Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast: Recent Episodes
California Cattlemen's Association
On August 24, the U.S. border is set to reopen to cattle from Mexico at the Douglas Port in Arizona, more than a year after the border was closed due to the threat of New World screwworm. What will the reopening mean for cattle feeders in Arizona and California, and what will it take to get cattle moving across the border again?
On this episode, we sort through the history and impact of the border closure, why Douglas was chosen as the first port to reopen, and the animal health safeguards cattle will have to meet before entering the U.S. We also look ahead to what the first few weeks of reopening could look like for cattle feeders, how feeders are preparing for the continued threat of New World screwworm, and what this could mean for the California cattle industry in the years ahead.
CCA Feeder Chair Mike Sulpizio of Superior Cattle Feeders returns to Sorting Pen to help explain. Joining him is Wesley Eade of EMCO Cattle Company, a longtime cattle feeder in Arizona and California whose business has brought cattle across the border for decades.
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Erin Borror, Vice President of Economic Analysis for the U.S. Meat Export Federation, joins Sorting Pen to discuss the global beef market.
Erin, who also raises purebred and commercial cattle with her husband and sons at Tehama Angus Ranch in Northern California, shares the newest export numbers, why international markets remain critical even as U.S. beef production declines, and what the future could hold for U.S. beef in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
Katie and Erin also discuss what the eventual reopening of the Mexico border could mean for U.S. cattle supplies, competition from countries like Brazil and Mexico, beef access to China, opportunities through new trade agreements, and other USMEF efforts.
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What does it take to build a producer-owned beef processing plant from the ground up? On this episode of Sorting Pen, Katie sits down with Trey Wasserburger, owner and operator of TD Angus and co-founder of Sustainable Beef, to discuss the vision behind launching a producer-owned packing plant in Nebraska.
Trey shares how the idea for Sustainable Beef became a reality, the challenges of bringing the project to life, and what the first year of operations has looked like.
Tune in for an inside look at the story behind Sustainable Beef, what it took to get the plant up and running, and how it's operating today.
Episode Resources:
- See the ribbon cutting for Sustainable Beef in March 2025
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Cattle-PAC is CCA's voluntary political action committee, working to support and educate candidates and elected officials whose decisions shape the laws and regulations affecting California ranchers. In a state with a democratic supermajority in the legislature, every pro-livestock, pro-business voice elected to office matters. On this episode, California rancher and CCA Cattle-PAC Chair Jack Lavers joins us to discuss how Cattle-PAC strategically invests its resources, the realities of California's political landscape, and where things stand following the June primary.
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Consumer trust doesn't happen by accident. It’s built through the everyday decisions cattle producers make to care for their animals and produce high-quality beef. In this episode, we sit down with Josh White, Senior Executive Director of Producer Education & Sustainability for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, to discuss the evolution of the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, how it helps communicate producers’ commitment to doing things the right way, and how its impact is measured among consumers. We also dive into the areas where producers have excelled, opportunities for continued improvement, and how BQA may adapt in the years ahead.
Episode Resource:
- https://www.bqa.org
- https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/raising-beef/beef-quality-assurance
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At CCA's Feeder Meeting in San Diego, Overland Stock Yard Co-Manager Jason Glenn provided an update on the West Coast's supply of feeder cattle. On this episode Katie and Jason chat about the market, cattle feeding in California, and more.
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In our last episode, part one of this two-part series we covered a lot of background on the CA Wolf Project: how it got started, the people behind it, and what the project is—and isn’t—focused on.
In this episode we pick that conversation back up. We sort through how the team is collecting research, who they’re collaborating with, what they’re seeing so far, what’s ahead, and how it all fits into the bigger picture. We’ll also take a closer look at the real challenges California ranchers are facing with wolves today.
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The California Wolf Project is an initiative within the University of California Berkeley’s Wildlife Program. In this episode, the leaders of the California Wolf Project and principal investigators Dr. Arthur Middleton and Dr. Justin Brashars explain how this project got started, the people behind it, and what the project is and isn’t focused on.
This is the first episode of two on The California Wolf Project. Part two, dropping on May 18, will sort through how the team is collecting research, who they’re collaborating with, what they’re seeing so far, what’s ahead, and how it all fits into the bigger picture. We’ll also discuss some of the real challenges California ranchers are facing with wolves today.
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On this episode of Sorting Pen, we’re joined by Dr. John Madigan. Best known for developing the Madigan Squeeze Procedure, Dr. Madigan walks us through this simple yet groundbreaking technique used to treat neonatal maladjustment syndrome (often called “dummy foal syndrome") and how it’s now being applied to calves as well. Hear why it works, how it can be used on the ranch, the research behind it, and much more in this conversation.
If you heard Dr. Madigan speak at our Convention last December, this episode builds on that conversation. And if you didn’t, it’s a great introduction to a practical tool that’s making a difference in the field.
Note: In the horse world, historically, breeders termed these foals that were disoriented, wandering, and not nursing the mare, a ‘dummy foal’. In veterinary medicine, they are better referred to as the maladjusted foal.
Episode Resources:
- Dr. Madigan's Website (https://www.johnmadigandvm.com)
- Videos on "The Squeeze"
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As he prepares to term out of serving in the California State Legislature, Assemblymember James Gallagher joins us for a real, wide-ranging conversation about his time in office and what’s next.
He shares his background in agriculture, what he’s learned about navigating Sacramento, and how he’s worked to elevate rural issues. We also discuss the passing of Congressman Doug LaMalfa and how that influenced his decision to run for Congress.
From rising costs and fuel prices to ongoing regulatory challenges, Gallagher talks through the issues facing farmers and ranchers today, along with the impact of Prop 50 and the road ahead.
It’s a straightforward conversation about policy, agriculture, and why California is still worth fighting for.
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It's hot! What's up with California’s weather being unusually warm this March? Meteorologist & Climatologist Brian Bledsoe joins us to explain why this spring is feeling more like summer so far, break down this winter’s rainfall, and discuss whether a potential El Niño or even a super El Niño could be on the horizon. We also dive into the weather and situation with the devastating wildfires ripping through Nebraska cattle country.
Episode Resources:
Visit brianbledsoeweather.com to connect with Brian.
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On March 5, initial findings from a new California study examining ways to improve produce safety—particularly on the Central Coast—were unveiled. The multi-year study was conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in partnership with the Western Center for Food Safety at the University of California, Davis, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and agricultural stakeholders across the region.
Central Coast cattle ranchers are among those stakeholders. In this episode, we are joined by Jack Rice, owner of Western Resource Strategies LLC, to discuss why ranchers have a seat at the table, how this collaborative study came together, and his takeaways from the newly released findings.
Episode Resources:
- Constituent Update— FDA and Partners in the Central Coast Agricultural Region of California Share Findings from Multi-year Environmental Study
- Connect with the RTAP team at calcattlemenfoundation.org/RTAP
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On this episode, we’re honored to sit down with current National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) President Gene Copenhaver and President-Elect Kim Brackett for a conversation to get to know them. They share insights from their leadership journeys, discuss the priorities shaping NCBA’s agenda, and reflect on what's ahead for them in their leadership roles with NCBA.
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National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Executive Director of Government Affairs Sigrid Johanes is back on Sorting Pen. In this episode from CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Sigrid shares about the years of work behind the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Also hear the latest on the threats of New World screwworm and the Asian Longhorned Tick.
Episode Resources:
- Secretary Kennedy's Selfie from CattleCon
- Progressive Farmer: "Kennedy to Cattlemen: Produce More Beef After Pyramid Reversal"
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In this episode of Sorting Pen, we’re sorting through CCA’s early 2026 legislative efforts as lawmakers return to Sacramento for the second year of a two-year session. CCA's Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur joins to talk about what CCA is watching early on, and whether the lack of major new threats so far is encouraging—or just the calm before the storm. We also dive into CCA’s request for funding for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wolf Program, Kirk's upcoming opportunity to testify on human-wildlife coexistence, and more.
