CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY
April 6, 2026
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U.S. Forest Service Announced Sweeping Restructuring
The United States Department of Agriculture announced last week that the U.S. Forest Service is moving its headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah as part of a sweeping restructuring of the agency that will unfold over the next year.
As part of the restructuring, the Forest Service will close all regional offices and “transition to a state-based model.” Currently, California is served by the Pacific Southwest Regional Office based in Vallejo, which oversees 20 million acres across 18 national forests in the state and assists “state and private forest landowners in California, Hawaii and U.S-affiliated Pacific Islands.” Under the agency’s restructuring plan, the Vallejo office will be repurposed as a national training center and a California-Hawaii State Office will be established in Placerville.
The lead National Service Center will be in Fort Collins, Colorado, with some of the “geographically dispersed research stations” being shuttered under reorganization. The Riverside research station, focused on fire research, will remain operational, and the Placerville office will also serve as a research and development facility (as well as an operations service center).
The Forest Service lost roughly 16% of its workforce last year, and the restructuring will likely result in additional attrition, though the agency noted that “There will be no interruption or change to [its] field-based operational firefighters or their positions.” According to CCA partner the Public Lands Council, information is not yet available about support teams for the agency’s range program, though “USFS has committed that these teams will be located in places they are best available to deploy to address permitting, NEPA, and monitoring backlogs.”
BLM Releases Web Tool Identifying Vacant Grazing Allotments
The Bureau of Land Management announced last week that it has released a mapping tool “designed to connect ranchers with information on vacant grazing allotments on public lands available for targeted prescribed grazing.”
The mapping tool includes vacant allotments administered by BLM, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Not all vacant allotments are included in the tool currently (particularly USFS and USFWS allotments), but BLM notes that the agency “is coordinating with federal partners to identify more vacant areas that may be suitable for grazing” and that “The public is encouraged to check back soon for additional opportunities.”
The new mapping tool is part of the BLM and Forest Service’s efforts to enhance transparency and data access under a Memorandum of Understanding “aimed at boosting the supply of American born, raised, and harvested beef by supporting American ranchers.”
Upcoming CCA Events
May 20-21, 2026, San Diego
Our room block at the Hilton and early bird registration are now open. Click here for more details.
CCA Midyear Meeting
June 24-25, 2026, Reno
CCA’s 2026 Midyear Meeting will be held June 24th and 25th at the Atlantis Casino Resort in Reno, NV. We encourage you to maximize your membership by attending and being an active part of the CCA policy making process. Come discuss issues with fellow producers and hear updates. We are excited to be back at the Reno Rodeo for their Wednesday night performance! Click here for more details.
Upcoming Industry Events
California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Summit and Tour
April 9-10, 2026, Stockton
You’re invited to the Rangeland Summit and Tour April 9-10, 2026. Ranchers, conservationists, agencies, academics and others are coming together at the upcoming California Rangeland Conservation Coalition Summit and Tour to strengthen the partnerships that support working landscapes and ranching across the state. The theme is Rangelands, Relationships and Open Dialogue, and your voice is important!
The Summit will take place in Stockton and the keynote speaker is Dr. Lynn Huntsinger, UC Berkeley. The Tour is at the Stone Lakes Refuge along I5 at Elk Grove.
For registration and more information: Carangeland.org/summit.
Industry News
PLC Participates in Grazing Roundtable, MOU Signing Public Lands Council “Today, public lands ranchers joined Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, as the secretaries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to launch their Grazing Action Plan. Public Lands Council (PLC) leaders and members then participated in a roundtable discussing cooperative work to address longstanding challenges for federal lands grazing permittees.” To continue reading, click here.
USDA Eyes Phased Reopening of Southern Border to Mexican Feeder Cattle RFD TV “U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins is signaling a possible reopening of the southern border to Mexican feeder cattle as officials work to manage the threat of the New World Screwworm.” To continue reading, click here.
California launchers new strategy to protect the agriculture and food sectors from climate change California Department of Food and Agriculture “The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announces the release of the Climate Resilience Strategy for California Agriculture (Strategy). The document provides a comprehensive overview of state actions designed to help the agricultural community prepare for, respond to, and thrive under the many conditions imposed by climate change, from uncertainty about water supply and drought to extreme weather events, wildfires, flooding and more.” To continue reading, click here.
