CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

June 30, 2025

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US Forest Service to Rescind 2021 Roadless Rule
Last week, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rolling announcedthat the U.S. Forest Service will rescind the agency’s 2021 Roadless Rule, a regulation which prohibits road construction (and reconstruction) and timber harvesting on 58.5 million acres designated as roadless areas throughout the nation’s nation forests, including more than 2.5 million acres within California.

For the past 24 years, the Roadless Rule has imposed barriers effective wildfire preparedness efforts, including timber harvest and grazing management. As a result, USDA finds that 28 million acres of inventoried roadless areas are “at high or very high risk of wildfire.” Rescinding the Roadless Rule will permit land managers to undertake active forest management efforts previously precluded by the Rule. Should the Rule be effectively rescinded, forest projects would still be subject to a wide array of other environmental regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and others.

The proposed rescission of the 2021 Roadless Rule has not yet been published in the Federal Register. CCA will keep members informed as this issue develops.

SWRCB Reimposes Conditional Curtailments for Junior Rightsholders in Shasta River Watershed
The State Water Resources Control Board on Friday announced the reimposition of conditional curtailments for junior water rights within the Shasta River watershed. The conditional curtailments were spurred in part by water levels at the Yreka gage dipping to 53.1 cubic feet per second (cfs) last Friday, barely above the minimum required flow of 50 cfs (the flow rate has improved somewhat to 76.4 cfs as of press time).

According to the announcement, water rights holders with a water right priority of January 1, 1958 or later “may divert under their priority of right when specific conditions…are met”; those conditions primarily require coordinating diversions with the Scott Valley and Shasta Valley Watermaster District and the SWRCB. The order also conditionally curtails water rights junior to November 1, 1912, and directs those water rights holders to work with the Watermaster and SWRCB as appropriate and to curtail diversions as necessary to ensure required flows.

For additional details, see the SWRCB’s Scott River and Shasta River Watersheds Emergency Regulation webpage.

Webinar: A Wolf Deterrence Discussion with NRCS & CDFW hosted by CCA
California cattle ranchers and livestock producers are invited to join CCA on Tuesday, July 22 at 1pm for a virtual, collaborative discussion on what assistance is available to producers who have been suffering losses from wolf attacks. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services and California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials will present on the resources these agencies have available for non-lethal control practices. To register for the webinar, click here. A Zoom link will be emailed to you following approval.

USDA Announces “Plan to Combat New World Screwworm’s Northward Spread”
Earlier this month, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a five-pronged plan “to enhance USDA’s already robust ability to detect, control, and eliminate this pest.” The plan includes collaborating with Mexican authorities to halt the spread of NWS in that country; strengthening protections at the U.S.’s southern border; enhancing America’s readiness to respond should any animal health threat emerge at home; strengthening producer education and research into treatment options; and taking the fight to NWS by aggressively producing and deploying sterile flies. For additional details, see last week’s edition of California Cattleman Weekly or visit the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s New World Screwworm Resources for cattle producers.

Sen. Monique Limón Elected Senate President Pro Tempore Designee
Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) has announcedthat Sen. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) has been elected as the “Pro Tem Designee,” with leadership of the upper chamber to formally transition from McGuire to Limón “early in 2026.” Limón’s tenure as Senate President Pro Tempore will be brief, as the Senator will be termed out of office in 2028. Although Limón is considered “one of [the] most progressive environmental champions” in the Senate, it should be noted that the Senator’s environmentalism includes recognition of the ecological benefits of livestock grazing. Last year, Senator Limón successfully pushed legislation to expand state grants for prescribed grazing and requiring prescribed grazing to be incorporated into the state’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan.

Reminder: Add to the Memory Wall for Dr. Ken Tate 
CCA is saddened by the loss of Dr. Ken Tate, a respected leader and friend. Ken will be greatly missed by many CCA members and livestock producers who shared numerous moments with him. If you would like to share your memories or condolences, please post them on the memory wall linked here.

Be Part of CattleCon 2026 – Feb. 3-5 in Nashville!
The largest event in the beef cattle industry is heading to downtown Nashville. Below are several exciting opportunities to get involved in the event.

• National Anthem Contest – The winner will perform the national anthem during the Opening General Session and receive airfare, hotel, free registration, and attire from Roper or Stetson. This contest is open to NCBA, ANCW, and CBB members and their families. Deadline: Oct. 15.

• Convention Internships – College juniors and above can apply to intern for a behind-the-scenes look at CattleCon to gain hands-on experience and network with industry leaders. The internship includes a free NCBA student membership. Deadline: Oct. 15.

• Scholarships – Young producers, students, and first-time attendees can apply for complimentary Education Package registration and discounted hotel accommodations. Deadline: Oct. 15.

• Rancher Resilience Grant – This grant helps offset the cost of attending by reimbursing producers for CattleCon registration and up to three nights of hotel stay.

Registration and housing open Aug. 20. Learn more and apply at convention.ncba.org.

Upcoming CCA Events

Registration for Midyear Meeting & Cattle-PAC Auction is Now Open!
Aug. 14 – 15, Paso Robles Event Center, Paso Robles
Registration for Midyear Meeting and ticket sales for the Cattle-PAC Dinner Dance & Auction are now open. Join CCA Aug. 14 – 15 at the Paso Robles Events Center for industry updates and an evening full of good food and dancing. For information on the two CCA room blocks, click here. The final day to register online is Friday, Aug. 8. To register for Midyear Meeting and purchase your Cattle-PAC Dinner tickets, click here.

Upcoming Industry Events

CCA in the News

Beef Producers Urge Congress to Vote Yes on Big Beautiful Bill to Deliver Tax Relief Drovers “On Thursday, fifth-generation California cattle rancher and past California Cattlemen’s Association President Kevin Kester and Virginia farmer Jeb Cullipher joined President Donald Trump at the White House for an event urging Congress to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and deliver tax relief.” To continue reading, click here.

Greens scrutinize grazing in Sierra Nevada forests Western Livestock Journal “The California Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) asserts that livestock grazing sustains and promotes biodiversity in rangeland ecosystems. ‘It isn’t shocking to hear anti-grazing alarmism coming from an organization dedicated to removing livestock grazing from our public lands,’ Kirk Wilbur, CCA vice president of government affairs, told WLJ in an email.” To continue reading, click here.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Cattle Farmers and Ranchers Urge Passage of One Big Beautiful Bill American Ag Network “California Cattlemen’s Association President and Rancher Rick Roberti: “’Increasing the estate and gift tax exemption has been a critical need for cattle producers for decades. Passing this tax package is one of the most important actions Congress can take to ensure the future of multi-generational family farms in our country.” To continue reading, click here.

Industry News

Wildfires are burning faster and hotter. Could grazing cows keep them at bay? The Washington Post “Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in part called for the expansion of livestock grazing ‘as a strategy for reducing wildland fire risk and supporting postfire restoration,’ in a May 30 memo obtained by The Washington Post. Earlier this month, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) introduced legislation calling on agencies to use grazing to manage wildfire risk. Both the Interior Department and the senator’s office said the memo and bill were not coordinated or related.” To continue reading, click here.

USDA announces phased reopening of Mexican cattle imports after screwworm closure Reuters “The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Monday a phased reopening of cattle, bison and equine imports from Mexico following a prolonged closure over the damaging pest New World screwworm. Ports will reopen in phases as early as July 7, beginning with Douglas, Arizona, which the USDA said is the lowest risk entry point due to its location and the ‘long history of effective collaboration’ between officials in Sonora and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.” To continue reading, click here.