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To open the first episode of 2026, host Katie Roberti is joined by CCA President Rick Roberti for a conversation on the ongoing gray wolf crisis, thoughts on his final year as president, and what lies ahead for CCA. Together, they also take time to honor and remember the leadership and lasting legacy of Congressman Doug LaMalfa.
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How do you turn an idea like legalizing livestock composting into law in California? In part two of this two-part series, we go behind the scenes with researchers Laura Snell and Dr. Kasey DeAtley to cover the bill itself, how it moved through the Legislature, and what it means for ranchers going forward.
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This episode was recorded where the cowboys shop—D Bar M — in downtown Reno. Hear from the owner himself about this iconic western store before our 109th annual convention takes place in Reno next week!
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How do you turn an idea like legalizing livestock composting into law in California? In part one of this two-part series, we go behind the scenes with researchers Laura Snell and Dr. Kasey DeAtley to hear how research, planning, and persistence made it all possible.
Stay tuned for part two episode (dropping Dec. 8), where we’ll cover the bill itself, how it moved through the Legislature, and what it means for ranchers going forward.
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As California's fall bull sale run winds down, Western Livestock Journal Western Region Representative Jared Patterson joins us to recap how this year's sales went the past few months.
We chat about this year’s outstanding sale averages, what makes California seedstock producers shine, EPDs, and more. Jared also shares some favorite moments from the road and the best advice for anyone getting ready to buy their next bull.
Episode Resources:
- Read Jared's latest WLJ column "Relationships drive the market more than we admit" and all his pieces at wlj.net/author/jaredwlj-net.
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In this episode we welcome Tracy Sellers, senior content writer and media strategist for the UC Davis CLEAR Center, to Sorting Pen for the first time as she gives California ranching families and producers an inside look at the work being done to bridge science, media, and agriculture. Get to know her journey in agriculture, and now working at the CLEAR Center with Dr. Frank Mitloehner. Tracy also shares what a typical day looks like at the Center, highlights some of the priority projects she and her team are focused on, and reflects on some favorite pieces she’s published.
We also dive into the important role farmers and ranchers play in the stories the CLEAR Center tells, explore the goals behind events like Salute to Ag Day, and hear Tracy’s perspective on college students in 2025. Stay to the end of the episode to learn a few slang terms college students are using today.
Episode resources:
- To read the "Grass-Roots Insight: Study Uncovers Patterns in Cattle Grazing Behavior" click here or check it out on the CLEAR Center's news webpage at clear.ucdavis.edu/news.
- Watch the CLEAR Center video: "Hawaiian Pig Farming Done Right!" by clicking here or visiting youtube.com/@CLEARCenteratUCDavis.
- Listen to the new CLEAR Conversations podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and on YouTube.
- For more information and to read all of the updates from the CLEAR Center visit clear.ucdavis.edu.
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To learn more about the conversations had during CCA's recent "fly-in" to Washington, D.C., on this episode we first talk with CCA Feeder Chair Mike Sulpizio of Superior Cattle Feeders, as the New World screwworm situation and the border closure was a top priority he took to on that trip.
After we hear from Mike, stay tuned for updates from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's CEO Colin Woodall about the latest announcement from USDA on Sept. 22 that New World screwworm flies were found less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. Colin shares about NCBA’s outlook on the situation, USDA’s handling of it, and more.
Episode Resources:
- Click here to visit NCBA's New World Screwworm Resources webpage.
- Visit calcattlemen.org/convention2025 for all details on CCA's Annual Convention happening Dec. 3-5 in Reno.
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It has been fire years to the week since that fire ripped through the Plumas National Forest and destroyed communities, legacies, the Daley family’s cow herd, and tragically ended lives.
Dave Daley, Butte County Rancher and past CCA president, talks with Katie about where we are at on wildfire solutions in California. We also talk about the recovery progress (and lack of) on the land from that burn five years later.
Episode Resources:
- Read Dave's most recent piece on fire "I Still Cry for the Mountains" on our website at https://calcattlemen.org/category/i-cry-for-the-mountains.
- See photos and read Dave's first piece at https://calcattlemen.org/2020/09/23/legacy.
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Some increases in biodiversity on working landscapes are easier to handle than others. We asked Meghan Hertel, California Natural Resources Agency Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat, to be our guest on this episode to talk about a positive, voluntary initiative that is trying to drive funding, support and increased awareness into the important role that ranchers and rangelands can play in conserving and achieving the 30x30 initiative – an effort to conserve 30% of lands and coastal waters by 2030.
Episode Resources:
- See if your lands might be eligible: at californianature.ca.gov.
- Reach out to the CCA office to learn more at (916) 444-0845.
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WSR Insurance Farm and Ranch Specialist Josh Morris joins Sorting Pen host Katie Roberti to break down the latest insurance updates impacting California agriculture. From the state’s evolving Sustainable Insurance Strategy to upcoming workers’ compensation rate increases, Josh shares what producers need to know now. Plus, hear what’s new at WSR Insurance and why it’s the perfect time to schedule your Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) meetings.
Episode resources:
- Check out the new WSR app on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
- Subscribe to WSR’s free Weather Update email at wsrins.com/weather.
- WSR Insurance is the exclusive insurance broker of CCA. Learn more at calcattlemen.org/wsr.
- Contact Josh at (530) 867-7340 or joshm@wsrins.com.
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California Cattle Council Executive Director Justin Oldfield joins the podcast to discuss what the Council has focused on so far in 2025 and what’s on the horizon for the last half of this year. On this episode, learn about the commercials, billboards, and digital content the Council is advertising now and the strategic plan behind it all. Plus, hear more about some of the research the Council has funded.
Episode Resources:
- Search "California Cattle Council" on YouTube to watch the ads or use the links below.
- Changed ad: https://youtu.be/R9IxF1xlCbk
- Fire ad: https://youtu.be/lVU-4WYFOos
- Cattle Council Research: https://calcattlecouncil.org/recentworks/research/
- Learn more: https://calcattlecouncil.org/
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Summer is going fast! We slow down on this episode to talk about the first six months of Rick Roberti's presidency. Rick shares about his experiences and issues discussed at CCA's Feeder Meeting in May and NCBA’s Summer Business meeting a few weeks ago in San Diego. He also provides an update on the gray wolf conflict and the concerns of New World screwworm getting closer to the U.S. Finally, hear why you need to be part of our Midyear Meeting and Cattle-PAC fundraiser happening August 14-15 in Paso Robles. Register, purchase tickets and get all the details at https://calcattlemen.org/cattlepac25.
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We are releasing this episode early, to give you more information about the One Big Beautiful Bill that passed out of the Senate yesterday (as of publishing this episode on July 2).
In this update, hear from California rancher and past CCA president Kevin Kester about the positive tax provisions in this bill for ranchers and farmers. Last week, Kevin was invited to the White House for an event highlighting the tax relief the “One Big Beautiful Bill” will provide for ranching and farming families across the country for future generations. Hear about Kevin's experience and the importance of the tax relief in this bill, which includes reducing the Death Tax, as he spoke NCBA’s Senior Director of Policy Communications Hunter Ihrman on the Beltway Beef podcast.
On the second half of this episode, Kaitlynn Glover, the Executive Director of the Public Lands Council and NCBA Natural Resources, joins Katie to discuss failed proposals in the bill to dispose of any public lands. Finally, hear what how the bill includes reimbursing cattle producers for loss due to depredation by federally protected predators, such as gray wolves.
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CCA's Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur shares are the current legislative session so far. Hear about CCA's two sponsored bills and other bills the government affairs team is watching.
