In the Mid-Hudson Valley, goats are finding a new calling: clearing stubborn weeds and invasive plants from places where heavy machinery can’t go.

Goats have become a familiar sight across the Mid-Hudson Valley. More and more people keep a few on their property, and wherever goats appear in public, at festivals or farmers’ markets, they attract a surprising amount of attention. Children eagerly offer them hay, and the goats seem happy to oblige.

We at the Shawangunk Journal have a soft spot for goats, too. Every year, we bring our own family goats to the Blueberry Festival, where they entertain and bring joy to our readers.

But there’s more to these appealing animals than their charm. Goats are legendary consumers of vegetation, and now they’re putting that appetite to work.

If you have a rocky slope overrun with stubborn weeds, thorny Multiflora rose, poison ivy or other invasive plants, there may be a solution. Hudson Valley Goats offers a form of targeted grazing that sends goats into terrain where conventional clearing equipment can’t operate.

The idea grew out of a practical problem facing Scott Sans, CEO of Hudson Valley Forestry.

“We are not a tree service,” Sans explained. “We have equipment to clear brush and get it to the point that whoever owns the land can keep it clear without further intervention.”

The process is known as forest mulching. Specialized machines grind brush and vegetation into mulch, clearing the land without the need to haul away the material. Sans, who is also a committed environmentalist, takes care to operate the machinery in ways that minimize damage to the ground.

But even the right equipment has its limits. Rocky slopes and other inaccessible areas can be difficult or impossible for machines to reach.

That’s where the goats come in.

A Life in Agriculture

Hudson Valley Goats’ field operations are handled by Lucas Carini, who grew up in eastern Connecticut and began working in agriculture at an early age.

“Growing up in a rural area, I worked in the fields. Picked strawberries, harvested vegetables, I was working alongside immigrant workers. That work is something you either hate or you love.”

Carini clearly loved it. In high school, he worked on dairy farms, at a horse farm handling manure, and at a Christmas tree farm. And, on the fun side, he also raised a pair of Jersey calves.

He experimented with fencing goats and sheep, too. After high school, he headed west and spent a summer herding goats and sheep on a mountain in the Navajo Nation.

“That was a really formative experience for me.”

Next came a job in Missouri on a large cattle ranch run by what Carini describes as a “very progressive farmer.” The operation had 8,000 cows on 4,000 acres, with cattle rotated among pastures to improve soil health.

Carini’s adventures were not over. His next stop was an elk ranch in the Aleutian Islands off Alaska. Along the way, Carini became a passionate advocate for what is known as targeted grazing: using livestock strategically to manage unwanted vegetation.

Eventually, he returned east and partnered with Sans and Hudson Valley Forestry.

“Basically, we’re partners in target grazing, which is a separate company that I run independently,” Carini said.

The Right Goat for the Job

Carini now has 60 goats and has worked with several breeds.

“We’ve settled on Kikos, they’re from New Zealand and they’re the closest to a feral goat. They’re the most agile and they stay in good condition doing this.”

That agility matters when the job involves steep, rocky ground and dense vegetation. The goats must also be suited to the local climate and able to maintain their condition while browsing.

A key advantage of targeted grazing is that it turns unwanted plants into food.

“Weed species have high protein content and make excellent nutritious browse for goats. So what I like about that is that we’re turning a nuisance into value for the herd.”

Breed selection depends on geography, too. Goats suited to one region may not perform as well in another.

“In Texas you use Spanish goats, they’re adapted for hot dryer conditions,” Carini explained.

In the Hudson Valley, the working season runs from May 1 through October 30. A livestock trailer pulled by truck transports the goats from one site to another.

Before they begin grazing, however, Carini inspects each property for plants that could poison the animals. Goats can consume a wide variety of vegetation, but they are not immune to toxic plants.

Mountain laurel, rhododendrons, azaleas, yew and white snakeroot are among the plants that can be dangerous or deadly. Certain nightshades, including jimsonweed and black nightshade, also pose risks. Tomato, potato and eggplant plants belong to the nightshade family and can be toxic to goats. Lupines and milkweed are other potential hazards, while onions and garlic can cause anemia. Oak leaves and acorns can also be harmful when consumed in excessive quantities.

Once dangerous plants have been ruled out, the goats can get to work on many of the invasive species that landowners want to control.

Common invasive pests, like Japanese knotweed are fine, and goats love it. They will also eat barberry, a horrible pest plant. And talking of thorny vegetation, “They really love multiflora rose. The thorns don’t stop them.”

Even a plant’s appeal can change with the season.

“In spring time, barberry is bitter. But now at the end of the season it’s a favorite salad.”

Keeping the Herd Safe

For now, the business operates with two groups of 30 goats, which can be rotated among grazing sites.

“We don’t do small residential properties yet,” Carini said. “But I am considering having small mobile units that could assist gardeners, with special training.”

What about predators, bears, coyotes? Protecting the goats from predators is another part of the operation. Carini uses temporary electric fencing to contain the goats and discourage unwanted visitors. First, brush is cut around the target area; then the fence is installed.

“Bears, we don’t worry about. In this region, bears are fat and happy, they don’t bother the goats. Coyotes are very sensitive to electrified fence and sense it without even touching it.”

He is also experimenting with donkeys, which are sometimes used to protect livestock from predators.

“We just have two at the moment, and we’re using them with one group of goats. We are not using dogs at the moment.”

Donkeys have a reputation for standing their ground against predators, although Carini acknowledges that they “can be ornery sometimes.”

Not Just Goats

Carini’s work also extends to solar grazing, in which sheep are used to manage vegetation beneath and around solar panels. Large numbers of sheep can be deployed at these sites, and on larger installations they may remain for extended periods.

As the grazing season winds down, the goats head to their winter quarters and a diet of hay and a little grain. They still have five or six acres to roam, Carini said, along with shelter and constant access to water.

Life is good for the goats; they spend their days munching on weeds and turning unwanted vegetation into dinner. Hudson Valley Forestry calls them “Nature’s Original Land Managers.” But these hard-working, hungry goats may just be the happiest land managers around.

Hudson Valley Goats is based in New Hartford, CT, and serves the Hudson Valley, Catskills, western Connecticut, and the Berkshires, roughly a 110-mile working radius. To learn more, visit hudsonvalleygoats.com.