October 2023 California Cattleman

RIM FIRE RECOVERY: A DECADE LATER

RANCHER PENS MEMOIR OF HISTORY-MAKING CAREER

PACKED HOUSE AT CATTLE-PAC EVENT

VOL. 106, ISSUE 9

CALIFORNIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

3841 North Freeway Blvd., Suite 130 Sacramento, CA 95834

PRESIDENT

Steve Arnold, Santa Margarita

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Rick Roberti, Loyalton

SECOND VICE PRESIDENTS

Sheila Bowen, Glennville

Frank Imhof, Pleasanton

Mike McCluskey, Red Bluff

TREASURER

Beverly Bigger, Ventura

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Billy Gatlin

VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Kirk Wilbur

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Lisa Brendlen

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Katie Roberti

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Maureen LaGrande

MEMBERSHIP & EVENTS COORDINATOR

Gracie Machado

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Katherine Dickinson

PUBLICATION SERVICES

OFFICE & CIRCULATION

CCA Office: (916) 444-0845

Fax: (916) 444-2194

MANAGING MAGAZINE EDITOR

Stevie Ipsen | (208) 996-4922 stevie.ipsen@gmail.com

ADVERTISING SALES/FIELD SERVICES

Matt Macfarlane | (916) 803-3113 m3cattlemarketing@gmail.com

BILLING SERVICES

Lisa Brendlen lisa@calcattlemen.org

SERVING CALIFORNIA BEEF PRODUCERS SINCE 1917

Bolded names and businesses in editorial represent only current members of the California Cattlmen’s Association or California CattleWomen, Inc. For questions about membership status, contact the CCA office at (916) 444-0845. The California Cattleman (Publication #8-3600) is published monthly except May/June is combined by the California Cattlemen’s Association, for $20/year, or as part of the annual membership dues. All material and photos within may not be reproduced without consent of publisher.

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: California Cattleman, 3841 North Freeway Blvd., Suite 130 Sacramento, CA 95834

OCTOBER 2023

WWW.CALCATTLEMEN.ORG

UPCOMING EVENTS

Los Angeles County Cattlemen'sl Meeting

Leona Valley | Oct. 7

Ventura County Cattlemen's Fall Meeting

Petersen Ranch | Oct. 8

Contra Costa/Alameda Cattlemen's Fall Meeting

Inderbitzen Ranch | Oct. 9

107th CCA and CCW Convention

Sparks, Nev. | Nov. 29 to Dec. 1

CONTENTS

ASSOCIATION PERSPECTIVES

8 10

12 28 40

CATTLEMEN’S COLUMN

Looking back at unprecented year

BUNKHOUSE Friendly new face takes on CCA membership and events role

DUES DOLLARS AT WORK

Grazing as a nature-based solution

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Setting the national standard for beef promotion and industry protection

LIVESTOCK MARKETING

Producers encouraged to work together to strengthen agriculture

ON THE COVER

The cover photo for this issue was taken by CCA Associate Director of Communications Maureen LaGrande at an event recollecting the Rim Fire, what it took for the forest to be restored and lessons learns by ranchers, fire management agencies and U.S. Forest Service personnel.

CATTLEMEN’S COLUMN REMEMBERING THE PAST YEAR

by CCA Second Vice President Sheila Bowen

What an epic year we’ve had! Record setting rainfall that was not predicted by most weather forecasters pelted much of California earlier this year. The prices paid for cattle in all weight categories improved as the year progressed. It doesn’t often happen that a good wet year and a strong cattle market waltz together, but this year they did.

To top it off, we were visited by tropical storm Hilary in August. She dropped almost three inches of rain into the gauge at the ranch headquarters before moving on. As I write this in September, the cattle around Glennville are chowing down on green feed that is growing up through the golden grass of summer. That does not happen very often around here at this time of year. Henry Bowen, my husband’s grandfather, used to say, “Never cuss a late rain or a late calf, cuz you never know when you’ll get another one.”

Just a short time ago, we were wondering how long the dry spell was going to hang on. This year is one that will be remembered for a long time to come as the year that killed the drought and set records in the cattle market.

Recently, I reread the biography of an Irishman named Nicholas Den. His story was told in a book called Pioneers of California. Den came to California in 1836 at the age of 24. He made his way to Santa Barbara where he learned about ranching from Don Jose Vicente Ortega and his vaqueros.

Den bought 500 head of cattle in 1838 and by 1842 he was a Mexican citizen and had applied for and received two land grants. Den’s herd grew to 10,000 head of cattle by 1849. The market value was a mere $2 per animal for their hides. It was in this year that Den visited the chaotic gold country to see his brother and have a look around. After paying an ounce of gold for a small leathery piece of meat, Den saw an opportunity. He went home and immediately made preparations to drive 1,000 head of cattle to the gold country.

Upon arrival the herd sold for $50 per head. The next cattle drive came on the heels of the first but this time they drove almost 2,000 head of cattle. This herd brought close to $100,000. Apparently other ranches were beginning to supply the miners with beef as well. When Den drove three herds north in 1850, the cattle sold

for $35 per head. Supply and demand economics was at work during the California gold rush.

The book also mentions that, “Christmas week of 1861 saw one of the worst rainstorms and floods of that century in the Santa Barbara area.”

Then, only two years later in 1863, “Southern California suffered one of the worst droughts in history…Livestock died by the thousands; their rotting carcasses could be smelled for miles.” By 1864, Nicholas Den had passed away. The number of cattle on his Rancho Dos Pueblos dropped from 25,000 head to 40 head.

Then, as now, markets and weather play a key role in the prosperity of our cattle operations and both can change quickly. As we press ahead hoping for the continuation of a strong market and a decently wet winter and spring, we are fully aware that there could be a downturn sometime in the future. We plan as best we can for whatever the future holds. We have tools today that were not in the toolbox of the 1800s.

The CCA is working each day to keep families successful in the cattle business. CCA allows producers to concentrate on their operations while CCA stays busy on behalf of cattle producers where policy issues are concerned. We have a tremendous lobbyist in Kirk Wilbur. I had the opportunity to see him in action giving testimony during a committee meeting as to why CCA was in opposition to AB 554. He did an impressive job of sharing our concerns. That bill was ultimately pulled from consideration by the author for this year.

I truly hope you will join your fellow cattle producers at this year’s annual convention of the California Cattlemen and California CattleWomen in Sparks, Nev. from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. When I come to a meeting like this, I always expect to come away with more knowledge than I had upon arrival and I always do. It is also an opportunity to see old friends and meet new ones. I hope to see you there.

DAIRY GIRL GOES ROGUE

CCA WELCOMES NEW STAFF MEMBER

by CCA Membership and Events Coordinator Gracie Machado

During my adolescent years, our entire lives were dedicated to our 300 dairy cows. This meant as a baby it was my duty to sit in the stroller and entertain myself while my mom tended to our dairy’s calves. This also meant that as I grew older I could play in the hay barns, sneak barn kittens into the house, name my favorite cows and put my handprints into any new concrete that was poured. The dairy industry provided me with a rich childhood where I learned what compassion, love for your work and selflessness service meant. I also learned how unforgiving the dairy industry is, and as hard as it was, selling our cows turned out to be the best move for our family in 2011.

The haybarn I once played in was now empty, and my handprints in the concrete were filled in with dirt, but I still had the opportunity to be involved in 4-H and FFA where I took on many different leadership roles and showed a variety of animals throughout the years including hogs, dairy heifers and beef cattle at the local county fair. My dairy roots held strong as I served as the District 4 Dairy Princess for California Milk Advisory Board during my senior year of high school. With that title came the job of traveling across the state of California advocating for the California dairy industry. At age 16, I bought my first beef cow/calf pair at the auction yard. They were an ugly little pair but cheap enough for 16-year-old Gracie’s pocketbook so I took them home and threw them on my parent’s pasture with their herd of beef cattle.