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On this episode we hear about the California Beef Council’s Pasture to Plate Beef Tour, which is an in-depth experience that immerses participants in the beef lifecycle production process and engages foodservice, retail, and nutrition professionals. CBCDirector of Retail and Foodservice Marketing Christie Van Egmond and CBC Manager, of Producer Education and Engagement Makenzie Coveauexplain the history of the tour and its success over the years. Grimmius Cattle Company’s Chief Operating Officer Austin Flores also shares why their ranch has participated as a stop in this tour for many years and the details the value he sees in this program.
Episode Resources:
Connect with Christie about participating in future Pasture to Plate tours by clicking here.
Request to join the California Beef Farmers and Ranchers Facebook page to stay up to date with the California Beef Council.
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Early on Thursday morning, the One, Big Beautiful Bill progressed out of the House. Just hours later, Sorting Pen host Katie Roberti got to sit down with Ethan Lane, head of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's office in Washington, D.C, to discuss what's in the bill, NCBA's success on it, and what's ahead for this legislation.
On this episode, Katie and Ethan also discuss New World Screwworm and the border, tariffs, and NCBA’s years of work to get beef into the United Kingdom.
Episode Resources:
- NCBA Priorities Approved in House Reconciliation Bill
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It is our 100th episode of Sorting Pen! To celebrate, we are launching our first episode in a new series on this podcast focused on “Sorting Through Stories with California Ranching Legends.” Starting with this interview, a couple of times a year, Sorting Pen host Katie Roberti will sit down with some of the great cattlemen and women in the West to hear their ranching stories, lessons, and more.
Our first legend is Mr. Ellington Peek.
Ellington sat in his favorite seat in the stands outside the auction ring at Shasta Livestock Auction as Katie recorded a conversation full of stories about the auction yard, the beginning of the Western Video Market, and Ellington's life. Hear what Ellington loves about buying and selling cattle and much more on this can't miss episode.
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On May 15, the California Fish and Game Wildlife Resources Committee will meet in Sacramento and consider changing a rule to restrict the ability to take any number of coyotes at any time. CCA's Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur joins this episode to share how this conversation started back in January at a Fish and Game committee hearing, detail what has happened since that hearing, and outline why CCA needs you to be part of opposing any changes to how coyotes are managed in California at this meeting on May 15.
CCA will file detailed comments with the Committee prior to that hearing strongly opposing any change and will be on-hand at the meeting to defend ranchers’ ability to manage coyote populations. Additionally, CCA encourages members to appear virtually or in person on May 15 to convey to Commissioners the continued need for allowing coyotes to “be taken at any time of the year and in any number.”
Episode resources:
- To submit an opposition letter to the Fish and Game Commission, email it to fgc@fgc.ca.gov by Friday, May 2. Letters submitted by this deadline will be given to the Commissioners ahead of the committee meeting. If you miss this deadline, you can still send opposition letters up until May 12 to be given to Commissioners at the May 15th hearing.
- Look for more details in an upcoming edition of California Cattleman Weeklyon how to attend or appear virtually at the May 15th meeting to voice your opposition. To call in to the meeting dial (877) 336-1831 and use the conference code number: 481000.
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Two board members from the Livestock Marketing Association join this Sorting Pen episode to share why they, LMA and their members are working hard to help create opportunities for their customers, ranchers and farmers, through their producer profitability initiative.
Back on the show is LMA's Western Director Jake Parnell—who is also a California cattle producer and owner of Cattlemen’s Livestock Market in Galt.
Joe Goggins, vice president of LMA and owner of Public Auction Yards in Billings, Montana, is also a featured guest on this episode.
Learn more about this initiative for producer profitability and all LMA does at lmaweb.com/Policy/producer-profitability.
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In this episode, Steve Lambert, a rancher from Butte County, shares his journey and insights as one of CCA's Second Vice Presidents. Tune in to learn more about Steve’s dedication to serving agriculture at local, state, and national levels, and hear why he continues to stay involved in these organizations.
Katie and Steve also dive into the value of CCA, with a special focus on the important role seedstock producers play in the Association.
Listen until the end to discover how Steve went from resisting being on social media over a decade ago to Lambert Ranch Herefords now thriving on Instagram!
Episode Resources:
https://www.instagram.com/lambertranchherefords/
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Representing California’s 34 Assembly District, we visited Assemblymember Tom Lackey in his office. On this episode, he shares with us about issues that are top of mind right now for California legislators. We also talk about how Asm. Lackey has partnered with CCA throughout his time in office. Hear about the bill he is helping CCA run this year, and why he believes ranchers are important voices to have in Sacramento.
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There are two issues that came up at this year's CattleCon that we highlight on this episode of Sorting Pen: trade & taxes. In this conversation hear from past CCA President Tony Toso, who is now chair of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's (NCBA) International Trade Committee.
Later in the episode we hear from NCBA’s Associate Director of Government Affairs Kelsea Kemp, who happens to hail from California. Listen as Kelsea shares about NCBA’s tax priorities and one specific act NCBA is lobbying on right now.
This episode also provides IMPORTANT updates on The Corporate Transparency Act! On Feb. 18, the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network announced that it will begin enforcing beneficial ownership information reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act on March 21. Listen to learn more and refer to the resources below as that deadline is quickly approaching.
Episode Resources:
- Beneficial ownership information can be reported to FinCEN here.
- A FAQ about reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act is available here.
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On this episode we have three experts joining us to talk about biosecurity. From UC Davis and University of California Ag and Natural Resources, we have Dr. Gaby Maier and Dr. Lais Costa sharing their expertise. We are also fortunate to have Dr. Julia Herman from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association share her national perspectives on the importance of biosecurity.
Episode Resources:
- To watch the Beef Cattle Herd Health UCCE Webinars mentioned by Dr. Maier visit https://ucanr.edu/sites/Rangelands/CattleHealth.
- Find BQA Resources on biosecurity at: https://www.bqa.org/resources/biosecurity-resources.
- As Dr. Herman mentions, for more resources check out https://www.securebeef.org.
- Want to learn more about biosecurity? Attend the Cattle Biosecurity Workshop on Saturday, March 1 at the Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center. The workshop will cover an array of topics including, creating a line of separation, cleaning and disinfecting vehicles and equipment, proper use of personal protective equipment, writing standard operating procedures for personnel and visitors, and much more. To view the flyer with registration instructions click here or contact Dr. Maier.
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What happened in Point Reyes? Why are 11 ranching families leaving early next year? There are many questions you may have about the news that came about a month ago. This story is complex. It can be difficult to track and understand the full picture. To answer some of our questions and share his knowledge of the conflict Kevin Lunny, a rancher who has been in the park his entire life, joins us on this episode. Kevin explains the background of the issue, details the ongoing challenges, and discusses the future opportunities to come for the 11 families who are leaving their Point Reyes ranches behind, as well as the difficulties that could remain in the national park.
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There are many questions following the tragic wildfires in Los Angeles. How did the wildfires in Los Angeles get to this point? Could more have been done prior to prevent this level of catastrophe? Where does CCA and the CCA Fire Subcommittee go from here in advocating for more action on prevention?
Those questions and more are answered on this episode by Anthony Stornetta, a San Luis Obispo County cattle rancher, Deputy Fire Chief of Operations for Santa Barbara County Fire Department and the Chair of CCA’s Fire Subcommittee. Listen as Anthony gives his insights and knowledge on how the LA wildfires got to be what they did and where we go from here as a state with more wildfires in its future.
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Longtime Sierra Valley cattle rancher Rick Roberti has the reins as CCA President for the next two years. On this first episode of 2025, hear about his background, how he joined the officer team, why he is honored to serve in this leadership position and more.
