CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

September 23, 2024

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Newsom Enters Final Week to Act on Legislation
Governor Gavin Newsom has just one week from today to sign or veto bills sent to his desk by the Legislature this year.

Newsom yesterday vetoed CCA-supported AB 2330 (Holden), legislation which would have improved local governments’ ability to coordinate with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to address potential incidental take of sensitive species when conducting wildfire preparedness activities. In a veto message, Governor Newsom argued that his veto was necessary because the “bill creates significant, ongoing costs” that were not considered as part of the annual budget process this year.

Newsom yesterday signed AB 460 (Bauer-Kahan), a bill which increases the maximum fines that can be issued by the State Water Resources Control Board in response to violations of water rights curtailment orders. While CCA initially opposed a much more expansive version of the bill that would have greatly expanded the enforcement authorities of the Board, opened the door for abuses by environmental advocates and deprived alleged violators of due process rights, significant amendments striking those provisions from the bill resulted in CCA removing opposition to the measure.

CCA awaits the Governor’s action on five remaining Association-priority bills:

• CCA-opposed AB 99 (Connolly) would restrict CalTrans’ ability to apply pesticides along roadways in cities and counties with pest management policies more restrictive than the state’s policy;
• CCA-opposed AB 1963 and AB 2552, both authored by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), seek to restrict the availability of the pesticide paraquat dichloride and of first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, respectively;
• CCA-supported AB 2900 (Soria) would establish the Small Agricultural Truck Fleet Assistance Program at the California Air Resources Board to provide technical assistance for farmers and ranchers subject to CARB regulations; and
• CCA-supported SB 1101 (Limón) would streamline CAL FIRE’s contracting ability for large-scale prescribed fires.

A full rundown of CCA’s legislative efforts (and outcomes) will appear in the November edition of the California Cattleman magazine.

CNRA Issues 30×30 Initiative Progress Report
The Newsom Administration announced earlier this month 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. For additional details, see last week’s edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

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 the September 9 edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

Questionnaire on Wolf-Livestock Compensation Programs
From Oregon State University Graduate Student Tyler Allen
Oregon State University’s (OSU) Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences is seeking help to understand livestock producer’s thoughts about wolf-livestock compensation programs. Graduate student, Tyler Allen asks that you or another member of your household or company over the age of 18 please complete the following questionnaire in the next few days.

The accuracy of conclusions OSU makes depends on opinions from all livestock producers being represented, so even if you live outside of the current range of wolves or have not applied for compensation in the past, your participation is still very much needed and greatly encouraged.

The questionnaire should take less than 15-20 minutes to complete and the survey can be accessed here.

This research study is part of a requirement for Tyler Allen to complete his Master’s degree, and this study is not being funded by any agency or organization. Participation is voluntary, responses are confidential, and you can refuse to answer any question(s) for any reason.

OSU and Allen value your time and opinions. Completing this questionnaire will help them understand how livestock producers think about, engage with, or could engage with compensation programs.

If you have questions about this questionnaire, please contact Tyler Allen at Tyler.Allen@oregonstate.edu or (503) 998-9537.

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.

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.

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Industry News

California greenhouse gas emissions decline across most sectors California Air Resources Board “Livestock emissions, which are responsible for 70% of agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions, peaked in 2012 and once again saw reductions in 2022. The decrease is driven by the use of methane digesters funded by the California Climate Investments and incentivized by the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which capture emissions at the source and convert them to clean fuel.” To continue reading, click here.

Sites Reservoir faces setback after denial from federal government The San Joaquin Valley Sun “The California Water Resources Control Board announced Monday that the Sites Reservoir project was denied by the federal government. While the project was denied, the state said the project can take certain steps to eventually receive approval and move forward.” To continue reading, click here.

California will create nation’s first public model to predict insurance wildfire lossesSan Francisco Chronicle “California regulators and academic researchers have launched a partnership to develop what they say would be the nation’s first public model for predicting wildfire losses.” To continue reading, click here.