Posted on 05/30/2023 5:50:41 AM PDT by devane617
Hundreds of goats munch on long blades of yellow grass on a hillside next to a sprawling townhouse complex. They were hired to clear vegetation that could fuel wildfires as temperatures rise this summer.
These voracious herbivores are in high demand to devour weeds and shrubs that have proliferated across California after a drought-busting winter of heavy rain and snow.
“It’s a huge fuel source. If it was left untamed, it can grow very high. And then when the summer dries everything out, it’s perfect fuel for a fire,” said Jason Poupolo, parks superintendent for the city of West Sacramento, where goats grazed on a recent afternoon.
Targeted grazing is part of California’s strategy to reduce wildfire risk because goats can eat a wide variety of vegetation and graze in steep, rocky terrain that’s hard to access. Backers say they’re an eco-friendly alternative to chemical herbicides or weed-whacking machines that are make noise and pollution.
But new state labor regulations are making it more expensive to provide goat-grazing services, and herding companies say the rules threaten to put them out of business. The changes could raise the monthly salary of herders from about $3,730 to $14,000, according to the California Farm Bureau.
Companies typically put about one herder in charge of 400 goats. Many of the herders in California are from Peru and live in employer-provided trailers near grazing sites. Labor advocates say the state should investigate the working and living conditions of goatherders before making changes to the law, especially since the state is funding goat-grazing to reduce wildfire risk.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
“...the goats clear out the grass right down to the ground.”
That can lead to severe erosion of hillsides. Hope they’ve thought this out.
My flat Florida yard was an attempt at xeroscaping. I could use a goat to keep the inevitable weeds down to nubs. (And herd it all by myself!)
Cooked correctly goat is delicious.
Sliced thin and cooked slow goat meat is the perfect sandwich meat.
“3. It uses up/ wastes massive amounts of the states most coveted natural resource; WATER”
California needs “immigrants” like fish need bicycles...
Had goat meat in Spain. Very tasty.
Yep.
Better to put the goat-herders out of business and let the fires burn.
In California, this makes perfect sense - where ALL out-of-control wildfires are blamed on “climate change” - and not on the government’s mis-managed forest policies that encourage massive fires.
Trump was not wrong when he pointed this out.
Is overtime the issue ? Hire a few more workers, not at 14k though, lol. 5k ?
That’s true but the terrain here is gently rolling at best. We are in town. They’re used extensively including in the grassy areas along freeways
Translation: DAMN you for finding a good solution to a problem we created! Yer supposed to try to use a fossil fuel to mow those weeds so that we can complain and fine/tax you to death on it.
And what will we have to talk about this summer if not the unprecedented fire season? I mean, most of the lakes and reservoirs are close to full.
When the law changed the cost of my Mom’s home health care doubled and the attending gals hated it. They loved 3 on 4 off and the reduction in commute traffic. No one won.
...but it was the right thing to do. grrrrr
Fun Fact: Goats eat the weeds and poop out the seeds encased in fertilizer.
I other words they ADD fuel load to the next fire season.
Sorry....go to jail...that's cruelty to animals
You have to hire a mobile licensed animal slaughter guy.
Cabrito!
“Hey, It’s Stevie Nicks!”
There must by a state-funded California think tank looking for new and better ways to suck.
I would herd cats...for that money!
-PJ
When liberals are in charge, a society can’t afford Peruvian goat herders.
I miss the South Park kids going to Afghanistan with a goat to give to the kids of the Taliban and Stevie Nicks showed up.
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