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CCA just wrapped up our 108th Annual Convention full of great speakers. On this episode hear from one of them, as National Cattlemen's Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall is our guest on this final episode of Sorting Pen Season 4.
Listen as Colin shares about the status of the Farm Bill, how NCBA feels about some of the nominations that have been made by the incoming Administration, why taxes are a priority for NCBA and much more as we look ahead to a new Congress starting on Jan 3.
Episode Resources:
- Get all the details on CattleCon 2025 at https://convention.ncba.org/.
- Learn more about NCBA membership at https://www.ncba.org/membership.
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California Beef Council Director of Food & Nutrition Outreach Kori Dover and host, Katie Roberti share about CBC's engagement and efforts to promote beef at the California School Nutrition Conference in the middle of November. Learn what the conference entails, why it is important CBC invests in showing up at this conference annually, and how exhibiting at this event gives CBC the opportunity to share about beef with decision makers who are selecting what's served at schools throughout California.
Episode Resources:
To see the California Beef in Schools materials Kori shares about visit https://californiabeef.school.
Read more about the Grateful Grazing event here.
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Los Angeles County cattle rancher and CCA member Mike Williams is the current chair of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, a national organization with a mission to advance, support and communicate continuous improvement of sustainability across the U.S. beef value chain. On this episode, Mike explains what the purpose of the Roundtable is, how he got involved, who makes up the leadership of the organization and more.
Episode resources:Visit https://www.usrsb.org to learn more about the Roundtable and access the resources Mike shares about in this episode.
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Dr. Ken Tate, a UC Davis Professor of Extension in Rangeland Management and Dr. Tina Saitone, a UC Davis Professor of Extension in Livestock and Rangeland Economics, share about the wolf research in California they have been working on the last three years.
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On this final legislative recap episode of the year, hear CCA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur explain how CCA's priorities in the 2023-2024 Legislative Session shook out now that the Governor’s deadline to act on all bills has come and gone.
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Dr. J.J. Goicoechea, a Nevada rancher and the Director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, answers questions ranchers may have about the new USDA traceability rule going into effect on Nov. 5. Hear why J.J. believes this change to make tags electronically readable, not just visually readable, needed to happen, and more about traceability in this episode.
Episode Resources:
Visit calcattlemen.org/EID for more information on the rule and how to get EID tags from the state of California.
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California dairyman and CCA Feeder Council Vice Chair Jack Hoekstra talks with Katie about what concerns and opportunities are top of mind for California dairy producers almost three quarters into the year.
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In this episode, California Cattle Council Executive Director Justin Oldfield explains why 10% of the Council's annual budget is put into a response fund, of which dollars are only deployed if an emergency or a potentially significant disruption to California's cattle industry arises.
Hear how this response fund is proving to be vital and about the special educational campaign it is currently funding in Sonoma County.
To learn more about the campaign visit sonomacows.com.
Learn more about the California Cattle Council at calcattlecouncil.org.
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This episode is focused on getting everyone up to speed on a new law called the Corporate Transparency Act. It is a law that was passed in 2021 and is now being enforced, with deadlines quickly approaching—which if you miss could result in extreme fines. If your farm or ranch has 20 or fewer employees, is structured as a corporation, LLC, or filed registration paperwork with the secretary of state, you may be required to file new paperwork with a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. NCBA’s Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus is this episode's guest. Kent explains what the law this is, what this could mean for your ranch (or other business), how the law came about and more.
The conversation in this episode is not professional advice. After listening, it would be best to consult with a tax professional or attorney for advice as to whether the Corporate Transparency Act applies to you.
Episode Resources:
- NCBA Reminds Cattle Producers to Review Corporate Transparency Act and Avoid Costly Penalties
- Why Join NCBA?
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This November California voters will see a $10 Billion Climate Bond on their ballots. CCA's Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur shares about the win teased in the prior episode—keeping funding for alternative protein research and development out of the Climate Bond.
In this part two episode, also hear Kirk share about some of the aspects CCA members may be pleased to see included in this Bond.
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CCA's Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur outlines a few of the most important wins CCA has secured in the last few months for California's cattle producers and ranching families. In this part one of two episodes hear about CCA's success in:
- Stopping two very problematic water rights bills that were introduced at the beginning of this Legislative Session
- Securing dollars in the State Budget, amid an extremely difficult budget deficit, to keep the California's Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program alive
- Keeping the State Water Resources Control Board from adding additional costs to some producers and users for water quality permitting and enforcement
Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!
In 1998, members from the California Cattlemen’s Association joined together to form the California Rangeland Trust (CRT). Now over 25 years later, CRT has permanently protected close to 400,000 acres. To discuss CRT's goal's and explain what conservation easements are, CRT Chief Executive Officer Michael Delbar and Vice Chair of CRT's Board of Directors Clayton Koopmann, join Katie on this episode.
Hear discussions on how CRT has grown and evolved in the last 25 years, the work CRT is doing, what an easement is, who the partners working with CRT to conserve these rangelands are, common misconceptions about conservation easements and more.
Episode resources:
- https://rangelandtrust.org/podcast
- CRT Ecosystem Service Study
- You Just Can't See Them From The Road Documentary Trailer
Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!
On this episode, Jake Parnell makes his debut on Sorting Pen to discuss Western Video Market’s recent restructuring, give an outlook on the July WVM sale and discuss the importance of auction yards.
Jake recently became president and chair of the board for Western Video Market. He is also a professional auctioneer, owner and president of Cattlemen's Livestock Market, co-owner of Parnell Dickinson, one of the founders and president of the California Youth Ag Expo and the Livestock Marketing Association’s Western Director.
Episode resources:
- Press release: Western Video Market Reorganizes to Better Serve the Livestock Industry
- Producer Profitability Initiative Seeks to Spark Conversation, Unite Industry
Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!
Tom DeJarnette is a retired Navy SEAL Captain and was recently a guest speaker at CCA's Feeder Meeting a few weeks ago. Before speaking to attendees at the event, Tom sat down with Sorting Pen Host Katie Roberti and CCA's Feeder Council Chair Mike Sulpizio for this episode to share about his presentation and perspectives on leadership. Hear some of the takeaways he shares from his 26-year Naval career and how he connects many of them to the beef industry.
More about Tom:
Tom DeJarnette graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1993 with a double major in English and Economics. As an All-American swimmer, it was a natural fit to join the Navy and go to Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL (BUDS) training.
As a retired Navy SEAL Captain with over 25 years of special operations experience working in high stress/no fail environments, Tom is proud of his military experiences and the lessons he learned about leadership, organizational structure, training, and culture. He built and led high performance teams from 20 to 400 people using these fundamentals and regularly proved they work under the most demanding conditions. Tom’s 26-year Naval career included Operational Tours at SEAL Team ONE (ST-1), SEAL Team THREE, Naval Special Warfare Unit TEN (NSWU-10), Special Operations Command CENTRAL (SOCCENT), and Special Boat Team TWENTY (SBT-20). His staff tours included NSWU-10, SOCCENT, SBT-20, USMC Command and Staff College, ST-1, Naval Special Warfare Group ONE, Naval Special Warfare Group THREE, and Naval Special Warfare CENTER. Throughout his time in the SEAL Teams, what Tom enjoyed most was taking care of people and setting the conditions so that his teammates could be the best versions of themselves every day.
With Tom’s successful transition to the private sector in 2019, he continues to add unique value to like-minded corporate organizations because he implements time-honored Special Operations principles in a way that resonates with high-performance teams focused on authenticity, durability, and achieving a competitive advantage. In 2019, Tom was hired by Volunteer Employee Benefits Association (VEBA) as the Chief Administrative Officer where he established What The Strong Do To Rise LLC in support of VEBA contracting objectives. From 2020 – 2022, Tom established his personal LLC to embark on various leadership and cultural development contracting opportunities. Contracting led to another salary opportunity in 2021 as the Chief People Officer for Symbiont, a Fintech Blockchain company, where he got to focus on quality-of-life issues for a company of proven performers.
