EHL was quoted on a sustainable grazing initiative
San Diego County initiated a program to use cattle to achieve both agricultural and environmental goals.
City News Service (“County supervisors unanimously advance cattle-grazing proposal,” May 22, 2025) reported on a public hearing which demonstrated consensus amongst ranchers and conservationists. EHL has long-supported viable farm and ranch economies. Grazing, properly performed and with protection for riparian areas, is particularly useful in controlling flammable non-native grasses and fostering wildflower displaces. It can even help the Stephens’ kangaroo rat, an endangered species.
Dan Silver of the Endangered Habitats League said his group was “conceptually in favor” of a possible grazing policy change, but added there are “harms as well as benefits to grazing.”
The environmental group doesn’t want ordinance exemptions “be a predetermined, preordained outcome,” Silver said. “There would need to be strict best management practices and site selection criteria for this to be successful.”
Silver, the group’s executive director, suggested the county work with the University of California Agriculture Extension and use a rangeland consultant to assist on policy, rather than burden county land-use employees.
