CALIFORNIA CATTLEMAN WEEKLY
Nov. 2, 2026
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Ranching for Generations Succession Planning Intensive
California Rangeland Trust is hosting a Ranching for Generations Succession Planning Intensive on December 8-11 in Denver, Colorado. The cost for this intensive is $1,500, and California Rangeland Trust will reimburse the full $1,500 workshop tuition expense after program completion. There are a few seats left! For more information about this intensive, click here.
CRT Podcast Featuring Wade Crowfoot, Secretary of CNRA
Rangeland Trust CEO Michael Delbar sits down with Wade Crowfoot, Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, to reflect on California’s conservation efforts and the future of the state’s working rangelands. They discuss the importance of privately owned ranchlands in protecting biodiversity, strengthening wildfire resilience and advancing California’s 30×30 conservation goals. To listen to the full podcast, click here.
UPDATED: Columbus, N.M. Livestock Port of Entry Reopens; NWS Detected in AZ Dog
Last week the U.S. Department of Agriculture re-opened the Columbus, New Mexico livestock port of entry to cattle imports from Mexico. Columbus is the third livestock port of entry reopened since USDA closed the southern border to live cattle crossings on July 7, 2025 due to the northward progression of New World Screwworm. USDA has also announced its intention to reopen the livestock port of entry at Nogales, Arizona on November 30 “If conditions continue to support safe trade and all required inspection arrangements and infrastructure are in place.”
Separately, USDA confirmed a case of NWS in a dog in Cochise County, Arizona on Wednesday. The detection, in the states southeasternmost county, is the first outside of Texas or New Mexico. A dashboard of all detections can be found here.
According to USDA, “Every animal entering the United States through these ports will undergo a full USDA inspection to ensure it is free of any signs of” New World screwworm.
CDFW Issues Quarterly Wolf Program Updates
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has released its quarterly wolf news update and other periodic reports for the third quarter of 2026. According to CDFW’s population monitoring update, California now has ten known wolf packs, as the state can no longer detect the Yowlumni or Tunnison packs. Eight wolf packs have reproduced this year, with the Ashpan, Grizzly, Harvey, Ice Cave, Lassen, Long Valley, Whitehorse and Whaleback packs producing a minimum of 42 total pups in 2026. Finally, the agency reports that there were 17 confirmed and seven probable wolf depredations of livestock in the third quarter of the year for a total of 79 confirmed or probable depredations thus far in 2026.
For more information, see the Department’s announcement or last week’s edition of California Cattlemen Weekly.
Upcoming CCA Events
CCA & CCW Convention and California Cattle Industry Tradeshow
Dec. 2 – 4, Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, Reno, Nevada
Don’t forget to register and book your hotel room for the 110th CCA & CCW Annual Convention! CCA’s hotel room block closes on November 9th, and registration prices increase on November 13th. Visit calcattlemen.org/convention2026 to register and make your hotel room reservations.
Upcoming Industry Events
Nov. 4, 11:00am-12:00pm, Zoom
Join the California Rangeland Trust for a discussion on the Williamson Act and Proposition 13 and 19. Explore key topics including contracts and nonrenewals, the Easement Exchange Program, tax and property implications, and long-term planning strategies. Hear insights from industry experts, like county assessors and a fellow rancher, and bring your questions to gain perspectives you can apply to your own property. To register, click here.
Transition to Organic Webinar Series
Nov. 5, 12 & 19, 12:00pm-1:15pm, Virtual
Hosted by CAFF, UC Organic Agriculture Institute (UC OAI), and UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE). Thinking about transitioning your LIVESTOCK operation to organic? Join us for a three-week webinar series designed to help you transition to organic. Presentations will include guidance from experienced organic livestock producers, organic certifiers, UC ANR Farm Advisors, and technical assistance providers. The series will focus on dairy and beef cattle and poultry —covering everything from certification basics and recordkeeping, economic considerations, organic inspection, and more. Spanish interpretation will be available at every session. Learn more and register.
Ranching For Generations Succession Planning Intensive
Dec. 8-11, Denver, CO
The Rangeland Trust is facilitating a four-day, family-based workshop designed to help landowning families navigate the complex, personal, legal, and operational challenges of generational transitions. The Ranching For Generations Succession Planning Intensive will be in Denver, CO December 8-11, 2026. The cost of the course ($1,500 per person) will be covered by the Rangeland Trust, so attendees only pay for travel & accommodations. This course is specifically designed for generational ranching families and will include ranchers from California, Texas, and Colorado. It is a chance to connect with landowners throughout these states and really delve into the future planning for the ranch. Click here to view the informational flyer. For more information and to RSVP, please reach out to Robin Hansen at (530) 219-7512, or rhanson@rangelandtrust.org.
CCA in the News
Becerra wins easily as Democratic landslide reaches across West Agri-Pulse “Farm groups and experts contacted by Agri-Pulse were hesitant to give snap reactions to the results. For instance, the California Cattlemen’s Association didn’t make any formal endorsements of candidates or propositions this year. ‘We’ve got a stellar record of working with politicians across the political spectrum, and I expect that will continue to be the case once the dust has settled on the local, state and federal races of this election,’ CCA Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur said in an email. ‘It’s incumbent upon us to educate all politicians about the issues facing ranchers and the benefits of cattle ranching to our state’s economy and environment, and we’re ready to put in that work as the 2026-27 legislative class comes into focus,’ he said.” To continue reading, click here.
Industry News
Roadless Rule Changes Could Expand Forest Management Access RFD TV “Public Lands Council Executive Director Kaitlynn Glover says the U.S. Forest Service manages roughly 93 million acres used for grazing in the West. She says roadless restrictions adopted in 2001 have limited access across portions of those lands. Glover says limited road access can affect fire crews, rescue operations, trail and tree maintenance, and ranchers needing access to fences and grazing infrastructure. PLC has submitted comments supporting changes to the current rule.” To continue reading, click here.
New Animal Health and Food Safety Lab Opens in California’s Central Valley California Department of Food & Agriculture “A new $108 million animal health laboratory in Turlock will help California farmers and veterinarians detect potentially dangerous animal diseases more quickly, respond to outbreaks and protect the state’s food supply. The facility, operated by the University of California, Davis, Weill School of Veterinary Medicine in partnership with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, or CDFA, is nearly nine times larger than the lab it replaces.” To continue reading, click here.
National Geographic Just Put Siskiyou County’s Wolf Problem on the Cover Active NorCal “National Geographic published the story this week for its December issue, with writer Nate Blakeslee spending months in Siskiyou County, Sierra Valley and Shasta County alongside ranchers, state biologists and the California Wolf Project team. The Whaleback pack alone has been tied to at least 114 confirmed or probable livestock losses since 2021, and all five packs studied ate mostly livestock in summer.” To continue reading, click here.