Tom continues to enjoy working with high performance teams who are focused on selflessness, accountability, and work to solve problems in a way that preserves the long-term health of an organization.
Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association's Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane is back on the podcast to discuss what the current focuses are in Washington D.C. At time of recording on Thursday, May 23, the House Agriculture Committee was marking up the Farm Bill, which was passed later that evening. Hear Ethan discuss the Farm Bill process, give insights on what the rest of this Congress will look like and explain some of the confusion NCBA is hearing around the final traceability rule.
Episode Resources
- NCBA Press Release: House Farm Bill Includes Top Cattle Industry Priorities
- Details on the 2024 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meetings happening July 8-10 in San Diego.
Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!
Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!
Assemblymember Gregg Hart joined the California Legislature last January. In that time he's gone out of his way to work with CCA's government affairs team and get to know ranchers. On this episode of Sorting Pen, get to know Assemblymember Hart. Hear about the priority issues he is working on in Sacramento, how he shares about rural issues and needs with other legislators from more urban districts, and more.
Bonus: There are 63 National Parks in the U.S. Can you guess how many of them Assemblymember Hart has visited? Listen to the full episode to find out!
Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!
Earlier this week, Central Valley Meat Holding Company announced it has entered an agreement to purchase the Cargill Meat Solutions beef processing facility in Fresno, Calif.
Brian Coelho, CEO and President of Central Valley Meat, joins CCA's Katie Roberti to talk through this new acquisition and what it may mean for California’s beef industry.
Background:
Central Valley Meat is a diversified family-owned corporation. Harris Ranch Beef Company and Harris Ranch Feeding are two of the facilities owned by the company, in addition to Central Valley Meat and CLW Foods.
Click here to read the company's press release announcing the purchase.
“Today, Sonoma County Family Farmers are under attack," Sonoma County Farm Bureau's website says. "A ballot measure is being proposed by an animal extremist group from Berkeley, CA, aimed to eliminate Sonoma County’s diverse animal agriculture production."
This episode of Sorting Pen discusses what the ballot measure is, the potential impacts, and how to support Sonoma County farmers and ranchers amid this attack. Joining Katie on this episode to explain are Dayna Ghirardelli and Jennifer Beretta.
Dayna is Sonoma County Farm Bureau's Executive Director. Jennifer is a fourth generation Sonoma County dairy farmer, board member of Sonoma Farm Bureau and dairy representative for the California Cattle Council.
Visit https://www.sonomacountyfamilyfarmersalliance.com/ to support the Sonoma County Family Farmers Alliance.
With dairy cattle testing positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza for the first time a few weeks ago, this episode is to give California beef producers an update on the situation.
Joining Katie to have this conversation and talk through what producers should know about the virus, current industry concerns, how it is being monitored and more is Dr. Tom Talbot, veterinarian and cattle rancher in Bishop, California. Tom is also a past CCA President and remains an active member of the Association.
Since December, San Diego County cattle rancher John Austel has served as a CCA Second Vice President. In this episode, learn more about John, the unique perspective he brings to the officer team, and his time as a CCA officer so far. John also shares about the experience of running his regenerative, natural Angus herd on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Ecological Reserve Rancho Jamul—a property that was part of an old Spanish Land Grant with a history of over 250 years of agricultural use.
CCA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur joins Katie for this year's first CCA legislative update on the podcast.
Assemblymember Jim Wood was elected to California’s Assembly 10 years ago to serve the North Coast. In that time, he has become a good friend of CCA's. In this conversation, hear why Asm. Wood has a kinship for cattle ranching, why he loves CCA's Steak & Eggs Breakfast, about the handful of priorities he's worked on in the legislature that positively impact ranchers and more.
Have you ever worried about the mental health of someone you love or know in a rural area? You're not alone. On this episode, Vice President of Communications for Rural Minds Julie Lux, shares about the mental health emergency America's rural communities are facing and provides resources to help be part of the solution to this crisis. Learn about the Rural Mental Health Resilience Program, the goal of the program and how you can access materials for free.
Episode Resources:Rural Minds: How to start a conversation about mental health factsheet
Visit ruralminds.org/resilience for all the factsheets, materials and information we talked about on this episode.
NCBA’s Director of Animal Health and Food Safety Policy Rebecca Barnett joins Katie at the 2024 CattleCon in Orlando. Rebecca grew up in Adin, Calif. and attended UC Davis. Hear about her journey to Washington D.C. and what issues she is tackling with NCBA, including traceability.
Episode Resources:NCBA Backs FAIR Labels Act to End Deceptive Fake Meat Labeling Practices
2024 NCBA Legislative Conference
RSVP for CCA's Steak & Eggs Legislative Breakfast
If you're heading to Red Bluff don't miss this episode. If you're not going, listen to this update anyways! CCA's Membership and Events Coordinator Gracie LeCheminant along with Jack Rice and Noah Lopez of the Rancher Technical Assistance Program join Katie to talk about the new "Ag Hub" that will be in the tradeshow at the Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale.
At the end of this episode, hear what’s in the Loading Chute for CCA. This will be a rundown of quick updates from other CCA staff including a quick leg update, previews of what’s to come on this podcast and more.
Episode resources:
https://www.calcattlemenfoundation.org/redbluff
Welcome to Season 4! On this first episode, CCA President Steve Arnold and CCA 1st Vice President Rick Roberti join host Katie Roberti to talk through priorities for the year, officer goals and why California cattle ranchers can be optimistic about the year ahead .
Episode resources:
Get to know each of CCA's officers at calcattlemen.org/cca-officers.
Learn more about RTAP at calcattlemenfoundation.org/RTAP.
CattleFax Analyst Patrick Linnell recently provided a cattle and beef market outlook in Thursday morning’s general session at the 107th CCA and CCW Convention. Following the session, Patrick sat down with Katie to talk about some of the highlights and key points for California cattle producers, including what CattleFax predicts cattle prices will look like in 2024.
On this episode we talk about the impact the California Beef Council is making on school nutrition in California and how they are keeping beef on school lunch menus. To have that conversation, registered dietician and CBC’s Director, Food & Nutrition Outreach Kori Dover is us on the podcast for the first time.
Episode resources:
- Click here to see the photo of the school lunch Kori worked with San Diego Unified School District on to create the recipe for Biarria tacos, which we discuss in the episode.
- To stay up to date with this work, subscribe to the California Beef Council's monthly e-newsletter by clicking here or visiting https://www.calbeef.org/beef-producers.
CCA Feeder Chair Joe Dan Cameron and Vice Chair Mike Sulpizio provide an update on the feeder sector of California’s beef industry. Learn about Imperial Valley, what it is like feeding cattle in that community and more on this episode.
CCA's Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur provides an update on this year's legislative session, 30x30 and more.
Jimmy Maxey and Mike Smith, two California cattlemen and past members of the board that runs the Beef Checkoff, known as the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, join Katie to explain how the Cattlemen’s Beef Board operates, including who is on the board and how decisions of what gets funded are made.
Episode Resources:
- Producer Communications Article from current CBB board member
- Visit DrivingBeefDemand.com to keep up with the CBB board.
Having recently been on Capitol Hill, Central Coast cattle rancher Kevin Kester discusses the current situation in Washington, D.C. On this episode hear:
- How the odds of a government shutdown became high
- What the road to getting a new Farm Bill passed may look like
- Why dollars given to CCA’s political action committee are crucial.
This episode is first time we are talking about the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Pilot Program through the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. Joining Katie to have this conversation and explain what is available to ranchers through this pilot program is Dr. Ken Tate, a UC Davis Professor of Extension in Rangeland Management—who many listening may know for his research on water quality. We also have Dr. Tina Saitone, a UC Davis Professor of Extension in Livestock and Rangeland Economics.
