Brian Allen and his son Daniel have built their goat-grazing business, Green Goat Landscapers, from just a pair of animals in 2014 to more than 1,000 goats and sheep today. Contracting with entities including Santa Clara County, the Santa Clara Valley Water District and private landowners across the Bay Area, their goats help to mitigate wildfire risk by clearing brush and weeds safely and organically.
Now, they say a lapsed state wage exemption could put them out of business within the year.
At issue is an expiring State Senate bill that, as of July 1, no longer grants overtime exemptions for goat herders, a change Brian Allen said will now require the company to pay each of its herders more than $240,000 a year—an amount he said no targeted-grazing operation could absorb…