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Supervisor raises concerns about goat-herder wage changes and local fire-resilience impacts
Summary
A supervisor reported Farm Bureau input that changes to wage rules and expiring exemptions could push goat-herder labor costs to unsustainable levels, potentially affecting roadside grazing that supports fire resilience; consultants offered to coordinate state-level engagement.
A supervisor told the board the Farm Bureau has raised concerns that recent wage changes and the expiration of exemptions could raise costs for goat herders to as much as roughly $240,000 per year, making grazing that supports roadside fire resilience unaffordable for some operators.
Jeff Neal acknowledged prior state review and said the Department of Industrial Relations and counties (including Fresno previously) have engaged on related issues; he offered to coordinate with the supervisor to pursue solutions or raise the issue with state agencies.
Board members underscored the link between grazing and fire resilience and asked staff and consultants to help track and, where appropriate, advocate for practical approaches.