Episode resources:
- CDFW Wolf Livestock Compensation Grants Webpage
- Contact Dr. Ken Tate at kwtate@ucdavis.edu
- Contact Dr. Tina Saitone at tlsaitone@ucdavis.edu
The Animal Ag Alliance’s president and CEO Hannah Thompson-Weeman joins Katie for an update on animal rights activism and the work the Alliance does to keep up on tactics and movements within that community. Hear about trends/topics the Alliance is seeing from the animal rights community, activism movements and news in California and more.
Check out https://animalagalliance.org to learn more about the Animal Ag Alliance.
Do you know what county Climate Action Plans are and why ranchers should be aware of them? If you have no idea, tune in to this episode to hear Noah Lopez with Western Resource Strategies and the California Cattlemen’s Foundation’s Rancher Technical Assistance Program, along with San Diego County ranchers Allison and Bryce Fender explain what these plans are and why ranchers should be know about them.
Episode resources:
- In the episode we mention a paper put together by Western Resources Strategies called "Range Cattle in California County Climate Action Plans: a rancher's guide to understanding and engaging in climate action planning." Check out that paper here.
- We also mention the "Climate Issues Update for Ranchers" webinar that was recently held. If you missed that webinar you can watch the recording of it here.
Experts from the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture join Katie to go over the laws of mobile custom livestock slaughtering in California. Hear how a law that went into effect last year impacts mobile custom livestock slaughtering and how it removed limitations for some producers.
Visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/AHFSS/MPES/ for more information and resources.
In October of 2020, Governor Newsom signed an executive order to conserve 30% of California’s land and coastal water by 2030. In this episode Jennifer Norris, Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat at the California Natural Resources Agency provides an update for ranchers on this goal and explains the strategy.
In this conversation hear how:
- the 30x30 plan incorporates working with ranchers and livestock producers to reach the 30%;
- increasing voluntary conservation easements is part of the strategy;
- to find out of if any of the acres you manage are eligible to be counted in the 30%;
- and more.
Learn more and see the toolkit mentioned in this episode at https://www.californianature.ca.gov/pages/resources.
Watch the Pathways to 30x30 Webinar: Pathway 3, Increasing Voluntary Conservation Easements talked about in this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhjhjdPqoxI.
Email your 30x30 questions to the Agency: californianature@resources.ca.gov.
Secretary of the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross was one of the many speakers at CCA's Midyear Meeting in Paso Robles last week (June 21-22). In this episode, the Secretary shares the strategic objectives of Ag Vision, a plan developed by CDFA for the next decade.
CDFA says, "The plan—which will guide areas of focus for CDFA and serve as a catalyst for action with farmers and ranchers, and other California agencies and partners—is being hailed as not just a plan for agriculture, but a plan to benefit every Californian."
See the full plan: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/agvision/docs/AgVision_2023_Plan.pdf.
Certified Angus Beef’s Senior Executive Vice President of Marketing Tracey Erickson spoke on branded beef marketing and Beef x Dairy at CCA's 2023 Feeder Meeting. In this interview with Tracey hear about some of the highlights from the presentation and learn a little about the Certified Angus Beef program.
At CCA’s Annual Feeder Meeting last week, Katie caught up with CCA’s Feeder Council Chair Joe Dan Cameron. Listen as they discussion current issues and concerns from cattle feeders in California.
CCA Fire Subcommittee Chair Anthony Stornetta is back on the podcast to discuss the outlook for the upcoming wildfire season in California, share how the livestock pass and burn boss classes are going and talk about what the state’s fire resiliency efforts have consisted of over the last several months.
This episode of Sorting Pen is a conversation we originally recorded for WSR's Insurance Unscripted Podcast!
In this episode, host Katie Roberti talks with two California beekeepers on the current challenges and issues facing beekeepers and the industry. Hear how the challenges of the bee business compare to those of ranching, and how the opportunities and challenges the American Beekeeping Federation is tackling are similar to those of CCA’s and other agricultural groups.
Guests on the episode with Katie:
- Jay Miller, owner of J2 Honey Company and incoming president of the American Beekeeping Federation
- Dylan Kelly, owner of Ag Pollen Apiaries and beekeeper
- Stephanie Myers, co-owner of WSR, apiculture sales manager and fourth generation cattle rancher
WSR Insurance is the exclusive insurance broker of the California Cattlemen’s Association.
Katie visits American River College to chat with Audubon California’s Pelayo Alvarez, the Director of the Conservation Ranching Program in Sacramento. This episode is a conversation on what Audubon California’s Conservation Ranching Program is and how Audubon California working with ranchers. Katie and Pelayo also talk through some misconceptions about ranchers and ones ranchers have about Audubon, the importance of California rangelands and more.
Tune into this episode to hear an industry update from the California Cattle Council. Recorded just after their spring meeting in the middle of March, Council chair Cody Nicholson-Stratton and Council Executive Director Justin Oldfield join Katie to talk about that meeting, the work the Cattle Council is funding and key priorities of the Council moving through the rest this year.
Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture, joins Katie on the podcast for a discussion on CDFA's current works and programs for producers, the role ranchers play in California, and how listeners can help communicate with Californians about the value of ranching and agriculture in the Golden State.
CCA Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur joins Katie for the first legislative update of the year.
Another bonus episode! If you listened to our previous two episodes on traceability and Monday’s episode with an interview from staff at NCBA and the Public Lands Council, you know that CCA leadership and many other Californians traveled to New Orleans at the start of the month. This bonus episode is made up of two other interviews with Californians who were there and actively participating in the event.
The first interview is with immediate past CCA president Tony Toso. Tony shares about his new role as vice chair of NCBA’s International Trade committee and the priorities this policy committee is working on. In the second half of this episode we hear from UC Davis Ph.D. student in the Department of Animal Science Sebastian Mejia Turcios who spoke about advocating for the industry at NCBA's Cattle Chats booth in the tradeshow and was one of 10 advocates in the Beef Checkoff’s 2021 Trailblazer program.
Katie caught up with the Public Land Council and NCBA’s Natural Resources Associate Director Sigrid Johannes during the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention earlier this month for a conversation on what the groups are working on in D.C. on behalf of California ranchers on both public and private lands. Hear about the two regulatory lawsuits NCBA recently filed in January against the Biden Administration and more in this episode.
Each year at the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Tradeshow there are a few issues that rise to the top of discussions. At this year's meeting, just held Feb. 1-3, traceability was the topic. Past CCA President, Inyo County cattle rancher and veterinarian Dr. Tom Talbot sat down with Katie on the last day of meetings in New Orleans to explain why discussions on traceability are picking up now and what it means for California producers.
Later in the episode CCA officers Rick Roberti and Bev Bigger join to ask a few traceability questions of their own.
Who doesn't love a surprise, bonus episode? RTAP’s Noah Lopez is back on the podcast to give producers a quick reminder about the SWRCB's Annual Water Diversion and Use Reporting deadline coming up on Feb. 1. He also shares about a truck regulation from the California Air Resources Board that went into effect on Jan. 1 which could potentially impact some producers.
In the last few minutes, Katie and Noah discuss a few of the issues and work RTAP has helped ranchers with to date.
Have a question for RTAP? Contact Noah and Jack at (916) 409-6902 or visit https://www.calcattlemenfoundation.org/rtap.
RTAP is made available with support from the California Cattle Council.
California State Treasurer Fiona Ma comes on the podcast to talk directly to California’s beef producers and ranching community. Hear about her role as treasurer for the 5th largest economy in the world, how the State Treasurer's office can help ranchers, how Fiona's curiosity has led her to learn about California agriculture, why Fiona's made it a point to be at CCA's events and to connect with California's ranching community and more.