High school came and went and as I aged into adulthood, college was the first thing on my mind. I ultimately decided to attend the University of California Davis (UC Davis), where I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems with an emphasis in food and society in March 2023. College came with its own challenges, but I found my people while working in the

campus’s meat lab and as a resident at the beef barn and feedlot. During the years I spent at Davis, I learned even more about the beef industry from start to slaughter and grew to be a passionate advocate.

After college, I went to work at my family’s USDA and state-inspected slaughterhouse located in Orland. One of my jobs was to spend my Thursdays down at Orland Livestock Commission Yard buying cattle for the business. On these days, I had the privilege of building relationships and learning from cattlemen that are idols to me.

That ratty old beef cow I bought at 16 years old provided me with so much, and I was able to pick up a few more cows and have my own little herd waiting for me back home after graduation. While I always swore off cowboys, I am blessed to be making plans to marry one in December of this year. Together, we are beyond excited to dive deeper into the industry, strengthen our knowledge, and grow our herd.

The passion and gratitude I have for all cattle is undeniable. Although I may be straying from my dairy roots, I am thrilled start my career at the California Cattlemen’s Association as your new membership and events coordinator. I look forward to meeting all our members and continuing to fight for the California cattle industry that has shaped me into who I am today.

As we are now in the full throngs of the fall season, I hope you will join me at the CCA & CCW Convention the first week of December. You can find our more about the schedule for this year's event on page 36.

Jake Parnell ......................... 916-662-1298

George Gookin 209-482-1648

Rex Whittle......................... 209-996-6994

Mark Fischer ....................... 209-768-6522

Kris Gudel 916-208-7258

Steve Bianchi .................... 707-484-3903

Jason Dailey ....................... 916-439-7761

Brett Friend .......................... 510-685-4870

Tod Radelfinger 775-901-3332

Bowdy Griffen ................... 530-906-5713 WEDNESDAY

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER 8 • NOVEMBER 15

Fax 209-745-1582

CCA PUSHING CNRA TO EXPAND GRAZING AS A ‘NATURE-BASED SOLUTION’

by CCA Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur

Last month, California Cattle Councilfunded research was published in the journal Sustainability which examines the role of cattle grazing in mitigating greenhouse gas and particulate matter emissions from grasslands when those grasslands burn in wildfires.

The study, titled “Cattle Grazing Moderates Greenhouse Gas and Particulate Matter Emissions from California Grassland Wildfires,” concluded that “After accounting for the production of methane and nitrous oxide emitted by cattle consuming…forage, there is a modest reduction in [carbon dioxide equivalents] associated with grazing in grasslands that burn.” In short, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions on burned grasslands achieved by grazing cattle on those grasslands outweigh emissions of greenhouse gases via cattle manure and ‘cow burps’ (enteric fermentation).

Beyond grazing’s benefits for wildfire resilience and greenhouse gas emissions savings, the study also found that “cattle grazing can mitigate [fine particulate matter] emissions associated with grassland wildfires,” benefiting public health.

These benefits of cattle grazing are enhanced by the role cattle grazing plays in preventing encroachment of shrubs, as burned shrubland emits far greater quantities of greenhouse gases and fine particulate matter than burned grassland.

The newly-published research on the emissions-reduction benefits of cattle grazing builds upon last year’s publication in California Agriculture of a study finding that cattle grazing in California reduces fire fuels and results in more manageable fire behavior when fires are sparked on grazed rangelands.

The studies deepen our understanding of what we already know: grazing can preserve our natural and working landscapes and propel California toward realizing its ambitious climate goals (the State has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045).

The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) has also taken note of grazing’s ecological benefits, particularly in the years following California’s historically-catastrophic 2020 wildfire season, with CNRA Secretary Wade Crowfoot remarking earlier this year that “grazing is one of the…single best things we can do for wildfire resilience across the state” and noting

that the practice is what the agency refers to as a “nature-based solution.”

CCA has wasted no time working to ensure that CNRA puts those words into action based on the best-available science regarding the ecological benefits of grazing.

Last month, CNRA solicited public input regarding “an ambitious range of targets for nature-based climate solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions to support state goals to achieve carbon neutrality.” This exercise is required by Assembly Bill 1757 (C. Garcia, 2022). AB 1757 requires various state agencies to examine targets for the years 2030, 2038, and 2045 “that reduce greenhouse gas emissions…to support state goals to achieve carbon neutrality and foster climate adaptation and resilience.” Under the legislation, CNRA will also be required to update its Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy to incorporate these targets and strategies.

After meeting with CNRA leadership to discuss the issue, CCA filed formal comments with the agency in mid-September. CCA’s suggestions focused primarily on expanding livestock grazing as a tool for conserving and enhancing the state’s natural and working landscapes, specifically by seeking to expand grazing as a management tool to an additional 2 million acres of California rangelands by 2040.

CCA’s filing highlighted the benefits of grazing for rangeland carbon sequestration and for avoiding greenhouse gas emissions which may otherwise result from wildfires on unmanaged rangelands.

CCA also provided targeted suggestions for how CNRA – which oversees state land management agencies like the California Department of Fish & Wildlife and California State Parks – could implement the strategy, suggesting that the agency should pursue policy which promotes “support and funding for rangeland infrastructure, agricultural conservation easements, and research in rangeland carbon sequestration,” adding that “California should also support grazing as a management tool on other public and private land, specifically on State Parks.”

CCA will continue to collaborate with CNRA ahead of the agency’s Jan. 1, 2024 deadline to ...CONTINUED ON PAGE

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

set ambitious 2030, 2038 and 2045 targets for nature-based solutions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and as the agency works to revise its Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy one year later. Fortunately, as Secretary Crowfoot’s comments about grazing demonstrate, there is a receptive audience for CCA’s advocacy at the Natural Resources Agency.

One additional avenue for CCA to elevate the discussion around grazing as a conservation tool was revealed on Sept. 12, when CNRA announced that Secretary Crowfoot had selected CCA Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur as one of 17 members of the agency’s 2023-2024 30x30 Partnership Coordinating Committee.

The Coordinating Committee, chaired by CNRA Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat Jennifer Norris, aims to “enable effective communication and coordination among all groups that participate in the” state’s goal of conserving 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030.

The Coordinating Committee does not decide state 30x30 policy or implementation, but

works to identify opportunities for stakeholders to “leverage funding and other resources, maximize opportunities to expand and improve conservation, and build capacity of local and regional groups to meet their conservation objectives.”

While CCA will not be empowered to dictate 30x30 policy, representation on the Coordinating Committee should afford CCA the opportunity to educate 30x30 stakeholders about the value of livestock grazing for achieving the state’s ambitious conservation goals. CCA will also be better positioned to assist ranchers in identifying funding and other resources made available in furtherance of the 30x30 initiative. Finally, membership will elevate the voice of cattle producers among 30x30 participants and will ensure that CCA can provide greater information and transparency about the initiative to ranchers.

CCA will join with other members of the 30x30 Partnership Coordinating Committee this month during the 30x30 Partnership 2023 Gathering in Riverside on Oct. 11 and 12. Contact Kirk Wilbur in the CCA office with any comments, questions or other feedback.

PLC HONORS AWARDEES DURING 55TH ANNUAL MEETING

During their 55th Annual Meeting, the Public Lands Council (PLC) honored two individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the public lands ranching community. PLC selected Oregon rancher John O’Keeffe as the 2023 President’s Award recipient and Barry Perryman, Ph.D., as the 2023 Friend of PLC.

