California's overtime law endangers use of goats for wildfire prevention.
New state labor regulations in California could raise the monthly salary of goat herders from about $3,730 to $14,000, threatening to put goat-grazing companies out of business. Companies typically put about one herder in charge of 400 goats, and 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.