Have another question for Fiona? Email it to her at AskFiona@treasurer.ca.gov.
CCA Second Vice Presidents Mike McCluskey and Frank Imhof are our guests on this first episode of Season 3 of Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast. In this quick 20 minutes learn about each of them and their reasons for wanting to serve on CCA’s officer team for the next two years. Make sure to listen to the full episode for an update on CCA’s upcoming building move too.
In this final episode of season two, get to know San Luis Obispo County cattleman Steve Arnold as he will lead CCA as president over the next two years.
Before ending his term as CCA President, Tony Toso comes on the podcast to talk about his two years leading the Association. Hear about some of his favorite wins and parts of his presidency. Later in the episode we talk about what he’s seeing as far as water availability throughout the state as an ag appraiser.
California cattle ranchers June and Kevin Kester come on the podcast to share about some of the ways they are giving back to veterans. Hear about a recent Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C. they were part of and how the National Cattlemen's Beef Association helped make that trip extra special for the group of veterans from California's Central Coast including Past CCA President and veteran, John Lacey.
Episode Resources:
Watch NCBA's Cattlemen to Cattlemen's Veterans Day Special
It’s a Veterans Day special as we salute men and women who have served in the military and worked in agriculture. Plus, how a group of veterans were honored by NCBA on their recent trip to Washington, D.C.
Learn more about Honor Flight and getting involved at www.HonorFlight.org.
Happy Halloween! Is it a little spooky to you that the Midterm Election is already coming up next week? To keep us up to speed ahead of Nov. 8 on what the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is watching in the election, expectations on how this election might offer relief and new allies, and what the results could mean for the outcome of the 2023 Farm Bill, NCBA's Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane joins Katie on this new episode.
To learn more about NCBA's policy priorities visit https://www.ncba.org/policy.
Earlier this month Cal Poly's 66th Annual Bull Test Sale was held in San Luis Obispo. The program is the only one in the country completely ran by students!
To talk about what this program provides students, share about the new opportunities coming to the program through a $750,000 grant that was just awarded and have a few laughs, Cal Poly's Zach McFarlane and Aaron Lazanoff come on the podcast.
With Sep. 30 being the deadline for Governor Newsom to act on any legislation from this session, the 2021-2022 Legislative Session is now over. CCA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur shares in this episode about the bills CCA sponsored that will become law on the first of the year, a few of the many bills the Association engaged on in this session and other wins for California’s ranching community.
At time of recording this episode, not all the bills Kirk mentions in this update had yet been acted on by the Governor. Below is an update on CCA-supported legislation that the Governor has since signed.
SB 856 (Dodd): Signed ✅
AB 211 (Public Resources Budget Trailer Bill): Signed ✅
SB 926 (Dodd): Signed ✅
AB 558 (Nazarian): Signed ✅
We headed north to Yreka to chat with Siskiyou County Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor Grace Woodmansee for this episode. Grace provides updates on how the livestock pass worked during recent fires, shares how she got to Siskiyou County and talks about a few of the ranches doing direct to consumer marketing in the area. She also shares about research she is about to begin on direct to consumer marketing.
Episode resources:In this episode, we mention a couple ranches we visited that served as the tour stops for the Siskiyou County Cattlemen’s 2022 Fall Tour. If you’d like to learn more about those ranches check out their websites:
- StarWalker Organic Farms
- Crown H Cattle Company
- Jenner Family Beef
Dr. Marissa Silva, a veterinarian with the California Dept. of Food and Ag, comes on the podcast to share all about what the state’s Antimicrobial Use & Stewardship program is, discuss the difference between antibiotic resistance and residue, highlight resources available to help producers with managing herd health and more.
Episode resources:
General AUS page: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/AHFSS/AUS/
Veterinary Shortage: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/AHFSS/AUS/CAVetNeeds.html
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Environmental Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart joins Katie to explain how a decision earlier this summer from the Supreme Court on West Virginia v. EPA is going to have broad impacts on how the EPA and other agencies can regulate and write administrative rules. Mary-Thomas also shares NCBA’s thoughts on the Inflation Reduction Act and about some pertinent pieces in it for cattle ranchers.
Visit https://www.ncba.org/policy for more information on NCBA's policy priorities.
August marks one year of Sorting Pen! Listen to our 27th episode to hear WSR’s Matt Griffith explain what you need to know about the Pasture, Rangeland & Forage (PRF) Insurance product. Stay tuned in to the end of the episode for a look at what’s to come on this podcast in the weeks ahead.
Matt is back on the podcast to talk about his experience at Western Video Market’s July sale in Reno. Later in the episode he talks about the upcoming fall bull sale run and gives advice for deciding which bulls to buy.
CCA Fire Subcommittee Chair Anthony Stornetta cohosts this episode with Katie, as Len Nielson, CAL FIRE Staff Chief for Prescribed Fire and Environmental Protection joins them for an update. In the conversation hear about the role ranchers and prescribed burn associations have in helping the state reach its goals for prescribed fire, available grants and partnerships for those who want to participate, the 2022 Prescribed Fire Strategic Plan and more.
For over two decades Duane Lenz has been coming to CCA events to present the CattleFax Outlook. This year’s Midyear Meeting marked his final event with CCA as Duane is soon retiring. In the episode, Duane talks about his 33 year career with CattleFax and changes he’s seen over the years. Katie and Duane also discuss a few of the issues touched on in the outlook given at Midyear.
Summer grilling is here! On this episode of Sorting Pen,Jess Pryles, meat specialist and advocate, live fire cook, author and founder of Hardcore Carnivore joins us. Hear how Jess, a city girl from Melbourne, got into learning all she could about meat and why she’s passionate about busting false myths about beef and other proteins. Bonus: Later in the episode, Jess shares some of her favorite grilling tips and tricks.
Episode Resources:
Check out Jess Pryles’ website to learn more: https://jesspryles.com.
The World Butchers Challenge is coming to Sacramento! Find out more: https://www.worldbutcherschallenge.com/sacramento-2022.
In this episode we hear from CCA Feeder Council leaders Jesse Larios and Trevor Freitas. The two give a recap on CCA’s Annual Feeder Meeting that took place May 25-27 in San Diego and discuss a few of the big issues impacting California’s feeder industry.
As it turns out 20 minutes was not enough time to talk through Foothill Abortion, an issue that has been one of CCA’s top research priorities for decades. Although this update is longer than most Sorting Pen episodes, it is worth the listen as UC Davis professor and researcher Dr. Jeffrey Stott and EBA Product Manager at Hygieia Biological Laboratories Jenna Chandler join Katie for a detailed conversation.
At the beginning of the episode, hear Dr. Stott share about what Foothill Abortion is, his decades of research on it and the collaborative support it took to have a vaccine finally made commercially available in the fall of 2020. Then learn how you can get the vaccine, what you need to know about using the vaccine and what’s at stake if Foothill Abortion does takeover your herd.
Dr. Stott wraps the episode up by sharing about ongoing research and emphasizes the most important facts to know about Foothill Abortion.
Episode ResourcesTo read other common FAQS about the vaccine visit:https://calcattlemen.org/2020-the-year-of-a-foothill-abortion-vaccine.
Email Jenna at jenna@hygieialabs.com to learn more about obtaining the vaccine.
To talk with Dr. Stott about the research behind the vaccine click here.
A bill intended to prohibit new animal feeding operations and slaughterhouses in California failed to advance in the legislature last week and is dead for the year. CCA’s Kirk Wilbur is back on the podcast to discuss this recent win, CCA’s leadership on it and a few other pieces of good news.
Episode resources:Read the latest Legislative Bulletin update and sign up for the newsletter.
