helicopter-Assisted Capture and Collaring of Wolves
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced that it will initiate efforts this month to capture gray wolves in the state to fit them with GPS collars. According to CDFW’s press release, the agency will primarily target wolves in Lassen, Siskiyou and Tehama counties. Those counties include known territory for the Diamond, Harvey, Ice Cave, Ishi, Lassen, Tunnison and Whaleback wolf packs, only three of which – the Harvey, Ice Cave and Whaleback packs – currently have functioning GPS collars. According to CDFW’s press release, the agency may additionally seek to capture “other uncollared packs or wolf groups in Modoc, Shasta and Plumas counties.”

At the CCA Annual Meeting held last month, CCA membership adopted policy explicitly supporting “the collaring of multiple wolves in each of the state’s wolf packs,” as well as policies to enhance transparency of the data collected from those collars. CCA staff and leadership have pushed for additional collars and transparency as recently as December 19 in a meeting with CDFW leadership.

CDFW will also attempt to capture and collar deer and elk in the counties of Alameda, Colusa, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Santa Clara, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama and Trinity to improve the agency’s “understanding of species distribution, habitat use, abundance, migration patterns, recruitment rates and survival.”

California Cattleman Weekly will keep members informed as details emerge regarding CDFW’s collaring efforts.

CDFA Seeks Representatives for Cattle Health Task Force Advisory Board
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has announced that it is seeking 14 members to sit on the agency’s Cattle Health Task Force Advisory Board, which advises the CDFA Secretary regarding regulatory proposals, licensing fees, penalties and matters pertaining to state laws governing cattle health, among other matters.

Current vacancies must be filled with at least three active cattle producers (or representatives of livestock trade associations such as CCA), at least three academics specializing in “cattle health diseases” and at least three licensed veterinarians.

Interested applicants should submit resumes by January 20 to Dr. Nicki Humphrey at nicki.humphrey@cdfa.ca.gov. For additional information, see CDFA’s press release or contact Animal Health Branch Chief Amanda Murray at (916) 900-5004.

Water Rights Reporting Deadline is Feb. 1
Annual Water Diversion and Use Reports (historically referred to as “SB 88 reporting”) for water year 2025 are due Feb 1, 2026. Beginning this year, reporters must use the SWRCB’s new CalWATRS online portal to submit reports. This requires the creation of a CalWATRS account and linking of water rights. Ranchers are encouraged to reach out to the Rancher Technical Assistance Program (RTAP)  for assistance setting up CalWATRS accounts and completing reporting. RTAP can be reached by phone at (916) 406-6902, by email at rtap@wrstrat.com, or found online at calcattlemenfoundation.org/rtap. You can receive assistance from this program at no cost thanks to the California Cattle Council‘s support.

NRCS Announces “Batching Deadline” of Jan. 15 for Conservation Programs
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced a national “batching deadline” of January 15, 2026 as a “first funding round” for its key programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). For additional details, see the December 22 edition of California Cattleman Weekly or reach out to the Rancher Technical Assistance Program at rtap@wrstrat.com or (916) 409-6902.

Upcoming Industry Events

CCA in the News

Beef, dairy producers wary of flesh-eating parasite Farm Progress “During a screwworm webinar on Nov. 19, Maier; Rosie Busch, UCCE specialist in small ruminant herd health and production at UC Davis; Amy Murillo, a veterinary entomologist at UC Riverside; and veterinarian/rancher Tom Talbot presented. Murillo and Alec Gerry, a UCCE specialist at UC Riverside, are leading a project to monitor the state for signs of the fly’s return. More than 100 people attended the webinar, organized by UCCE livestock and natural resources advisor Morgan Doran in partnership with the California Cattlemen’s Association and California Wool Growers Association.” To continue reading, click here.

House passes bill to remove gray wolves from endangered species list KRCR “As of Dec. 1, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported 184 livestock deaths in the state as probable or confirmed wolf-caused. Livestock and cattle ranchers have employed various strategies to deter wolf interactions, but in some cases, such as with the Beyem Seyo wolf pack in Eastern Sierra and Southern Plumas counties, non-lethal measures proved ineffective, leading to the lethal removal of the pack. Kirk Wilbur, Vice President of Government Affairs for the California Cattleman’s Association, described the situation as a ‘worst-case scenario’ for cattle ranchers, who faced significant losses despite their efforts.” To continue reading, click here.

Regional: Dept. Of Fish And Wildlife To Attach Gps Devices To Elk, Deer, Wolves SFGate “‘As wolves increase in number and range, California ranchers are in dire need of additional tools’ to ‘deter wolf attacks,’ said Kirk Wilbur, vice president of government affairs for the California Cattlemen’s Association.” To continue reading, click here.

Industry News

Senior staff retirements, new appointments signal change and continuing strength at CDFA CDFA Planting Seeds Blog “This week, we say a fond ‘farewell’ to two longstanding and outstanding leaders of our department, State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones and Public Affairs Director Steve Lyle, who are both retiring. Stacked end-to-end, their careers in public service stretch to more than half a century. And for much of that time, they worked in tandem on the department’s successful efforts in response to emergencies and outbreaks ranging from ‘mad cow’ disease and foodborne illnesses to brucellosis and bird flu.” To continue reading, click here.