CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

Jan. 12, 2026

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Congressman Doug LaMalfa Passes Away at 65
Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01) passed away early Tuesday morning at the age of 65. Congressman LaMalfa, himself a fourth-generation rice farmer, was a staunch advocate for farmers and ranchers throughout his sprawling Northern California Congressional district and often attended local cattlemen’s association meetings in the district to hear directly from his agricultural constituents.

LaMalfa represented the rural north state for nearly a quarter century, serving six years in the California Assembly and a two-year stint in the Senate prior to being elected to Congress in 2012. He sat on the House Agriculture Committee – where he served as Chair of the Forestry Subcommittee – and on the Natural Resources Committee, providing a powerful voice for his constituents, particularly on issues relating to water and forestry. He strongly advocated for ranchers regarding threats posed by gray wolves, recently voting in favor of federal legislation to delist the species from the federal Endangered Species Act.

Governor Gavin Newsom lauded LaMalfa as “a devoted public servant who deeply loved his country, his state, and the communities he represented” and ordered flags at the Capitol to be flown at half-mast in the late Congressman’s honor.

CCA mourns the loss of Congressman LaMalfa and grieves for his wife and children.

Because LaMalfa’s death occurred before the March 6 filing deadline, California law requires Governor Newsom to proclaim a special election no later than January 20, to be held 126-140 days thereafter (possibly consolidated with the June 2 Primary Election). The election will occur within the current, pre-Proposition-50 district boundaries (which heavily favor Republicans) and will determine who will serve out the remainder of the current term ending in January of 2027.

Newsom Administration Releases Proposed FY 2026-27 Budget
On Friday, California Director of Finance Joe Stephanshaw unveiled Governor Gavin Newsom’s Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27. The Governor’s spending plan totals $349 billion and aims to close what the Department of Finance projects to be a $2.9 billion deficit – a much rosier outlook than the $18 billion deficit forecasted in November by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office. The Proposed Budget would set aside $3 billion for the state’s “Rainy Day Fund,” partially refilling a reserve fund which the state has drawn upon during recent deficit cycles.

The Governor’s initial budget proposes to allocate approximately $2.1 billion from the $10 billion Climate Bond approved by voters in 2024 (this would leave approximately $4.6 billion to be allocated in future budget cycles after about $3.3 billion in bond funds were appropriated last year). Of that sum, the largest appropriation – $792 million – would be for water resilience projects. Another $314 million would be targeted at wildfire resilience, while $199 million would be earmarked for biodiversity and nature-based solutions and $89 million would be appropriated for climate-smart agriculture.

The Governor’s Proposed Budget is simply the first volley in a monthslong effort between the Administration and Legislature to craft the state budget ahead of the July 1 start of the fiscal year. The Governor will revise his budget proposal in May (the “May Revise”) and the Legislature must approve a budget bill by June 15.

On the topic of the Budget, CCA last week unveiled the Association’s signature budget priority for 2026-27: $30 million for the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Wolf Program. The request seeks $25 million for the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program to ensure that California can assist ranchers to deter wolf conflict and to appropriately compensate ranchers for the toll wolf presence has on cattle herds. The request also calls for additional funds for UC Cooperative Extension offices and the UC Berkeley California Wolf Project to enhance research, education and on-the-ground technical assistance efforts; prioritizes funding for helicopter-assisted catch-and-collar efforts; and would enhance staffing levels in CDFW’s Wolf Program, among other priorities.

CCA members will have the opportunity to directly lobby in support of the Budget request at the Association’s Steak & Eggs Breakfast and lobby day on March 11 in Sacramento.

CCA will keep members informed as budget negotiations continue. For more details on the Governor’s Proposed Budget and CCA’s budget priorities, see the February edition of the California Cattleman magazine.

CDFW to Attempt Helicopter-Assisted Capture and Collaring of Wolves
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced that it will initiate efforts this month to capture gray wolves in the state to fit them with GPS collars. According to CDFW’s press release, the agency will primarily target wolves in Lassen, Siskiyou and Tehama counties, though the agency may additionally seek to capture “other uncollared packs or wolf groups in Modoc, Shasta and Plumas counties.” CDFW will also seek to capture and collar deer and elk to improve the agency’s “understanding of species distribution, habitat use, abundance, migration patterns, recruitment rates and survival.” For more information, see last week’s edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

CDFA Seeks Representatives for Cattle Health Task Force Advisory Board
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has announced that it is seeking 14 members to sit on the agency’s Cattle Health Task Force Advisory Board, which advises the CDFA Secretary regarding regulatory proposals, licensing fees, penalties and matters pertaining to state laws governing cattle health, among other matters. Interested applicants should submit resumes by January 20 to Dr. Nicki Humphrey at nicki.humphrey@cdfa.ca.gov. For more information, see last week’s edition of California Cattleman Weekly.

Thursday is “Batching Deadline” for NRCS Conservation Programs
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced a national “batching deadline” of this Thursday, January 15, as a “first funding round” for its key programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). For additional details, see the December 22 edition of California Cattleman Weekly or reach out to the Rancher Technical Assistance Program at rtap@wrstrat.com or (916) 409-6902.

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Industry News

Drought Monitor map shows 0% of California is dry for first time in 25 years Sacramento Bee “For the first time in a quarter-century, no part of California was considered dry or in drought, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor assessment released Thursday. The historic shift was first highlighted by Drew Tuma, a meteorologist for KGO-TV in San Francisco, after the latest weekly map showed 0% of the state’s geography was experiencing drought or abnormal dryness. Last week, areas around San Diego and the far northeast corner of the state were considered ‘abnormally dry.’” To continue reading, click here.

New Dietary Guidelines Emphasize Beef’s Place in a Healthy Diet National Cattlemen’s Beef Association “The updated DGAs nearly double the recommended daily amount for protein intake, increasing it to 1.2-1.6 grams per kilogram body weight, depending on your age group and individual caloric needs. The document focuses on building a healthy diet around whole foods, limiting highly processed foods and added sugars, and prioritizing protein at every meal like nutrient-dense beef. Red meat is specifically mentioned as a healthy source of protein in a varied, balanced diet.” To continue reading, click here.