PLC President Mark Roeber recognized John O’Keeffe with the 2023 PLC President’s Award. O’Keeffe’s family has ranched in Lake County, Oregon since they emigrated from Ireland in the early 1900s. For them, ranching is a family affair and means that multiple members of the family are involved both in the ranch and with the wider community. O’Keeffe has served as president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, a long-time representative of the state to the national Public Lands Council, and as a voice for the industry in national commissioners and leadership positions.

“John O’Keeffe lives and breathes the notion that public lands ranching is good for the land, good for our communities, and is a key part of our nation’s future. His visionary leadership at the state and national level has made Oregon and our industry better. Most recently, John has given of his time to represent the industry as a whole in a federal effort to develop a wildfire strategy that moves us away from crisis management toward thoughtful, methodical prevention and mitigation,” said PLC President Mark Roeber. “John is not only preserving western heritage and producing high-quality protein, but his work will influence years of natural resource policy for ranchers, landowners, and communities across the country. I am honored to give John this award and thank him for all that he does.”

Barry Perryman was honored as the recipient of the 2023 Friend of PLC Award. Perryman is a professor of Rangeland Ecology and Management at the University of Nevada-Reno, where he also serves as the Department Chair for Agriculture, Veterinary and Rangeland Sciences, college of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources.

“Dr. Perryman is truly a great friend of the Public Lands Council and an invaluable resource for ranchers, due to his vast knowledge

of the native and non-native grasses that grow on the western range,” said PLC Vice President Tim Canterbury. “For all the work we as ranchers do, we cannot do this job alone, we need help from friends and allies. Dr. Perryman exemplifies everything about this award, from his research into how grazing nonnative grasses can reduce catastrophic wildfires to educating the next generation on the best practices to manage working lands, his tireless work makes our jobs easier and more efficient. I want to thank Dr. Perryman for his dedication to the relentless pursuit of science to guide responsible range management and for everything he does for our industry.”

SHOULD YOU ORDER THE ANAPLASMOSIS VACCINE?

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BARCODE COWBOY

BUSINESSMAN TURNED

RANCHER

RECOUNTS CAREER IN NEWLY RELEASED MEMOIR

by Managing Editor Stevie Ipsen

As individuals who face an endless number of variables – animal health to weather patterns, mechanical difficulties to natural disasters – cattle producers are notorious for their ingenuity. For the typical rancher, their inventive spirit usually comes from an education at the school of hard knocks but for Santa Barbara County Cattleman Paul McEnroe, Buellton, his mind for innovation predates his time as a cattle rancher.

While many ranchers may look back at their life’s work and see generations of livestock bloodlines, seasons of hay crops and the constant measurement of rainfall, McEnroe encounters a product of his life’s work each time he goes through the checkout line at his local Albertson’s grocery store.

The Universal Product Code (UPC), commonly known as a barcode, is a ubiquitous detail that consumers in virtually every retail outlet encounter on a daily basis. It is so commonplace that most people don’t give the barcode a second thought. But in 1969 its development engulfed the young mind of McEnroe, who was employed at IBM while completing graduate school at Stanford University.

McEnroe said at that time, IBM, which had been his employer for the past 9 years, had a lead on a major demand in the retail sector. Supermarkets had identified the essential need for faster product checkout and more efficient inventory tracking.

“IBM was one of the biggest companies in the world and their leaders were in need of someone internal that needed to meet some key requirements to head up a very specific project.”

McEnroe said.

With employment experience at Boeing in Seattle, Wash., an undergraduate engineering degree from Dayton University and advanced business and engineering education from Purdue University and Stanford, McEnroe might have been the right man with the right education in the right place at the right time. It also helped that his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, was also the home of National Cash Register, which produced check stand registers and provided valuable insight to McEnroe.

“I was selected to form and lead the team tasked with finding out how to fill the retail need IBM had in mind,” McEnroe said. “After a lot of thought and consideration, I thought ‘we could make a code that could go on documents, on labels on supermarket items to make the point of sale more streamlined’. After the approval on funding for the project, our team was off and running.”

Along side several of his team members over the course of the next year, McEnroe helped create the complex code of thin and thick black lines that would eventually become the modern convenience we call a barcode. Once the code was formulated, McEnroe recalls the implementation and business execution process to be one of the more difficult aspects of the venture.

“Even though the code worked, it wasn’t automatically just welcomed into the marketplace,” McEnroe explained. “In fact, there were 18 states who passed laws blocking the use of our technology for various reasons. But once consumers embraced it, the problems quickly scaled back.”

McEnroe’s long and successful career at IBM took him, his wife Ann and two children, Paul Jr. and Maureen, from the West Coast headquarters in the Silicon Valley and to a wooded community in the Raleigh, N.C. suburbs. He traveled extensively from Raleigh and San Jose to Texas, New York and overseas.

Throughout the duration of his storied career McEnroe also created the first commercial application of laser technology, the barcode scanner the magnetic code for Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) marking and the scanner gun, which he still holds the patent for today.

STRAIGHTENING THE RECORD

Humble like ranchers generally are, McEnroe says he can’t take all the credit for what was very much a team effort. Interestingly, if you do a Google search or inquire Wikipedia about who developed the barcode, a man named Norman Woodland will be credited. McEnroe is quick to give Woodland credit for what he did do but says not only did he not invent the UPC barcode, he wasn’t even on the engineering team that developed the code that is now an international standard.

“If you ask me, our team should have been credited with that recognition and he wasn’t on that development team, rather he worked in marketing and did a great job of helping to sell our code over his own earlier code,” McEnroe said of the award President Bush bestowed on Woodland for “his” invention. “Almost 20 years earlier, and before joining IBM in a different location, Woodland had invented and later sold the rights to a circular code which he now argued against, as we all recognized that that old circular code did not work reliably enough to be selected as the Universal Product Code.

Woodland approached McEnroe at IBM in Raleigh and was impressed that the bar code worked much better than his circular code. Because Woodland believed in the product and knew about code development, he was brought on as a promoter for it as it was implemented in the marketplace, McEnroe explained.

“I do credit him with having the foresight to recognize the

need for a product code in the retail sector,” McEnroe said. “He does deserve that and that is a very important point. But when he was approached with a presidential medal of honor for it, I would like to have seen him recommend it be given to the engineering team.

According to IBM, the company first applied for patents around bar code technology in 1949, but the idea remained dormant for decades because laser technology was not yet a practical tool for everyday use. McEnroe says if he could credit just one individual for having the most to do with the development of the barcode as we know it today, George Laurer would get his vote. Laurer worked for McEnroe's team from 1969-1977 and passed away in 2019 at age 94.

LIFE AFTER IBM

McEnroe retired from IBM in 1984 and his family became further interested in the western industries. McEnroe and his daughter Maureen had a long love of horses and following the untimely death of his son Paul Jr., retirement from ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Paul and Tina McEnroe ride horseback on their ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley.

...CONITNUED FROM PAGE 21

IBM brought the family back to the West Coast where McEnroe’s interest in horses and livestock was budding. Ann, McEnroe’s wife of 30 years was killed in an automobile accident in 1990.

They say the rainbow comes after the rain and for McEnroe, that saying proved true. Maureen introduced her dad to his now wife Tina and in 1994 the pair were married and moved to their ranch in Santa Barbara where they became full time ranchers.

Tina, the 1970 queen of the California Rodeo in Salinas and was raised on a ranch near King City. McEnroe said he feels so blessed to have found a partner like Tina who has such similar interests.

