Almost desperate to create a stronger economy, Inyo officials did agree Tuesday to go ahead with a study on a Natural Beef production business for the area.

Inyo County Administrator Kevin Carunchio said he and others have worked on this idea for a couple of years. He managed to get a USDA grant to do a feasibility study on a natural livestock industry.

Officials said this could mean organic beef or natural beef with no hormones or pesticides. The beef could be slaughtered, packaged and distributed from Inyo to local markets and markets out of the area.

The Inyo Supervisors agreed to move ahead with the study. They hope to have an economic analysis in hand by mid-December.

Carunchio pointed out that the natural beef market involves an expensive product – sometimes as much as three times the cost of regular beef.

Supervisor Susan Cash said, unimpressed by the natural beef movement said, "I just like my meat dead." She and others did support looking into this idea for Inyo, which already supports some livestock business.