The California Cattle Council is now fully operative after the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced the results of the recent California Cattle Council referendum. With 68% of the results being votes in favor of implementation, the referendum passed with the needed majority and has now been declared operative by the California secretary of food and agriculture.

The California Cattle Council referendum was a vote of the state’s beef producers to determine if $1.00 per head should be assessed on the sale of live cattle to fund the California Cattle Council in order to provide more resources to defend and promote cattle production in the state. The California Cattlemen’s Assn. led efforts to pass Senate Bill 965, creating the opportunity for cattle producers to vote on the formation of the council through a referendum conducted by the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA). Members of the California Cattlemen’s Assn., along with agricultural allies, campaigned for support during the voting period from Feb. 21 to March 22, 2019.

“I am extremely pleased with the strong support demonstrated by ranchers throughout California for the Cattle Council,” said Dave Daley, chair of the Cattle Council Outreach Committee. “It became clear to me very early on that once ranchers learned more about the Cattle Council, they were overwhelmingly supportive.”

With the referendum providing a green light to establish the California Cattle Council, CDFA is now accepting nominations for a board of directors, which will be comprised of cattle producers who will direct the activities of the California Cattle Council and select funding priorities. All producers are eligible to serve on the California Cattle Council. Nominations must be received by CDFA no later than May 22, 2019.

Once the California secretary of agriculture appoints the members, the board will begin meeting to establish the California Cattle Council’s goals and budget.

“This outcome is reflective of the dozens of grassroots volunteers throughout the state and the thousands of volunteer hours that have gone into educating ranchers over the last two years,” Daley said. “I now look forward to continuing our grassroots effort as we shift into achieving the objectives of the Cattle Council.”