Paul and Tina McEnroe placed their ranch in a conservation easement that was started with the California Rangeland Trust and was finished by the Santa Barbara Land Trust, which McEnroe went on to be a board member of. After much involvement with the Santa Barbara County Cattlemen’s Association, Paul went on to become the group’s president and has been named Cattlemen of the Year in Santa Barbara County. Tina is a member of California CattleWomen, Inc., and was the Santa Barbara County CowBelle of the Year in 2016.

Having also been a director for the California Cattlemen’s Association, McEnroe said Organizations like CCA are critical to the longevity of the California cattle ranching community.

“It wasn’t an easy industry to break into,” McEnroe said. “It was a sharp learning curve and groups like CCA were instrumental in improving our operation and making our situation here on the ranch better.”

As a lifelong student, McEnroe said he also relied on the help of neighboring ranchers and former ranch parters Pam and Nick Ewing for helping them learn the ropes.

“We run about 150 cows here on the ranch now and we do it alone. I love everything about it. The animals and the outdoors,” he said. It doesn’t hurt that the McEnroes live in about as beautiful a region as you can find on planet Earth.

Aside from the ranch, McEnroe has a fondness for competing in rodear competitions with his favorite horse and cow dog. He was

even named Rodear Champion at the Midstate Fair in Paso Robles. In 2023, McEnroe was also recognized as Santa Barbara Vaquero of the Year.

Of all the things McEnroe has achieved in life, one of the most instrumental is credited to the insistence of his father.

“My father always told me that education was the most important thing to strive for in life. He said that because he didn’t have any and wanted to make sure I did,” he said.

His father was also a lover of animals and the outdoors. “Not only was I blessed to have wonderful parents, I think they would be very proud of the course my life has taken. I often think about that as I sit on the ranch. My dad would have loved to see this,” McEnroe said.

As the 50th year anniversary of the invention of the UPC Barcode arrives in the fall of 2023, McEnroe has penned The Barcode. The book and memoir is a celebration of the digital age and the entrepreneurial spirit, “whether it occurred in a dusty garage or a lonely laboratory in a big corporate industrial park—and of the men and women who had the vision, the courage and the fortitude to take an ‘impossible’ idea and make it real. And then to change the world.”

With more details than one magazine article can cover, McEnroe’s book will soon be available to the public. More information is available at https://siliconvalleypress.net/thebarcode-book/

AGRICULTURE IS OUR LIFE’S WORK

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ANDREWS SELECTED TO SERVE ANGUS BREEDERS IN SOUTHWEST

Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah welcomed a newly-hired regional manager with the American Angus Association in midSeptember 2023. Landon Andrews of Spanish Fork, Utah, brings industry experience to the position as the co-owner and manager of Shandar Angus Ranch.

“There is no other cattle breed with stronger genetics, valuable seedstock and marketability like the Angus breed,” Andrews said.

He said he looks forward to working as a resource to support members throughout the fourstate Region 11.

“I have deep family roots in the western cattle industry,” Andrews said. “I hope to educate members and commercial breeders of the great programs our association offers.”

All 13 regional managers are full-time staff members of the Association. They work with cattle breeders in their designated regions to promote Angus cattle, improve management practices and assist breeders who want to get started in the Angus business. Regional managers also work with breeders to make sure their advertising needs are being met through the Angus Journal and Angus Beef Bulletin. They can often be found working Angus sales and shows or representing the Association at livestock conventions, while serving as a liaison between the organization, its membership, users of Angus genetics, industry partners and academia.

“Landon brings a wealth of knowledge to the Association regarding the beef industry,” said Levi Landers, director of field services. “His long-time ties to the breed will serve him well in his new role, and he is undeniably committed to the beef industry and the Angus breed.”

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Observe label directions and withdrawal times. Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. For use in beef and non-lactating dairy cattle only. Not approved for use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older, including dry dairy cows. Animals intended for human consumption must not be slaughtered within 28 days of the last intramuscular treatment or within 33 days of subcutaneous treatment. Do not use in calves to be processed for veal. Intramuscular injection may result in local tissue reaction which may result in trim loss at slaughter. See product labeling for full product information, including adverse reactions.

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1Varma, KJ, Lockwood PW, Cosgrove MS, Rogers ER, Pharmacology, Safety and Clinical Efficacy of Nuflor (florfenicol) Following Subcutaneous Administration to Cattle. Preceedings of a Symposium Held in Conjunction with the XX World Buiatrics Congress. Sydney, Australia. July 1998: 3-19. Mannheimia haemolytica, Histophilus somni, and Pasteurella multocida.

Packed House

PAC EVENT RAISES FUNDS TO HELP FIGHT IN SACRAMENTO AND BEYOND

Col. Jim Settle conducts the auction to help raise money for California Cattlemen's Political Action Committee.

Sam Avila enthusiastically takes bids during the auction.

As a former CCA President, Cattle-PAC Chairman Mark Lacey knows firsthand the need for PAC dollars for California beef producers.

CCA Second Vice President Frank Imhof and wife Theresa.

John Tracy, Dave Wood and Bill Enk attended the event.

Jason Hodge with his wife California State Treasurer Fiona Ma and Ag Liason Seth Doulton.

Hailey Rose Switzer, Crystal Avila and Marissa Fisher caught up during the event.

North state ranchers Steve Lambert and Greg Kuck made the trek to Paso Robles for a great cause.

San Luis Obispo Cattlemen helped cook outstanding tri-tip for event attendees.

As always, the silent auction was a hit with many great items donated.

Jimmy's Catering at the Mid-State Fairgrounds helped cater the event.

LIVE AUCTION DONORS

AGRI BEEF CO.

BEN HIGGINS

BITTERWATER OUTFITTERS

CACTUS ROPES

CCA

CHAD ULLMAN

CHRIS & MONIQUE HANNEKEN

CLAY AVILA, FRONTERA HUNTING

COWBOY FLAVOR CATERING

DAVE FISCHER

DAVE WOOD

ERIC ISSACSON, INTERWEST INSURANCE FLYING U RODEO

FRANK IMHOF

HEARST RANCH

JACK LAVERS

JAKE & MOLLY PARNELL

JEFF & SHEILA BOWEN

JOHN FULLER

JUNE & KEVIN KESTER

JUSTIN RHOADES

KERN CATTLE CO.

LACEY LIVESTOCK

LAURA TALBOT

MARK LACEY

NATALIE KOOPMANN

NICKI LACEY ENOS

PERFORMIX NUTRITION SYSTEMS

PLUMAS-SIERRA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

RESISTOL HATS

ROBERT HEELY

ROBERTI RANCH

S.A. CAMP PUMP & DRILLING CO.

SOUTHWEST FENCE & SUPPLY

THOMAS HILL

Morgan Voss, Jane Karney and Nita Vail socialized during the fundraiser.

CCA Second Vice President Sheila Bowen with Laura Talbot and Carolyn Roberti.

Kara (Kester) Dougherty had the winning key to start the ATV for winner John Tracy.

CCA member Art Richards with Immediate Past CCA President Tony Toso.

Local ranchers Anthony and Denise Stornetta came to support their fellow CCA members at the Cattle-PAC event.

Haley and Mason Mallory from Bengard Ranches and AgWest were also in attendance.

Glennville cattle producers Jenny and Jack Lavers represented Kern County at the event.

