California's wildfire mitigation efforts face an unexpected challenge as a new statewide wage law is poised to put companies that use goats for vegetation management out of business.
Owners of brush-eating goats, a key component in reducing wildfire fuel in the state, say the expiration of a minimum wage exception for goat herders on July 1 has dramatically increased labor costs, making their operations unsustainable.
"We will effectively sell these goats to slaughter, and we will go out of business and probably file bankruptcy on this business and be done with it in the state of California," Tim Arrowsmith, owner of Western Grazers, told KRCR.
Goat herders are often required to live on-site with their herds, working around the clock to manage predators and respond to emergencies. Previously, they were exempt from overtime laws. In 2016, California enacted a law establishing an alternative minimum monthly wage for herders. However, this statute initially applied only to sheep herders. A legislative budget measure in 2023 extended an alternative wage for goat herders until July 2024.
With this exception now expired, goat herders are subject to the standard minimum wage, significantly increasing the cost of operations. For companies like Green Goat Landscapers in Gilroy, which utilizes about 1,000 goats, this change could mean annual labor costs rising to as much as $240,000.
"We really provide a needed service, and it benefits all of California," said Brian Allen, co-owner of Green Goat Landscapers. "Goats go where people and machines can’t go, and that really reduces that risk of wildfire."
According to a March report from the California Department of Industrial Relations, approximately 20% of the state's sheep and goats are used for targeted grazing to reduce wildfire risk. The March report also suggested potential solutions, including reduced monthly wages coupled with enhanced worker protection enforcement and the possibility of using drones for remote herd monitoring.
Last year, an attempt in the state legislature to permanently exempt goat herders from agricultural overtime laws failed after facing opposition from labor groups. The California Labor Federation stated, "Herders and all agricultural workers are essential workers, and the least we can do is uphold their right to fair pay; pay that all essential workers deserve."
It remains unclear if lawmakers will pursue new legislation to address the issue, as worker advocates continue to push for increased protections for herders. State Sen. Melissa Hurtado, who previously supported a permanent exemption, and other lawmakers are reportedly looking into the matter. In the meantime, businesses like Green Goat Landscapers are facing an uncertain future.