Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast

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 ranch...

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...

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. Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

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.  Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

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. Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

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 Beekeep...

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 Audubo...

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. Text us your comm...

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. Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

CCA Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur joins Katie for the first legislative update of the year.  Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

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...

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 Administratio...

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...

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 minu...

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 a...

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.  Text us your co...

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.  Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

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.  Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

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 ve...

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 Go...

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 t...

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 ra...

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 consu...

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/...

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 i...