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

SETTING THE STANDARD

by National Cattlemen's Beef Association President Todd Wilkinson

I’ve had the opportunity to attend various cattlemen’s meetings across the country this summer. The common theme is that, as cattle producers, we’re doing something right. We’re producing a consistent, quality product, we’re promoting it effectively, and we’re staying engaged with decision makers at every level. NCBA has gone toe-to-toe with multinational companies, federal regulators, Congress and deep pocketed animal rights groups to make sure that we have freedom to operate and a business climate that presents opportunities for profitability. It’s thanks to you, the members of this organization, that we’re able to do that. NCBA continues to set the standard for the cattle industry because its members are willing to gather, share perspective, discuss the issues and determine a path forward.

In August, NCBA President-Elect Mark Eisele and I had the opportunity to represent NCBA at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference (CBIC) in Calgary hosted by the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA). NCBA participated in multiple CCA committee meetings as well as the U.S.-Canada Bilateral Meeting and a Trilateral Meeting with CCA and the Confederación

Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas (CNOG) from Mexico. I also had the opportunity to participate in a general session panel discussion with the presidents of both organizations. Key topics discussed throughout the meeting included animal disease preparedness, drought recovery and wildfires, product labeling, cell-cultured protein, concerns with European Union policies, and sustainability. I was proud to see NCBA taking the lead and the U.S. setting the standard in several of these areas.

Our efforts to safeguard the industry from threats of foreign animal disease and secure funding for a Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) disease vaccine bank was a major topic of conversation at this meeting. Canada has been working to set up a vaccine bank and, earlier

...CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

this year, the Canadian government allocated funding for the creation of a vaccine bank and preparedness planning. This achievement is important, and we reinforced NCBA’s position of prioritizing animal disease preparedness efforts in the upcoming Farm Bill. In recent years, the Mexican government withdrew its participation in the North American Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccine bank and has not taken steps to protect the Mexican cattle sector from the growing threat of FMD. NCBA and CCA both emphasized the importance that CNOG continue to advocate for the development of a Mexican FMD vaccine bank. Likewise, all three nations must and will push for greater collaboration of bilateral and trilateral efforts in animal disease preparedness to protect our respective cattle herds.

Most everyone in the northern half of the U.S. has been blanketed by smoke at some point this summer from the Canadian wildfires. When natural disaster strikes, conversations around sustainability often follow and that topic was the focus of several discussions.

There is a growing threat in Canada that their government may require companies involved in the supply chain to monitor and report greenhouse gas emissions. NCBA was able to provide feedback on similar efforts from the Securities and Exchange Commission in the U.S., underscored the need for alignment and support of accurate emissions methodologies like GWP*, and called on CCA and CNOG to unite in support of GWP*. We all know there is a common misperception about cattle’s role in climate variability and we need to clearly define how to accurately measure emissions and adopt the GWP* methodology.

Our sustainability story and the U.S. as the model for efficient production practices is not something the European Union (EU) likes to give us credit for. The growing threat of subjective European trade policies was discussed and extends beyond animal health to include animal welfare and climate agendas. The EU is masterful at creating new trade

barriers for imported products like a provision last year that prohibits the importation of food products from animals given antibiotics from an arbitrary list created by the European Commission. This creates a dangerous precedent for future compounds to be added without scientific justification. We also discussed another emerging EU trade barrier: certification of deforestation-free products like beef. Even though deforestation is not a problem in the U.S., it will result in additional compliance costs for producers who choose to raise cattle bound for the EU market. By simply substituting deforestation with another subjective term, U.S. cattle producers become subject to unfair trade barriers, setting a dangerous precedent that must be addressed.

Shifting to another topic — MCOOL. First, I’d like to make a point. MCOOL supporters argue that market momentum in past cycles was attributable to MCOOL. That’s clearly not the case as the market this year has been nothing short of phenomenal and it happened without MCOOL. The mere suggestion of the U.S. restoring MCOOL triggers an immediate response from CNOG and CCA that their countries will retaliate if necessary. Concerns were also expressed with USDA’s proposed rule on “Product of USA” labels. NCBA reinforced the need for a voluntary, trade compliant solution that allows for verifiable claims through existing USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service programs. Finally, my favorite thing to talk about — cell-cultured crap. This goop is one of the biggest threats to our industry. No matter what they say, it is not climate friendly. We need to make sure it’s properly regulated with a strong set of labeling requirements, ensuring it’s clearly distinguishable from real beef. I was happy to share information about NCBA’s industry-leading efforts to do just that. Canadian cattle producers were considering their policy positions on cell-cultured products at CBIC.

NCBA is committed to continuing to be at the forefront of discussions with partners in the industry and leading on issues that impact our livelihoods. A sincere thank you to our members for continuing to support the work of this organization.

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REVISITING DISASTER ZONE A DECADE POST TRAGEDY

by CCA Associate Director of Communications Maureen LaGrande

On Aug. 13, 2013, an illegally lit campfire off Highway 120 in Tuolumne County grew out of control and led to the burning of over 257,000 acres. This disastrous fire, named the Rim Fire became the third-largest wildfire California had seen and as of today is the 11th largest in the state's wildfire history. The severity of the fire has left an everlasting impact on the Stanislaus National Forest and on those who call the area home.

Bright and early Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, a few days shy of the fire’s 10th anniversary, ranchers, state agency staff, county supervisors, U.S. Forest Service, CalFire and other individuals gathered in Tuolumne to embark on “The Rim Fire 10 Years Later” a tour of the Stanislaus National Forest and the impacts that the fire made. Generous sponsorship from the California Cattle Council, Stanislaus Grazing Permittees – Tuolumne County Cattlemen, Tuolumne County Alliance for Resources and Environment (TuCARE), UC Davis – Russell L. Rustici Rangeland and Cattle Research Endowment and the Tuolumne County Farm Bureau allowed for an informative tour for all in attendance.

The objective of the tour was to bring a variety of groups together who all have different interests when it comes to fire and openly communicate what their entities' needs may be and to find ways to work together to reach a solution. Consisting of multiple stops throughout the day the tour identified, discussed and educated attendees on what happened, what’s been done and provided a look towards the future of wildfire.

Stop 1, Sierra Pacific Industries Property off 3NO1 “Rim Fire History”

As everyone found a seat surrounded by the shade of the forest, Stanislaus Grazing Permittee Association Chairman Dick Gaiser, Chinese Camp welcomed the group and thanked the guest speakers for attending. Gaiser provided a brief overview of what was in store for the day and then handed the microphone over to Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) South Sierra Area Manager, Tim Tate to speak about the history of the Rim Fire.

Tate began by sharing statistics on the fire and the recount of events that occurred throughout the burn. From the initial start on Aug. 17, 2013, the fire gained a lot of momentum. Three days later, SPI got a hold of operators to start mobilizing and building fire lines. Despite the crew's efforts to build these fire lines, the burn got to the point where it was too dangerous to continue. “We had to retreat quickly,” shared Tate, even leaving a piece of equipment behind. In the years following a lot of work and restoration took place due to the extensive fire hit. SPI spent the next two seasons directly following the fire, salvaging timber. “That was the fire that set a new consciousness in the public,” said Tate.

Stanislaus grazing permittee, Dan Erickson, Snelling, whose family has been running cattle in the forest since the late 1800s was the next to speak. He recounted his memories of the fire and what it was like for ranchers who had livestock in the forest as the burn worsened. While his family was able to retrieve most of their livestock,

other ranchers were not as lucky, losing parts of their herd. Erickson added that the fire personnel were good to deal with during the fire and that they helped ranchers locate their livestock. Road access with down timber and debris was a challenge faced when trying to extract livestock from the forest.

“Us getting around roads is pretty important,” said Erickson.

In the years following the burn, road conditions are still a struggle for ranchers to transport and move their livestock to the permit. To properly utilize the grazing ground, clear roads are a dire need for the permit holders.

Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor, Jason Kuiken, the last to speak at the first stop talked about the impacts of the fire and how the different sectors need to work together on fire suppression efforts. While speaking about fire and its effects, Kuiken emphasized how “fire impacts landscape, history and the ability for people to perform their job.”

He then showed a map of fires occurring over time from 1980 – 2021 to show how they impacted the landscape. While Kuiken commended the utilization of cattle grazing, he detailed how cattle don’t eat at the rates needed to manage fast forest growth and that prescribed burns or other forms of forest management need to be discussed. While change can’t happen overnight, Kuiken expressed the want to work in partnership between grazing permittees, CalFire and the Stanislaus National Forest to have people run cattle for generations to come and have a healthy habitat for all species. “We need to do more,” said Kuiken.

To conclude his talk, Kuiken posed the question to the group, What’s the biggest need, and how to change the outcome when it

comes to fire? Some answers he added could be implementing fuel breaks, forest thinning, removal of biomass and following up with prescribed fire.

Stop 2, Camp 43, off 1NO4 “Post Rim Fire Restoration”

The next stop provided a view and explanation of post-fire restoration efforts. Stanislaus grazing permittee, Stuart Crook, Groveland, also shared his family’s story of grazing cattle in the forest and had begun so in 1964. In the early years of running cattle on the permit, Crook detailed that there was a lot of logging going on at the time but a large amount of it went away in the mid-80s when the Spotted Owl came into play.

The Rim Fire heavily impacted Crook’s livestock operation, burning 100 head of his cattle. With the devastation and loss his operation faced in the fire's wake, Crook emphasized the need for work to be done to the forest whether it be road clearance or forest thinning.

“You’ve got to have good management out here,” says Crook, adding that putting cattle out on the permits helps to manage growth.

Next, Pacific Southwest U.S. Forest Service Research Station’s (PSW-USFS) Brandon Collins started his talk by identifying the following three observations of past fires through research and studies:

1. Forests have changed;

2. The effect of types of fires is completely unnatural;

3. And management is a tough circle when chasing fire.

...CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Attendees gather amongst the trees at Sierra Pacific Industries property to discuss the lessons learned during the catastrophic Rim Fire of 2013.

At left, Dan Erickson, Stanislaus Grazing Permittee, shares his experiences as a permit holder and the challenges ranchers face while on the right Barnie Gyant, a retired forest service associate deputy chief talks about how all stakeholders can work together toward common goals.

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

After sharing these observations, Collins explained what research has revealed about past fire practices including that indigenous people partook in burning, to help keep forests in check. Data from timber surveys in the early 1900s found that forests were more open in general. Today the forests are much denser and there is a shift where the small to moderatesized trees are the ones dominating the forest, versus the large trees.

As Collins concluded his talk, Tate got up to speak about SPI’s efforts and explain what took place after the fire. Immediately following a fire, SPI sends foresters to assess the damage and where they should allocate their efforts first. When looking at burned trees, there are three classifications in which the tree will be placed. These classifications are black, brown and green.

1. Black – High severity, most damage, get logged first

2. Brown – Areas where fire is a little less intense, needles left, cambium, (slim chance of surviving)

3. Green – Fire probably more modeled, lower intensity small group damage, tree by tree of where to harvest

Logging each tree based on its classification, the job itself takes a long time and effort. Tate, praised the owners of SPI, sharing how they are willing to make investments in not only cleaning up and logging the damaged forest but also helping to replant what was lost. At this stop, attendees could see in the background of the speakers, trees that had been replanted. Tate shared that the reforestation efforts included planting a variety of trees which was 35 percent Ponderosa, 21 percent Sugar Pine, 24 percent Douglas Fir, 8 percent Western White Pine, 10 percent Incense Cedar and the remaining Giant Sequoia. District Ranger SNF Jim Junette also spoke on the reforestation efforts and the goals for the future of managing the forests.

Stop 3, Penny Pines Plantation “Grazing Permittees Perspective & Strategic Fuel Targeted”

As attendees grabbed a boxed lunch and found a place in the shade to sit, a panellike discussion took place between grazing permittees, range program management and UCANR research specialists. Dan Erickson detailed how his permit enables him to bring cattle at the end of August and that they stay

until around mid-October. He also shared that he found after the fire the cattle did a bit better out on the permit with the forest regrowth, enabling his cattle to gain weight.

Fellow Stanislaus grazing permittee, Sherri Brennan, Sonora, described the specific set of guidelines permittees must follow to run cattle on the allotments. Some of these include keeping cattle in the area they are assigned to and not letting them go somewhere they’re not supposed to be.

“Cattle actually do a very good job,” adds Brennan, referring to grazing on the allotments and that they are a “tool in the toolbox” when it comes to fire mitigation efforts. Brennan took this time to recognize that the rural community took a huge hit because of the fire, noting that tourism, restaurants, hotels and schools were all closed.

After the permittees finished sharing their knowledge of the allotments, Range Program Manager for the Stanislaus National Forest Crispin Holland provided an overview of grazing in the forest in the early 1920s and how cattle numbers reached a high through WWII but reduced come the 1960s with the implementation of the Endangered Species Act and other factors. The effect on wildlife recovery after the Rim Fire was also covered, revealing that many of the raptors such as the Spotted Owl are sensitive species and that their comeback has been slow.

Cooperative Extension Rangeland Specialist Leslie Roach, Ph.D. addressed the social, ecological and economic value of the forest. Roach discussed rangeland water quality surveys and livestock distribution practices as well as studies of the benefits of long-term rangeland conservation livestock grazing management. UCANR Assistant Specialist Brian Allen completed the panel discussion presenting on a new technology, virtual fencing along with rancher and El Dorado Grazing Permittee Leisel Finley. Together they explained how virtual fencing works and the observations made over the last year on Finley’s experience using the technology on her livestock.

Stop 4, Cherry Oil Road and 1N01 “Wide Range Outlook”

The winding roads through the Stanislaus National Forest brought the group to an outlook providing a wide view of the forest. At this stop Senior Analyst for the County of Tuolumne Liz Peterson spoke about Yosemite Stanislaus Solutions (YSS). Peterson explained that YSS is a collective group with different

concentrations working with the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Yosemite National Park and private land managers on creating restoration plans and ways to maintain a healthy forest and ecosystem. To wrap up the fourth stop, Sierra Nevada Conservancy Executive Officer Angela Avery spoke about the Conservancy and explained that they are there to listen, learn and be the voice at the table for natural resources and translate those messages into policy and funding opportunities.

Stop 5, Cherry Lake Forest Service Station

“Forest Watershed Costs”

The final leg of the tour took place at the Cherry Lake Fire Station. As attendees took in the view of Cherry Lake, TuCARE’s Stacey Dodge introduced the final guest speakers of the tour, Ethan Billigmeier, Utility Analyst for the City and County of San Francisco and USFS Associate Deputy Chief (Ret) – Sierra Pacific Industries Consultant, Barnie Gyant. Billigmeier discussed old infrastructure and the effects fire has on them and putting more mitigation into place.

Gyant, who had been taking note of each speaker's comments throughout the day, touched on the economic side of fire suppression and how the money to work towards protecting the forests and resources is there. He also encouraged all groups in attendance to not just say they need to come together but seize the opportunity in that very moment to walk over and discuss their needs with each other.

“The only way we’re going to come at this issue is that we’re going to come at it together,” said Gyant. After Gyant’s talk, attendees got in line for a steak dinner and time to converse with one another reflecting upon the day. A final thanks from TuCARE’s Stacey Dodge and Sherri Brennan brought the tour to an official end.

