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Board directs staff to explore exemptions for sustainable cattle grazing on county and private lands
Summary
The Board voted to direct staff to study options allowing sustainable grazing to be exempted from grading and clearing rules and to evaluate county properties for grazing. Ranchers, agricultural groups and conservationists spoke in favor; environmental groups urged strict site-selection standards.
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on May 21 voted to direct staff to explore options to promote and expand sustainable cattle grazing, including whether to exempt certain grazing from grading and clearing permit requirements and whether county-owned properties could be made available for local ranching.
Supervisor Jim Desmond said ranchers have adopted sustainable practices such as rotational grazing and limited herd sizes, and that grazing can suppress invasive plants, reduce wildfire fuels and support nutrient cycling in soils. "Supporting a vibrant ranch industry also contributes to our local food system," Desmond said when introducing the item.
Speakers from the agricultural community urged the board to move forward. Andy Lyall of the San Diego County Farm Bureau said grazing contributes to soil health and water infiltration; Dana Groot, president of the Farm Bureau, highlighted rotational grazing practices; Joel Kramer of the Resource Conservation District said grazing can be more beneficial and less expensive than herbicides or mechanized equipment and pointed to gains for species such as burrowing owls and the Quino checkerspot butterfly from prescribed grazing.
Dan Silver of the Endangered Habitats League said the group is "conceptually in favor" but urged strict best-management practices, site-selection criteria and involvement of UC Cooperative Extension or retained rangeland consultants to ensure conservation outcomes.
Supervisor Desmond asked that staff work with stakeholders and noted concern from ranchers about the potential cost of requiring individual rangeland consultants; staff replied that the county could retain consultants and then report back on resource needs.
The board approved the direction to staff unanimously among supervisors present. The item is exploratory; no ordinance change was adopted at this meeting.
Staff will return with options for how exemptions could be structured, stakeholder feedback and an estimate of staff resources needed to support any policy changes.
