The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The production of cattle for both beef and dairy constitutes a paramount industry of this state that not only provides substantial revenues for the state but also provides willing consumers with local and nutritious food.
(b) The raising of beef and dairy cattle provides a viable living for many Californians and serves as the economic foundation for many rural communities. Cattle producers strive to be stewards of the resources they manage and the existence of ranching in California serves the public by providing numerous environmental and aesthetic benefits that would otherwise be lost without the use of California’s various range and pasture lands as working landscapes.
(c) Cattle production in California reflects a diverse set of family farmers and ranchers, including women- and minority-owned businesses, that provide a varied line of beef and dairy products through conventional, organic, grass-fed, kosher, halal, and other production methods that fill niche markets desired by willing consumers. Cattle producers vary in size from small to large based on the total number of animals raised and contribute equally to providing wholesome beef and dairy products to willing consumers.
(d) The stabilization, maintenance, and expansion of the cattle industry of California and the expansion of local, state, nationwide, and foreign markets for California beef and other products derived from the California cattle industry are necessary in order to provide willing consumers an adequate supply of high-quality California beef and dairy products.
(e) The council’s form of administration created by this chapter is uniquely situated to provide those engaged principally in the production of cattle, along with beef and other products derived from the California cattle industry, the opportunity to avail themselves of the benefits of collective action in advertising, promotion, food safety, production research, nutrition, marketing research, the collection and dissemination of production and related statistics, and public education.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 497, Sec. 127. (AB 991) Effective January 1, 2020. Provisions operative or inoperative as prescribed in Sections 65061, 65066, 65068, and 65069. Repealed conditionally pursuant to Section 65066.)