While today the Rim Fire may not have been the largest or most disastrous to burn in California history, it still greatly impacted the residents, natural resources, wildlife and forest of Tuolumne County.

“Decisions on our actions today set us on a course for what the future looks like,” said Gyant. Individual needs cannot always be accomplished all at once, but the listening ear of those in attendance on the tour is a step in promoting communicative and active efforts between parties to work towards preventative wildfire strategies.

“We have relationships to build,” stated Brennan.

CCA Second Vice President, Sheila Bowen, Stanislaus Grazing Permittees and Ranchers Bob and Sherri Brennan and California Cattle Council’s Justin Oldfield.

Tour attendees visit with one another while enjoying a steak dinner.

New growth in the forest is shown here in an area where replanted trees have begun to fill in the burn area.

2023 CCA & CCW ANNUAL CONVENTION & TRADESHOW

NOV. 29 - DEC. 1 | NUGGET CASINO RESORT | SPARKS, NEV.

2023 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH

EVENT REGISTRATION

Full Registration - Member

Full Registration includes all events except Cowbelle of the Year Lunch and CCA/CCW Awards Banquet

$300.00

Full Registration – Non Member

Full Registration includes all events except Cowbelle of the Year Lunch and CCA/CCW Awards Banquet

$350.00

Full Registration – YCC

Full Registration includes all events except Cowbelle of the Year Lunch and CCA/CCW Awards Banquet

$100.00

Additional Cost

Cowbelle of the Year Lunch - $50.00 Awards Banquet - $80.00

To register visit https://calcattlemen.org/convention2023 and complete your registration online or download a mail in form. Call the CCA office at (916) 444-0845 to register over the phone.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS

The CCA room block at the Nugget Casino Resort is open! To make your reservations in the group block visit our event page at https://calcattlemen.org/convention2023 or call the Nugget Casino Resort directly at (800) 648-1177 and mention the group code GCCA23.

ATTENDEE AND EXHIBITOR

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

REGISTER TODAY AT CALCATTLEMEN.ORG

REGISTRATION PRICES INCREASE NOVEMBER 13TH

NO REFUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE

USDA: FARM REAL ESTATE VALUE UP 7 PERCENT NATIONWIDE

USDA's latest land values survey, released in mid-September, reveals farm real estate is worth an average of 7.4 percent more than a year ago. Despite the ongoing challenges presented to farmers and ranchers across the nation, the report shows that agriculture real estate values mirror the rise in real estate values across the residential and commercial real estate sectors.

Farm real estate includes all land and buildings on farms. The USDA 2023 Land Values report says farm real estate averages $4,080 per acre in 2023, up from $3,800 in 2022.

Cropland average value is up 8.1 percent and pastureland average value is up 6.7 percent.

Northeast: The farm real estate average value in the Northeast improved 3.9 percent year-overyear to $6,740 per acre.

Lake States: The Lake States' farm real estate average value jumped 8.2 perecent from 2022 to $6,450 an acre.

Corn Belt: Farm real estate average value increased 7.1 percent in the Corn Belt to $8,100 an acre.

Northern Plains: Farm real estate went up 13.7 percent year-over-year on average in the Northern Plains, the largest increase nationwide. The 2023 average value is $3,160 an acre.

Appalachian: Appalachian states saw a 7.8 percent increase in farm real estate average value to $4,980 an acre. Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia are included in this region.

Southeast: The Southeast saw a 5.7 percent increase in farm real estate average value to $4,840 per acre.

Delta States: The Delta farm real estate average value improved 1.8 percent, the smallest regaional increase in the report. The average value is $3,400 an acre.

Southern Plains: Oklahoma and Texas saw a 9.4 percent increase in farm real estate average value from 2022. The average value per acre is $2,800.

Mountain: The farm real estate average value in the Mountain region improved 4.3 percent to $1,450 per acre. This region includes Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

Pacific: The Pacific region – California, Oregon and Washington – region saw a 3.3 percent increase in farm real estate average value to $7,270 an acre. Alaska and hawaii were not considered in this report.

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PRODUCER PROFITABILITY INITIATIVE SEEKS TO SPARK CONVERSATION, UNITE INDUSTRY

Livestock Marketing Association members have a front-row seat to a disturbing trend: the continued loss of livestock producers across the U.S. They see this as a critical threat, not only to the livestock industry, but to the nation’s food supply. That’s why they’re launching an initiative to strengthen producers’ bottom lines and incentivize the next generation of farmers and ranchers.

Joe Goggins, owner of Public Auction Yards, Billings, Montana, said despite recent recordhigh livestock prices, it’s tougher than ever to be a producer. Lack of access to land and labor, over-regulation and input costs are causing more people to exit the business, while preventing new producers from getting started.

“We continue to disperse cow herds,” he said. “We continue to disperse flocks of sheep. We continue to lose thousands and thousands of acres out of protein production. And we really feel that we better push back, we better unify this industry somehow, some way, to try to encourage and incentivize people to be in this business.”

Goggins said by working together all industry segments can accomplish so much more than they can individually, and every voice matters.

"I’d encourage producers of all types, sizes and locations to reach out to people in their network and to the organizations they are a part of to have conversations about the biggest barriers to profitability,” he said.

These include, but are not limited to, the death tax, lack of incentives to keep land in livestock production, and competition for land and margin.

Mike VanMaanen, who owns Eastern Missouri Commission Co. in Bowling Green, Mo., while also currently servings as LMA’s Vice President, said despite the producer-focus of this initiative, Livestock Marketing Association is not trying to expand into an organization for farmers and ranchers — they just know every segment of the industry depends on the others for success.

“We just want to help our customer base by starting the conversation with them,” he said. “And hopefully they’ll take that to th e organizations they belong to, and we can all work together toward a common goal.”

He said the producer’s livelihood is the livestock marketer’s livelihood, and for one to be

from the Livestock Marketing Association

successful, they both must be.

Mandy Geistweidt, who alongside her husband Shaun and family, owns and operates Gillespie Livestock Co., Fredericksburg, Texas, said the initiative will help market owners help their customers — and she’s seen just how much help is needed.

“Our taxes are going up incredibly, because the value of our land is rising astronomically,” she explained. “So, a lot of what was Dorper sheep and Angus cattle is now becoming vineyards and agritourism.

“On a personal note, I hope I can take this initiative back myself because we have so many small producers coming out of the city that are just coming to Mom and Dad’s place now. … And I hope that I find some ways I can help even

those small producers stay — stay active, stay producing.”

But while the message applies anywhere, the implications could be much fartherreaching, Goggins said.

“It’s not only for our benefit if we keep these ranches in production,” he said. “We look at this thing as preserving our food independence in this country. Preserving our national security. The way we look at this is if the world wants the United States to produce the highest quality, safest product in the world, then all we ask is that that that these people can make a decent living.”

To join the conversation, visit producerprofitability.com or contact your LMA Regional Executive Officer or other staff to lean in and get involved.

LIVESTOCK MARKETING STAKEHOLDERS ATTEND D.C. FLY-IN TO SHARE VOICE

Focusing on issues affecting livestock markets and related businesses’ freedom to operate, members of the Livestock Marketing Association, including auctioneers, auction market owners, managers and employees, joined forces Sept. 1720 for the annual LMA D.C. Fly-In. The event is one of LMA's premier lobbying opportunties where members and staff work together to share their concerns with elected officials in the nation's capitol.

Despite the varying business climates and diversity across the livestock industry, LMA members share a united voice on many of the top concerns facing livestock producers across the United States.

