CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

April 28, 2025

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CCA-Sponsored Bills Survive House-of-Origin Policy Committees
Both of CCA’s sponsored bills have advanced out of Assembly policy committees ahead of a Friday deadline for those committees to act on any bills with fiscal impacts.

CCA-sponsored AB 411 (Papan), which would legalize on-ranch composting of routine livestock mortalities, passed the Assembly Natural Resources Committee on a unanimous 14-0 vote last Monday evening after a marathon committee hearing. The bill previously passed the Assembly Agriculture Committee by a unanimous vote of 8-0. The measure now moves to the Assembly’s Appropriations Committee, where it is expected to be heard May 7.

CCA’s other sponsored bill, AB 525 (Lackey) – which would extend the current agricultural vehicle exemption from the California Highway Patrol’s Basic Inspection of Terminals Program – was heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee this afternoon. While that hearing was not underway as of press time, AB 525 was expected to be approved as part of the Committee’s consent calendar. AB 525 will also next be considered by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Stay tuned to California Cattleman Weekly for continued updates on CCA’s sponsored bills and other legislation of note.

CALL TO ACTION: Oppose Fish & Game Commission Limiting Take of Coyotes
On May 15, the Wildlife Resources Committee of the California Fish and Game Commission will meet in Sacramento to discuss and recommend “changes to regulations regarding the take of coyotes.” While full details of any forthcoming regulatory amendment are not yet known, what is known from a January 15 hearing of the Committee is that Committee Co-Chair (and Commission President) Erika Zavaleta is proposing to remove coyotes from the class of nongame mammals which “may be taken at any time of the year and in any number” under existing regulation, severely limiting individuals’ ability to proactively manage the predators.

CCA is asking members to get involved to oppose any regulation which would restrict your ability to proactively manage coyotes threatening your livestock by taking them in any number and at any time. 

• There are several options for ranchers to participate in the May 15 hearing:
  • Participate in-person at the Natural Resources Headquarters Building at 715 P Street in Sacramento;
  • Participate online using the Commission’s instructions for joining the meeting via the Zoom platform; or
  • Call in by dialing (877) 336-1831 and using the conference code 481000.

• Written comments opposing the regulation can be submitted to the Committee via [email protected]. Written comments received by 5:00pm this Friday, May 2, will be made available to Commissioners ahead of the hearing. Comments received by the supplemental deadline of Monday, May 12 at Noon will be provided to Commissioners during the hearing.

CCA will submit detailed comments opposing the regulatory proposal ahead of this Friday’s initial comment deadline, and CCA staff will be on-hand at the May 15 meeting to oppose the regulatory change. But it will be essential for Commissioners to hear directly from ranchers who would be impacted by limits on coyote take.

For more information, listen to today’s Sorting Pen podcast, and for additional background, see the February 18 edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

Feds Propose to Rescind Definition of “Harm” Under Endangered Species Act
Earlier this month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration jointly issued a proposed rule which would rescind the regulatory definition of “harm” under the federal Endangered Species Act. The agencies have now determined that “The existing regulatory definition of ‘harm,’ which includes habitat modification, runs contrary to the best meaning of the statutory term ‘take.’” The proposed rule “would be prospective only” and would not affect actions previously taken under the existing regulatory definition of “harm.”  The agencies will accept public comment on the proposed rule through May 19. For additional information, see last week’s edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

New Episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast
A new episode of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast is out now! On May 15, the California Fish and Game Wildlife Resources Committee will meet in Sacramento and consider changing a rule to restrict the ability to take any number of coyotes at any time. CCA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur joins this episode to share how this conversation started back in January at a Fish and Game committee hearing, detail what has happened since that hearing, and outline why CCA needs you to be part of opposing any changes to how coyotes are managed in California at this meeting on May 15.

CCA will file detailed comments with the Committee prior to that hearing strongly opposing any change and will be on-hand at the meeting to defend ranchers’ ability to manage coyote populations. Additionally, CCA encourages members to appear virtually or in person on May 15 to convey to Commissioners the continued need for allowing coyotes to “be taken at any time of the year and in any number.” To listen, click here. 

Episode resources:

• To submit an opposition letter to the Fish and Game Commission, email it to [email protected] by Friday, May 2. Letters submitted by this deadline will be given to the Commissioners ahead of the committee meeting. If you miss this deadline, you can still send opposition letters up until May 12 to be given to Commissioners at the May 15th hearing.
• Look for more details in an upcoming edition of California Cattleman Weekly on how to attend or appear virtually at the May 15th meeting to voice your opposition. To call in to the meeting dial (877) 336-1831 and use the conference code number: 481000.

Check Your Mailboxes – Guide future University Research and Extension
This survey is a senior project for undergraduate Animal Science student, Claire Saydah, that is under the supervision of Dr. Rachael Lyons.

Feedback from ranchers is essential for universities to develop future research projects, educational workshops and classroom curriculum for the next generation. California Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) members will be receiving in their mailboxes a survey to understand how ranchers make herd health and management decisions. This project is made possible from the support of the California Cattlemen’s Association and the California Beef Cattle Improvement Association.

“The information gathered from the beef producer survey will help the scientists, veterinarians, and educators across California understand the most important herd health problems cattle producers in the state are faced with. The survey will identify targets for producer education based on current needs and will help those who are engaged in producer education to better serve the ranching community;” states Dr. Gaby Maier, project team member with the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis.
This research team includes:

• Dr. Rachael Lyons, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
• Dr. Zach McFarlane, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
• Tracy Schohr, University of California Cooperative Extension
• Dr. Bret Mcnabb, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis
• Dr. Gaby Maier, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis
• Dr. Kasey DeAtley, California State University, Chico

The survey results will be anonymous and will only be reported as summaries. The research team will share their analysis (but not your individual response) in a future edition of the California Cattleman Magazine and with cooperative extension advisors to guide future research and local extension seminars.
“Several years ago, we received an excellent response from CCA members regarding bull management, and this time, we’ve broadened our focus to include overall herd health,” says Zach McFarlane, project team member. “We understand that ranchers often receive numerous surveys, but we hope that, with the support of our diverse project team—who has translated past survey results into policy briefs, educational resources, and new research—you’ll take the time to complete this survey.”

If you have questions regarding this study or would like to be informed of the results when the study is completed, please contact Dr. Rachael Lyons at [email protected] or 805-756-2470.

To complete the survey, click here.

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CCA in the News

Study Says One Wolf Can Cost Ranchers More Than $160,000 In Losses Cowboy State Daily “As California’s wolf population expands, the predators there are costing ranchers millions — not just in value of the cattle killed, but through collateral effects as well, according to a new study.” To continue reading, click here.

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