LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN
March 6, 2023
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Emergency Proclaimed for 13 Counties Hit by Severe Winter Weather
Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday proclaimed a state of emergency for 13 counties hard-hit by severe winter storms which began in late February. The proclamation activates the California National Guard and taps “All agencies of the state government” to assist in disaster response and relief efforts in Amador, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Sonoma and Tulare counties.
While the Governor’s proclamation does not currently encompass Humboldt County, CCA is aware that as many as 1,300 head of cattle in that county have been stranded due to severe weather. Efforts are underway by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard to provide feed to stranded cattle, and CCA has been in contact with the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Office of Emergency Services about the issue.
CCA encourages ranchers to keep records of any cattle lost due to the severe winter storms as well as excess costs associated with providing feed and water to cattle at this time. Legislative Bulletin will provide further information on available state and federal assistance to impacted ranchers in the weeks to come.
Finally, on Thursday Governor Newsom’s office announced that the State’s tax filing deadline has been extended to October 16 for residents of 51 counties “affected by severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides” during December and January. The move aligns the State with similar extensions announced by the federal Internal Revenue Service.
Feeder Meeting: Register Today Before Prices Increase Tomorrow
Today is the last day to take advantage of the early bird registration price for the California Cattlemen’s Association Feeder Council and Arizona Cattle Feeders Association Meeting. Register by 3/6 to attend at the best price. Prices will increase 3/7. To Register click here.
State and Federal Water Allocations Improve After Water Supply E.O. Issued
In the wake of an executive order issued by Governor Newsom “to extend available [water] supplies, protect water reserves, and maintain critical flows for fish and wildlife,” the State Water Resources Control Board late last month issued an order approving a Temporary Urgency Change Petition filed by the California Department of Water Resources and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The agencies filed the petition “to ensure the availability of an adequate water supply” for the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. The following day, the Bureau of Reclamation announced that Central Valley Project water users would receive 35% of their water allotment and the California Department of Water Resources announced that the State Water Project would likewise deliver 35% of requested water supplies this year.
For additional information, see last week’s edition of Legislative Bulletin.
FSA Accepting ECP Applications to Restore Damage from Severe Winter Storms
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced that it will accept applications through April 14 for Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) funds to address damages “to eligible farmland, fences, and conservation structures” caused by the series of severe atmospheric rivers which hit the state from late December to mid-January. Producers in 41 California counties are eligible for ECP funds.
CCA encourages producers in non-designated counties who have suffered losses from the winter storms to nevertheless file a notice of loss and an ECP application with their county FSA office. FSA may still review the applications to determine if the loss should be covered by ECP, and FSA may make look into whether a county ought to be designated as eligible under ECP based on the applications it receives. For more information, see the February 13 edition of Legislative Bulletin.
New Episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast
A New episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast is out now. CCA Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur joins Katie for the first legislative update of the year. To listen to the episode click here.
Upcoming CCA Events
Feeder Meeting
May 24 – 26, San Diego, CA, Marriott Marquis
Early bird registration for the California Cattlemen’s Association Feeder Council and Arizona Cattle Feeders Association Meeting is now open. Register by 3/6 to attend at the best price. Prices will increase 3/7. To Register click here.
The California Cattlemen’s Association room block at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina is now open! To make your reservation, click here or call (877) 622-3056 and mention “CCA Annual Feeder Meeting 2023.”
Upcoming Industry Events
Cattle Health Online Webinar Series
March 1 – March 29, 2023, 5:30 – 7:00pm, Virtual
UC Cooperative Extension and UC Davis Veterinary Medicine are hosting the Cattle Health Online Webinar Series. Webinars will be held Wednesday evenings in March from 5:30-7:00pm. Sessions cover topics important to cattle health and management.
3/8- Time to Help During Calving
3/15 – Mystery of Calf Abortions
3/22 – Bugging Beef – Internal Parasites
3/29 – Bugging Beef – External Parasites
The event is FREE to participate. To register for the webinars click here.
For questions or assistance please contact Tracy Schohr, UC Cooperative Extension Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor for Plumas, Sierra and Butte Counties at tkschohr@ucanr.edu or 916-716-2643 (text or call).
Video recordings and additional resources from previous webinars can be found at https://ucanr.edu/sites/Rangelands/CattleHealth/.
NCBA Producer Education Webinar Series
March 16 – March 30, 7:00pm (Central), Virtual
3/16 – What Does the Drought Really Cost You? To register, click here.
3/30 – New Vaccine Technologies: An Addition to Our Animal Health Toolbox. To register, click here.
To view previous webinars click here.
UC Davis Bovine Artificial Insemination Clinic
March 27-29, 2023, Davis, CA, In Person
The UC Davis Young Cattlemen’s Association will host a Bovine Artificial Insemination Clinic March 27-29 at the UC Davis Feedlot and Beef Barn. Veterinarians from the UC Davis School of Medicine will teach the clinic. The cost for non YCA members is $425 and $375 for YCA Members. For more information and to register contact Davisyoungcattlemens@gmail.com.
Industry News
NCBA Calls Again for Immediate Halt to Brazilian Beef Imports National Cattlemen’s Beef Association “Last week, Brazil reported another atypical case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) to the World Animal Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). That report indicated 35 days elapsed between when the case was first identified on Jan. 18, 2023, and the date it was confirmed on Feb. 22, 2023. This represents an unacceptable delay that is in clear violation of WOAH reporting requirements. It is clear that Brazil is incapable of prompt testing and the reporting requirements that all nations must follow when engaging in international beef trade. Because of a repeated pattern of delayed reporting, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is calling on Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to take immediate action to indefinitely suspend beef imports from Brazil until it has made systemic reforms and takes necessary steps to restore confidence in the nation’s ability to participate in the global beef supply.” To continue reading, click here.
NCBA Condemns House and Senate Bills Aimed at “Checkoff Reform” National Cattlemen’s Beef Association “Legislation introduced today in the House and Senate represents nothing more than another attempt to allow activists to dictate to producers. Sens. Booker and Warren have long been supported by animal rights groups, and this collective group of bill sponsors has worked long and hard to dismantle our industry’s only self-funded promotion and education effort. Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), and their partners Sens. Rand Paul, (R-Ky.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) introduced the Senate bill. Reps. Nancy Mace, (R-S.C.), and Dina Titus, (D-Nev.) introduced the House bill.” To continue reading, click here.
California Advances Groundwater Sustainability with Release of Decisions for Management Plans in Critically Overdrafted Basins California Department of Water Resources “[P]lans for six basins are recommend for approval with recommended corrective actions for the basins to remain in an approved status. The remaining six basins are deemed inadequate and are transitioning from DWR’s oversight to the State Water Board for State intervention under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Adopted in 2014, SGMA requires local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) in medium- and high-priority groundwater basins, which includes 21 critically overdrafted basins, to develop and implement GSPs.” To continue reading, click here.
A New episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast is out now. CCA Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur joins Katie for the first legislative update of the year. To listen to the episode click here.