In addition to face-to-face meetings with lawmakers and staff who have ability to enact meaningful change to better the lives and businesses of livestock producers, the annual D.C. Fly-In also serves as an educational opportunity for livestock marketing enthusiasts to become more familiar with the policy process in Washington and better understand the structure of our government.

This year after hearing LMA's key policy priorities, Fly-In participants were able to tour landmarks in the capitol city before a full lobbying day meeting with politicians. Having the opportunity to also visit with

U.S. Department of Agriculture officials also gave partipants insight to how regulatory agencies can work together with livestock producers.

While the event only takes three-days the information provided to lawmakers and to livestock merchandising businesses is an invaluable opportunity to better the business climate for livestock production across the country today and in the future.

LMA's Forrest Mangan and Col. Jake Parnell, owner of Cattlemen's Livestock Market, Galt, attended the D.C. event. They are pictured here on the balcony of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

CATTLEMEN’S REPORT

July, August and September 2023 California Cattleman advertisers are represented in this sale report.

BYRD CATTLE COMPANY

"Distinctly Different" Bull & Female Sale

VINTAGE ANGUS RANCH 30th Annual "Carcass Maker" Bull Sale with Sierra Ranches

HERITAGE BULL SALE

Bar R Angus with Tri-T Farms/Toledo Ranches Sept. 10, Wilton

Col. Jake Parnell

by Parnell Dickinson

Paige, Dana and Wayne Pastorino or Pastorino Hay & Ranch Supply, at EZ Angus' Bull Sale in Farmington.

Kristy and Kevin Tomera with Tom Hill at the Byrd Cattle Company Production Sale on Sept. 1.

Dick Rolleri and Perry Whittle attending the Dixie Valley Bull Sale in Galt.

Bill Barboni and Col. Jake Parnell at the Heritage Bull Sale in Wilton.

The sale crew at the Dixie Valley Bull Sale in Galt welcomed renowned California Auctioneer Col. Bill Lefty to join them on the block on Sept. 8.

Stan Sears and Dan O'Connell catch up at the Donati Ranch and O'Connell Ranch Bull Sale.

Bryce, Bill, Aaron and Kevin Borror at the 49th annual Tehama Angus Bull Sale in Gerber on Sept. 15.

Jason Judge, Lalo Camarena and Randy Criner at the Visalia Livestock's Range Ready Bull Sale on Sept. 17.

GENOA

O'NEAL RANCH

"Performance Plus" Angus Bull Sale Sept. 12, Madera

TEHAMA ANGUS RANCH

49th Annual Bull Sale Sept. 15, Gerber

ARELLANO BRAVO ANGUS BULL SALE with Diablo Valley Angus Sept. 16, Galt

Col.

TEIXEIRA

DONATI

Col.

RHOADES

Col.

Sept.

Col.

BULLSEYE

American Angus' Landon Andrews and Levi Landers with Western Livestock Journal's Jared Patterson at the Rhoades Angus Bull Sale.

Bill Enk and John Lacey attended the inaugural Rhoades Angus Sale in Cambria.

Paule Manke and David Dal Porto at the Rancho Casino and Dal Porto Livestock Angus Bull Sale in Denair.

Matt Angel and JIm Vietheer on Sept. 21 in Denair.

BOB STEIDLMAYER

Robert "Bob" Eugene Steidlmayer, 82, of Colusa, passed away on July 6. He was born on Aug. 15, 1940, to George and Geraldine (Ottenwalter) Steidlmayer in Colusa. He was a kind and caring man loved by all who knew him.

Bob attended the original Our Lady of Lourdes School in Colusa, Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento and graduated from Bishop Armstrong High School in 1958. He married Julie (Weisbrod) Steidlmayer in 1962 and had three boys, Christopher (Chris), Marty, and Joe. Together they built a successful farming and cattle business, JR & Sons. He was a member of the Our Lady

ROBERT MORRISON

Robert Keith Morrison, DVM, 91, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2023, in Templeton. Born in Hollywood on Sept. 1, 1931, to secod generation Californians, Roy and Veva Morrison. He grew up with his younger brother Kenneth on the family’s cattle, hay, and grain ranch located in Calabasas and Agora. After graduating from Canoga Park High School, he attended the University of California at Davis. He attained his doctorate from the School of Veterinary Medicine in 1956. While in college he was in the Agricultural Fraternity, Alpha Gamma Rho.

Robert owned and operated the Woodland Hills Veterinary Clinic from 1956 to 1985. In 1957 he married Dianne Hunt from Santa Barbara, his lifelong wife and business partner, who together raised their three children. In 1978, the Camatta Ranch in San Luis Obispo County was purchased in trade for the remainder of the Calabasas/Agora Ranch. For decades, Robert has been raising a large herd of highquality black Angus cattle, with the help of his

of Lourdes Parish, the Colusa Knights of Columbus, a member and past president of the Yuba-Sutter County Cattlemen's Association, and was a California Cattlemen's Association director.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Julie (Weisbrod) Steidlmayer, sister Sally Moore of Live Oak, daughter-in-law Thresa Steidlmayer of Sutter, sons Marty Steidlmayer (Sonja) of Sutter, Joe Steidlmayer (Kimberly) of Colusa, six grandchildren,and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son Christopher (Chris) Steidlmayer. Services were held Wednesday, July 12, 2023.The family asks that any memorial donations in Bob's memoriy be sent to the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church or the Colusa Knights of Columbus.

family. When he could take time away from the responsibilities of the ranch, he enjoyed traveling the world, with his wife. He was a long-time member of the California Cattleman’s Association and San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau.

Robert is survived by his Brother Kenneth Morrison, his children Tamy Elliot (Brent), Mark Morrison (Felicia), and Stasi Wilson (Matt) along with 17 grandchildren and numerous greatgrandchildren.

Donations can be made in memory of Robert K. Morrison to the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo at www.lcslo.org/donate.

Your expressions of sympathy are greatly appreciated during this difficult time.

A private service will be held at a later date.

Rangeland Improvements LLC

EMMA MACEDO

David and Erin Macedo of Easton welcomed their first child, Emma Lynn Macedo on Aug. 25. Emma weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces. She is the granddaughter of Joe and Maria Macedo of Easton, Jodi and Brad Carson of Acampo, and Mike and Tami Farrell of Kingsburg.

JETT LAWTON

Jett Michael Lawton was born on June 8 to Juliet (Conant) Lawton and Justin Lawton. He is the brother to three year old sister Swayze Rose Lawton of Nicolaus.. Jett is the second grandchild of Joe and Josina Conant, Wheatland and the late Michael Lawton and Dena (Webb) Lawton Lumbirt, all of Lincoln and the ninth great grandchild of Dean and Francis Webb also of Wheatland.

HDPE for Ranch Water

WEDDING BELLS

JUDGE & SCHLIPF

Jessie Judge and Bodee Schlipf were married on Aug. 26 at a ceremony in El Paso, Ill. The bride, originally from San Luis Obispo, is employed by Aziota Animal Health. She is the daughter of Joel and Kourtney Judge, Lone Grove, Okla. and Mike and Becky Umbarger, Powell Butte, Ore.

The groom is employed by SC Online Sales and is the son of Ryan and Sherri Schliph of El Paso, Ill. The couple has made their first home in El Paso.

1,569± timbered acres with direct access to public land on 3 sides, several year-round springs and Pine Creek flowing through. Was $3,947,000. Now $2,650,000

Swenson Butte Ranch - Idaho - NEW 160± acres surrounded by public land. 100± acres irrigated and producing organic beef. 2 wells, power, 2 dry-cabins, & well/bath house with mtn views. NE of Sun Valley. $1,499,000

345-3163

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