By admin 
Four members of California’s congressional delegation representing agricultural communities urged leaders Monday to prevent the closure of the state’s commercial goat herding businesses.
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The federal lawmakers — Reps. James Gallagher, R-Yuba City; Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield; Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove; and David Valado R-Hanford — said the businesses can no longer operate under California’s labor rules following the expiration of the industry’s overtime exemption, putting at risk a sector they say is critical to wildfire prevention.
“Commercial goat herding is a simple and effective way to reduce dangerous fuel loads before wildfire season,” said Gallagher in a news release. “Sacramento shouldn’t be making it harder for these businesses to operate when they’re doing vital work to protect communities across California. State leaders should work fast to fix this before we lose this important industry.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón, D-Santa Barbara, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, described the unique structure of the goat herding industry, which had previously relied on an overtime exemption that allowed businesses to pay herders a monthly salary rather than an hourly wage.
The exemption was created in 2022 and later extended to account for the around-the-clock nature of herding work. But it expired June 30, subjecting goat herders to California’s standard overtime requirements.
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Industry leaders say the change could drive labor costs to unsustainable levels, potentially forcing businesses to close.
Tim Arrowsmith, owner of Western Grazers, previously told The Sacramento Bee he would likely have to sell his goats by the end of the year.
“We’re hoping there’s enough people calling Sacramento right now between now and August 15th or 20th, that there’s so much public outcry about this that the Legislature will actually take it up and fix it,” Arrowsmith said.
The four Republican representatives urged state leaders to act quickly to preserve the state’s commercial goat herding industry.
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