CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

April 13, 2026

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Permittees Encouraged to Attend PLC Grazing Roundtable May 20 in Susanville
The Public Lands Council invites grazing permittees to a roundtable on May 20 in Susanville to discuss federal lands grazing issues. The roundtable will bring together permittees and leadership from the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in an effort to increase dialogue and on-the-ground problem solving for grazing issues in fulfillment of the USDA/Department of Interior Grazing Industry Plan released last fall.

The roundtable will be designed to provide feedback to USDA and DOI about existing regulations and guidance documents, improvements in administration of the programs and methods to improve communication between the agencies and permittees.

Permittees are encouraged to attend and engage in productive dialogue with federal agency partner staff. The discussion will be moderated by PLC staff and leadership.

Interested permittees can RSVP for the event here. The address of the meeting and additional details will be shared with respondents ahead of the roundtable.

Southern California permittees are welcome to join the May 12 roundtable in Queen Creek, Arizona (RSVP here for that event). Permittees unable to attend either roundtable will have an opportunity to participate in a virtual roundtable at a later date, though in-person participation is heavily encouraged.

Feds, TNC Consider Ongoing Management of Point Reyes as Most Permittees Depart
Last Wednesday was the deadline for 12 of the 14 dairies and cattle ranches at Point Reyes National Seashore to officially shutter their operations under the terms of a 2025 settlement agreement. Under the agreement, ranchers agreed to retire their multi-generational ranch leases in exchange for compensation from The Nature Conservancy and the nonprofit committed to “collaborate with the National Park Service…to promote conservation activities on the vacated lease areas.”

In the wake of the ranchers’ departure, The Nature Conservancy is partnering with the U.S. Department of Interior and the National Park Service to host “a community open house to discuss ongoing management of grasslands within 17,000 acres of the headlands and Pierce Point areas of Point Reyes National Seashore.”

The event will be held in the gymnasium of the West Marin School 5:00 – 8:00pm this Thursday. For additional details, see The Nature Conservancy’s press release.

CDFW Announces Progress on Phase 2 Wolf Management Efforts, Including Enhanced Hazing
Just over a year ago, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that the state had entered “Phase 2” of wolf management after “CDFW…documented at least four breeding pairs for two consecutive years,” a benchmark established in the 2016 Conservation Plan for Gray Wolves in California.

As part of Phase 2, the Department was to “Evaluate legal pathways under the California Endangered Species Act and the Federal Endangered Species Act to potentially issue permits allowing for more aggressive forms of hazing in specific situations,” but such authorization for such ‘less-than-lethal’ tools has been slow to materialize.

Last week, however, CDFW announced that it is “Working with county sheriffs on options to authorize their use of less-than-lethal hazing tools like pepper balls to help protect livestock and drive wolves to natural food options.”

Additionally, CDFW says it is “Partnering with county representatives to improve access to collared wolf data” and “Exploring options for county-based liaison positions to strengthen communications and support for ranchers,” as well as providing support for programmatic deterrence assistance efforts, such as carcass removal programs.

For additional details, see the Department’s Facebook post. CCA will continue to keep members apprised of developments regarding gray wolf management.

U.S. Forest Service Announced Sweeping Restructuring
The United States Department of Agriculture announced late last month that the U.S. Forest Service is moving its headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah as part of a sweeping restructuring of the agency that will unfold over the next year. As part of the restructuring effort, the agency’s Pacific Southwest Regional office in Vallejo will be repurposed as a national training center and a California-Hawaii State Office will be established in Placerville. The Riverside research station, focused on fire research, will remain operational, and the Placerville office will also serve as a research and development facility (as well as an operations service center). For additional details, see last week’s edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

BLM Releases Web Tool Identifying Vacant Grazing Allotments
The Bureau of Land Management announced late last month that it has released a mapping tool “designed to connect ranchers with information on vacant grazing allotments on public lands available for targeted prescribed grazing.” The mapping tool will include vacant allotments administered by BLM, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, though not all vacant allotments are included in the tool currently (particularly USFS and USFWS allotments). For additional details, see last week’s edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

Upcoming CCA Events

Upcoming Industry Events

CCA in the News

Bring back the grizzly bear to California? Bill to study the effort advances The Sacramento Bee “But Sen. Laura Richardson, who represents parts of Los Angeles County including Torrance and Inglewood, promised to work with opponents of the bill to make sure that their concerns were addressed in the study if it is eventually approved. She pointed to her decision to remove the language declaring the state’s intention to restore grizzlies to the landscape and said she would add the potential impact on ranchers and other human settlements of bringing back the golden hump-backed bears. It was a promise that Rick Roberti, president of the California Cattleman’s Association, welcomed. ‘This is just the beginning,’ said Roberti, who said he opposed the bill.” To continue reading, click here.

Industry News

Ranchers Navigate Uncertainty as Border Talks, Drought, and Price Concerns Collide in Cattle Markets RFD TV  “Top of mind for ranchers is whether and when cattle from Mexico will once again be allowed to cross the southern U.S. border. Last week, Agriculture Secretary Rollins said talks to reopen trade are underway. Secretary Rollins says she expects an announcement on the border next month. She says it would be a phased-in approach. Rollins says USDA is also eyeing a mid-April opening date for a new sterile fly production facility in South Texas. However, one market analyst warns that it is unlikely to happen anytime soon.” To continue reading, click here.