CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY

July 13, 2026

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UC Davis Studies Confirm Wolves Feed Primarily on Cattle, Wolf Presence Stresses Herds
Last week, U.C. Davis announced the publication of two studies examining the impact of California’s growing wolf population upon cattle herds in the state. Both studies were co-authored by Dr. Tina Saitone and the late Dr. Ken Tate, whose preliminary findings have previously been shared at local cattlemen’s association meetings and at CCA events.

The first study, published in the scientific journal PLOS One, examined scat from the Lassen Pack in the summer of 2022 and from the Lassen and Havey packs in the summer of 2023 to assess the contribution of cattle to wolves’ diets. The study found that cattle DNA was present in 86% of the wolf scats collected in 2022 and 55% of the scats collected in 2023. The study also estimated that cattle accounted for 50% of biomass in wolf diets based on scat samples analyzed from 2022 and 60% in 2023.

In short, the study provides scientific confirmation of what ranchers in wolf territory already knew: in the absence of native prey like mule deer and elk, wolves are largely turning to cattle for their meals.

The second study, published in Ecology and Evolution, found that cattle exposed to wolf presence had elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol. While the study notes that elevated cortisol “has been linked to reduced fertility” and disrupted ovulation in cattle, Dr. Saitone noted in the U.C. Davis announcement that the researchers hope to further study whether elevated stress levels result in lower conception rates using “direct biological evidence.”

FSA Finalizes Improvements to Disaster Assistance Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday that its Farm Service Agency “is making significant improvements to its disaster assistance and commodity loan programs” as required by the 2025 Working Families Tax Cuts Act (also know as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act).

Under the new rules, the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) will now compensate producers for 100% of the market value of livestock losses (beyond normal mortality levels) due to predation by federally-listed threatened and endangered animals, such as wolves (the payment rate was previously set at 75%). This change is applicable retroactively to January 1, 2026. Additionally, LIP will begin compensating ranchers for the loss of unborn livestock if the mother was gestating at the time of her death. This change is retroactive to January 1, 2024, and “In most cases, the payment will be automatic…based on LIP data on file with FSA with no action required by the producer.”

Rules governing the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) have also been amended, lowering the eligibility threshold for producers to access financial assistance due to drought. Previously, producers had to experience eight consecutive weeks of D2 (“severe”) drought, as measured by the U.S. Drought Monitor, to qualify for financial assistance. Under the latest revisions, a producer will qualify for one month of payment assistance after just four consecutive weeks of D2 drought. Producers experiencing seven weeks of severe drought during any eight-week period will be eligible for a two-month payment.

For additional details, see USDA’s announcement. To find your local USDA Service Center, click here.

Four Groups Receive CDFW Grants to Administer Wolf-Livestock Compensation Funding
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced this month that it has awarded Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program grants “to four organizations to support efforts to reduce wolf-livestock conflict.” The grants were awarded from what remains of the $2 million appropriated to the Department for Wolf-Livestock Compensation in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 State Budget. The grants include $1.1 million allocated to the California Farm Bureau to administer direct-loss compensation (though eligibility for compensation will continue to be determined by CDFW) and grants to Resource Conservation Districts and other entities for research, educational outreach and to assist ranchers in deploying approved hazing techniques. For more information see last week’s edition of California Cattleman Weekly or CDFW’s press release.

Newsom Signs 2026-27 State Budget Into Law
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the 2026-27 State Budget into law late last month. The $351.7 billion spending plan is a mixed bag for livestock producers. According to an Assembly Floor Report, the negotiated agreement includes $1.25 billion to backfill state operations and fire protection funding at CAL FIRE and appropriates $228,000 for CDFA’s implementation of CCA-sponsored AB 411 (Papan, 2025), which authorizes on-ranch composting of routine livestock mortalities. Unfortunately, despite CCA’s dogged advocacy efforts, the Budget does not propose additional funding for CDFW’s Wolf Program to fund compensation, collaring and other management priorities. That said, additional Budget activity is possible in August, when lawmakers return to Sacramento. For additional details on the Budget, stay tuned for the August edition of the California Cattleman magazine.

2026 California Cattlemen’s Association Scholarships are Open Now! 
In 2025, CCA awarded over $51,000 in scholarships to students studying agriculture. Applications must be typed and returned in full to the California Cattlemen’s Association office by Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 11:59pm via email to Gracie at gracie@calcattemen.org. For more information about CCA’s offered scholarships and to access the scholarship application, click here.

Upcoming Industry Events

CCA in the News

It’s not too soon to prepare for screwworm response Ag Alert “Scheduling calving for a different time of year when fly populations are lower may be a challenge because calving frequently is tied to available feed, said Talbot, who chairs the California Cattlemen’s Association Animal Health and Well-Being Committee. Many producers along the coast are “fall calvers,” with animals being born from September through November. The fall could carry a little more risk should screwworms be present.” To continue reading, click here.

Wolves at the Door Moonshine Ink “‘People were literally making themselves sick, trying to protect their animals during the day and all night,’ said Kirk Wilbur, president of government affairs for the California Cattlemen’s Association, about the Sierra Valley situation. ‘They were not sleeping. They were constantly on the move.’” To continue reading, click here.

Are wolves feasting on cattle? UC Davis study shows their diet of livestock The Sacramento Bee “To a degree, the wolves that migrated from Oregon and Washington to California when OR-7 and others arrived may have already learned that they could survive by preying on cattle, said Rick Roberti, who is president of the California Cattlemen’s Association and has a ranch in the area. But that doesn’t mean that all the nearby wolves are doing that, he stressed. Since wildlife officers removed three adults and one juvenile member of the Beyem Seyo pack last fall, the number of predations has dropped dramatically, Roberti said — ‘like night and day.’” To continue reading, click here.

Coexistence bill offers ranchers a framework, but no new money Agri-Pulse “The state budget Gov. Gavin Newsom signed last week did not include the $30 million wolf management package sought by California Farm Bureau, California Cattlemen’s Association and rural advocates. Lawmakers also left out a broader request to restore CDFW’s statewide response to conflicts involving bears, mountain lions, coyotes and other wildlife.” To continue reading, click here.

To protect cattle, California sheriffs can use rubber bullets, pepper balls on wolves The Sacramento Bee “The discussions with the state started with ranchers’ desires to be able to use pepper balls, not paintballs, said Rick Roberti, president of the California Cattlemen’s Association and a rancher in Sierra Valley. ‘It’s like pepper spray,’ Roberti said. ‘If they’re in with your cattle, this gas would hurt their eyes and then they would associate that with being in the cattle.’” To continue reading, click here.

Industry News

As Consumers Pare Spending, Grocery Stores Race to Cut Prices The New York Times  “Competing for strained consumers, America’s grocery stores are cutting prices on some key products. That doesn’t mean overall grocery bills will be lower. Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, said Monday that it would lower the price of ground beef rolls, fresh corn, cherries, potato chips and Coca-Cola as part of a slew of summertime discounts.” To read more, click here.

Opinion: They’ve got milk, but many California kids can’t tolerate it. Schools can now offer alternatives CalMatters  “Got milk? For the first time in history, every student in the El Monte Union High School District in Los Angeles County can finally answer yes. The federal Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act includes a provision allowing schools to proactively offer plant-based milk options, such as soy milk, on the lunch line. It’s a major step forward for millions of students who can’t digest lactose or who choose nondairy options for health, ethical, religious or cultural reasons.” Click here to read more.