Amid overwhelming backlash from equine businesses, wineries and small farmers, Santa Clara County officials are pumping the brakes on proposed changes to the type of development and operations allowed on agricultural land in unincorporated parts of the county.

Once known as the “Valley of the Heart’s Delight” due to its flourishing orchards, Santa Clara County has lost more than 21,000 acres of farmland over the last three decades — and an additional 28,000 acres are at risk, according to county officials.

In an effort to support and preserve agriculture, the county is reexamining zoning rules in rural and agricultural districts. But the process has caused alarm among farmers, ranchers, equestrians and vintners who say the proposed changes put their livelihoods at risk as the modificatio

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