CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

September 16, 2024

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CCA Staff, Officers Press Cattle Industry Priorities in Visit to Washington, D.C.
Last week, CCA staff and officers touched down in Washington, D.C. to lobby California’s Congressional delegation and federal agency officials on several of the Association’s priority issues.

CCA officers met with several Congressional Representatives to advocate for extending elements of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 which provide tax relief for cattle producers, including an extension of federal estate tax relief. CCA also pushed for quick action on the House version of the Farm Bill and urged Representatives’ attention to various district-specific issues impacting local cattlemen.

In meetings with USDA’s Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation and with the Associate Administrator of the Farm Services Agency, CCA representatives pushed for improved efficiency and delivery of farm programs and rancher assistance. CCA also met with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other relevant agencies to discuss the potential use of federal funds to bolster the state’s wolf-livestock compensation efforts, including funding for non-lethal deterrence assistance. California ranchers pressed the U.S. Forest Service about July’s Rainbow Gathering on the Plumas National Forest and urged continued progress opening vacant Forest Service allotments to grazing.

For full details of the D.C. fly-in, read the “Your Dues Dollars at Work” column in the October edition of the California Cattleman magazine.

Governor Newsom Proclaims States of Emergency Due to Bridge and Airport Fires
Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday proclaimed a state of emergency in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties due to the ongoing Bridge Fire and in Orange and Riverside counties due to the ongoing Airport Fire. As of this morning, the Bridge Fire has burned 54,690 acres and is 11% contained; the Airport fire has scorched 23,519 acres and is 31% contained.

Wednesday’s proclamation is just the latest in a series of wildfire-related states of emergency declared this fire season. Governor Newsom earlier this month proclaimed a state of emergency in San Bernardino County resulting from the Line Fire, which as of this morning is 42% contained at 39,026 acres. Other ongoing fires for which states of emergency have been declared include the Park Fire in Butte and Tehama counties (now 98% contained) and the Borel Fire in Kern County (now at 95% containment).

The Governor’s Office reports having recently secured Fire Management Assistance Grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the Line, Airport and Bridge fires. The grants will allow state and local agencies to seek reimbursement for up to 75% of the costs they incur responding to the blazes. Last week, the Governor’s Office reported that the state had mobilized 5,755 boots on the ground to battle active wildfires, including the California National Guard.

For information regarding wildfire assistance, visit the Ranchers Technical Assistance Program website.

CNRA Issues 30×30 Initiative Progress Report
The Newsom Administration announced last week that it had released it’s 2024 Annual Progress Report for the state’s 30×30 Initiative, an effort to durably conserve 30% of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030.

According to the Progress Report, the state now considers 25.2% of California lands to be “durably protected,” an improvement upon the 24.4% identified as conserved last year. This was achieved by adding 861,000 acres to the project’s inventory of conserved lands over the past year. The report notes that this is not all new conservation, but rather includes “lands added…from the painstaking and ongoing work to track down [already] conserved and protected lands across 52 counties that have not been previously recorded as durably protected.”

Among the newly-recorded acreage is 234,000 acres of conservation easement lands, including some parcels conserved by CCA partner the California Rangeland Trust. The report notes that conservation easements, which are a significant “pathway” toward achieving the state’s 30×30 goal, are “often [associated] with sustainable agricultural or ranching practices.”

CCA sits on the California Natural Resources Agency’s 30×30 Partnership Coordinating Committee, which “is tasked with helping the California Natural Resources Agency uphold the 30×30 Partnership and foster inclusive public communication and statewide coordination.”

New Episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman  Podcast
A new episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast is out now! In this week’s episode, California dairyman and CCA Feeder Council Vice Chair Jack Hoekstra talks with Katie about what concerns and opportunities are top of mind for California dairy producers almost three quarters into the year. To listen to the episode, click here.

CDFW Releases Gray Wolf Updates
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife earlier this month released its quarterly Wolf Management Update for the quarter ending June 30. According to the update, California currently has a minimum of 63 known wolves across seven established packs. CDFW has operational tracking collars on just five wolves total in the Yowlumni Pack (Tulare County), Beyem Seyo Pack (Plumas), Harvey Pack (Lassen and Shasta) and Whaleback Pack (Siskiyou). CDFW this month also released the findings of 14 wolf-livestock depredation investigations; in total the Department has confirmed 29 livestock killed by wolves this year. For more information, see last week’s edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

2023-24 Legislation Awaits Final Action from Governor Newsom
Governor Gavin Newsom has until September 30 to sign or veto bills sent to his desk by the Legislature this year. Earlier this month, the Governor announced that he had signed CCA-sponsored AB 2436 (Alanis), a bill which will enable the Bureau of Livestock Identification to remain revenue-neutral in the years to come. CCA thanks Assemblyman Juan Alanis (R-Modesto) for authoring the legislation and commends Governor Newsom for signing it into law. Six other bills supported or opposed by CCA await final action from the Governor; for more information on those pending measures, see the September 3 edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

California Beef Cattle Improvement Association Now Accepting 2024 Seedstock Producer of the Year Award Applications
The California Beef Cattle Improvement Association (CBCIA) is now accepting applications for the CBCIA Outstanding Seedstock Producer of the Year Awards. The awards recognize progressive beef cattle breeders who use practical, scientifically accepted selection and management methods and integrate them into successful ranching operations. Applications are due Oct. 1. To learn more about the award and view the informational flyer click here and here. To download the application click here.

2024 CCA Scholarship and Internship Applications Now Open 
The application period for the 2024 California Cattlemen’s Association Scholarships and Convention Internship are now being accepted. To learn more, click here. Any young, regular or feeder member are eligible to apply for the scholarship and internship. Past recipients and interns are eligible to reapply. If you are not currently a CCA member and would like to join visit https://calcattlemen.org/join. Contact Maureen in the CCA office at maureen@calcattlemen.org with any questions.

Upcoming CCA Events

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CCA in the News

CA wolf numbers, depredations rise Western Livestock Journal “According to a tally reported by the California Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) this year, CDFW has confirmed that gray wolves have killed 29 livestock animals in the state, including four lambs, a llama and 24 cattle. The Whaleback Pack is responsible for 18 of these losses, while eight are attributed to the Beyem Seyo Pack and three to the Harvey Pack.” To continue reading, click here. 

Industry News

In California, Controlled Fires Can Save Homes. Why Aren’t More Happening?The New York Times “Federal and state agencies, as well as other groups that work with them, including private citizens and businesses, are setting fires that burn the dry grasses, small trees and other vegetation that could otherwise fuel an intense wildfire. Research has shown that these burns reduce wildfire risk, potentially saving lives and property.” To continue reading, click here.

Ranchers Support Legislation to Boost Conservation Under the ESA Tri-State Livestock News “Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) announced their strong support for the ESA Amendments Act of 2024, introduced by Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA) and Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR). This legislation would reform the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to provide more timely conservation efforts on America’s rangeland.” To continue reading, click here.

California Leopold Conservation Award Finalists Selected Sand County Foundation “Three finalists have been selected for the 2024 California Leopold Conservation Award. The award honors farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.” To continue reading, click here