New York Post Article: Americans are eating more beef than ever — despite vegan ‘trend’
Happy Earth Week! This episode offers a reminder of how critical grazing is in California. To discuss the role of grazing, her research and more, Dr. Lynn Huntsinger, a UC Berkeley Professor of Rangeland Ecology and Management and the Russell Rustici Chair in Rangeland Management, joins Katie out at the Koopmann Ranch in Contra Costa County.
Learn more about Dr. Huntsinger's research by clicking here to read the paper "Rangeland Land-Sharing, Livestock Grazing’s Role in the Conservation of Imperiled Species."
CCA contract lobbyist Jason Bryant joins Katie to talk about the significant changes coming over the next two years to who will make up California’s legislature. Hear about the considerable impact this turnover in legislators will have on CCA and learn about the role of the redistricting process in helping to drive this change.
Don't wait! The State Water Resources Control Board recently changed the due date for water measurement and use reporting. The deadline for 2022 is April 1. Noah Lopez of the Rancher Technical Assistance Program joins Katie to talk about the due date change and highlights other issues producers can gain assistance on through RTAP.
Episode resources:
To watch the SB 88 Water Measurement & Reporting Webinar that Noah talks about in the episode follow this link: https://youtu.be/rl-74RABEgE.
Reach out to the RTAP team at 916-406-6902 or rtap@wrstrat.com.
Learn more about RTAP at https://www.calcattlemenfoundation.org/rtap.
In 2021, the CCA Fire Subcommittee helped lead the Association to two major successes: 1) enabling the development of county Livestock Pass programs and 2) reducing prescribed fire practitioners’ liability risk. The Subcommitee is continuing to build on these successes and achieve more progress this year. In this episode, Anthony Stornetta, a San Luis Obispo County cattle rancher and Santa Barbara County Fire Department Battalion Chief, joins Katie to talk about current priorities and more.
CCA is proud to be a member of the Animal Agriculture Alliance, a nonprofit organization with the mission to safeguard the future of animal agriculture and its value to society by bridging the communication gap between farm and food communities. Katie caught up with the Hannah Thompson-Weeman, the Alliance’s Vice President for Strategic Engagement to share what the Alliance does, including their work on protecting agriculture from extreme animal rights activists. Hear Hannah’s advice on what to do if an activist comes into contact with you or your operation and learn more about the Alliance at https://animalagalliance.org
On Feb. 2, all eyes were on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Live Cattle Marketing Meeting and the policy that would come out of it. California producers showed up to the meeting in Houston with a unified goal and plan. In this episode, CCA President Tony Toso talks about that game plan and CCA leadership’s decision to push for a “no cash mandates” policy at that meeting. Later in the episode, NCBA’s Tanner Beymer gives further details about the meeting and what’s next for NCBA’s work to improve cattle markets.
The California legislature is back for the second year of its 2021-22 legislative session and CCA’s government affairs team is already working hard to block bad legislation and sponsor some of CCA’s own bills. Listen now as Kirk explains.
In December, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved new amendments to the Small Off-Road Engine (SORE). California Cattlemen’s Foundation Public Policy Advocate Victoria Rodriguez joins Katie in this first episode of season two to talk about these changes and about what this means for equipment important to ranching.
The new California Cattlemen’s Foundation website: http://calcattlemenfoundation.org
As mentioned multiple times in the episode, a comprehensive list of equipment CARB presumes to be “farm equipment” exempt from the regulations is available at: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sore-list-determine-preempt-road-applications.
Victoria’s recent comments in the Western Livestock Journal: https://www.wlj.net/top_headlines/ca-releases-draft-proposal-for-state-s-30x30-plan/article_d1945c7e-6f07-11ec-850c-5b16029f3fd9.html
Happy Holidays! Tune into our final episode of the year to hear from Annette and Christie at the California Beef Council about the work they do to drive beef demand this time of year. Check out the links below to see some of CBC's current holiday promotion.
Healthy and Hassle-free Recipes for the Holidays
https://storystudio.sfgate.com/health-and-convenience-with-california-beef/
Make Your Holiday Meal a Showstopper
https://storystudio.sfgate.com/make-beef-wellington-with-california-beef/
Quiz: Discover Your Perfect Holiday Meal
https://storystudio.sfgate.com/california-beef-holiday-quiz/
Tour of California Pairings
https://storystudio.sfgate.com/tour-of-california-beef-wine/
What’s the weather going to do this winter and looking later into 2022? Following his presentation at the 105th CCA/CCW Convention, Meterologist Brian Bledsoe talks with Katie answers this question as he shares about the weather outlook.
Recording from the 105th CCA/CCW Convention, Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Specialist for Livestock Marketing and Professor, talks with Katie about the general session presentation he gave on cattle markets. Listen as they quickly talk about the markets, price discovery vs. price determination and options for solutions currently being discussed.
Episode resources:
- Dr. Peel talks about a proceeding that was published back in June by Texas A&M. Here is the link to that for those wanting to learn more about cattle markets and price discovery: The U.S. Beef Supply Chain: Issues and Challenges Proceedings of a Workshop on Cattle Markets.
- The Farm to Market podcast hosted by Dr. Peel and Charlie Amos was mentioned in the episode. While at the CCA/CCW Convention, Dr. Peel sat down with 5th generation rancher Clayton Koopmann to learn more about ranching in California. Click here to listen to that episode.
Don’t have the fear of missing out (FOMO) on the 105th CCA/CCW Convention! In this quick episode Katie and Tony highlight some of the speakers and workshops set for the event and preview upcoming episodes to come after it. See you in Reno!
California Cattle Council Chairman Dave Daley gives producers an update on where their Council dollars are going and a refresher on how the Council operates. Then we talk about future opportunities for the Council.
Dr. Frank Mitloehner, a professor and air quality specialist in cooperative extension for the Department of Animal Science at UC Davis, shares an update for producers on the recent work he’s doing pertinent to cattle and the environment. We also ask his advice on the best way ranchers can share about the positive role cattle have on California rangelands.
In this extended episode, Kirk Wilbur and Jason Bryant of CCA’s government affairs team take over the podcast to reflect and provide a recap on CCA's success in the first year of California's 2021-2022 legislative session.
Celebrating 20 years with The California Cattleman Magazine, Matt Macfarlane joins Katie for this episode. Listen as he shares insights from the fall bull sale run in the West so far, and talks about some of the people he’s worked with and changes he’s seen in the industry over the years. Also tune in to find out why he says this on the episode, “Strap your hats on. It’s gonna get Western.”
Over the last decade, WSR Insurance Services, the exclusive insurance broker of CCA, has helped hundreds of CCA members and other livestock producers throughout the Western States obtain insurance for lack of precipitation through the PRF program. On this episode, Jim Vann and Matt Griffith of WSR join Katie to talk about what PRF is as the December 1 deadline for obtaining PRF policies for 2022 is quickly approaching.
Recording from Paso Robles: Jack Rice and Noah Lopez of Western Resource Strategies, LLC. join Katie to talk about how they are now providing regulatory expertise and professional support to all California cattle producers through the Rancher Technical Assistance Program. Plus, past CCA presidents Mark Lacey and Myron Openshaw give their input on the success of the 2021 Cattle-PAC Dinner Dance + Auction.
In this episode, CCA’s Vice President of Gov. Affairs Kirk Wilbur gives an update on CCA’s sponsored fire legislation in California’s 21-22 legislative session. Plus a new friendly face now working on behalf of The California Cattlemen's Foundation is introduced.
In this introductory episode, Katie Roberti, CCA’s Director of Communication sits down with CCA President and Mariposa County Cattle Rancher, Tony Toso. Listen now to learn about CCA’s 50th President, talk about some of the issues Tony and CCA are currently focused on addressing and find out what to expect from listening to future episodes of this podcast.