Ballot measure takes aim at large-scale animal farms in California county

Category: (Self-Study) Business

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In a stretch of Northern California known for scenic shorelines and celebrated vineyards, a battle is brewing over the future of the region’s animal farms.

Residents in Sonoma County, which is home to half a million people north of San Francisco, will vote this fall on a ballot measure aimed at putting an end to large-scale contained animal agriculture.

Proponents say the move is about the humane treatment of animals, but critics contend it’s a misguided effort that could harm egg farming and dairies in the county.

The proposal would require the county to phase out what U.S. federal authorities call concentrated animal feeding operations, or farms where large numbers of animals are kept in a confined setting.

The measure is supported by animal rights activists but has also stoked a tremendous backlash, with residents posting massive numbers of signs along roadways, in front yards and on farmland opposing so-called Measure J.

Kristina Garfinkel, lead organizer of the Coalition to End Factory Farming, said 21 large-scale farms would be affected by the measure and would be given time to downsize their operations.

She said she doesn’t believe in confining tens of thousands of chickens in facilities that provide no access to the outdoors, and argues that these massive operations are actually crowding out small egg and dairy farms and making it hard for them to stay in business.

Kathy Cullen, who runs a farm animal sanctuary said she opposes confining animals for any reason.

But Cullen said proponents aren’t trying to shut down all farms, but rather asking them to change, and that the measure has helped create more awareness about farm animal welfare.

Farmers feel the measure has created awareness, too, about the challenges they face, said Dayna Ghirardelli, executive director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau.

Many local communities oppose the measure in a county that has a long agricultural history and had more than 3,000 farms in 2002, according to national agricultural statistics.

This article was provided by The Associated Press.

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[Egg-laying hens pecking at the camera]

[Educational booth set up on a college campus by Measure J supporters]

Kristina Garfinkel (interview): “Measure J is a citizen led ballot measure that aims to phase out and end factory farming in Sonoma County, and it does so using an EPA term called concentrated animal feeding operations. If passed, approximately 21 CFOs in the county would have three years to either downsize their operations to below the EPA’s limit or cease their operations completely.”

[Garfinkel talking to college students about Measure J on campus]

Kristina Garfinkel (interview): “It’s hard to fathom what it would be like being one of those animals that has never even seen the color of the sky, or felt the breeze, you know, amongst them. So yeah, I think I just feel devastated. But I also know that I can do something about it.”

[Feeding rescued farm piglets at an animal sanctuary]

Kathy Cullen (interview): “I don’t believe any animal should be confined. So when I see them confined in any way, it’s rough. And when I see so many animals that are abused, again, for no reason other than people like the way it tastes.”

[Cullen giving pigs celery]

Kathy Cullen (interview): “I get yelled out all the time. Go back to Berkeley! I don’t live in Berkeley, I live here.”

Cullen petting pigs

Kathy Cullen (interview): “Measure J is not closing down anyone. We are asking them to downsize.”

[Egg-laying hens]

Mike Weber (interview): “California Department of Food and Ag comes out and inspects. Our organic certifiers, they come out and inspect. Our supermarkets come out and inspect. We have multiple layers of protections for our animals.”

[Egg-laying hens]

Mike Weber (interview): “It’s an activist group of vegans who want us to have a vegan diet. They want to start here in Sonoma County and put us out of business.”

[Eggs on conveyor belts]

Mike Weber (interview): “You’re going to see price inflation. Everybody’s going to feel it. We’ve had enough with price inflation. It also takes away thousands of jobs in this county.”

[Eggs being inspected and packaged]

Dayna Ghirardelli (interview): “Everybody knows what Sonoma County is about. Everybody trusts our farmers here. They are connected.”

[Booth at a farmer’s market selling homemade sausages]

Dayna Ghirardelli (interview): “We have to be good stewards of our animals in order to to produce the food that we do. So, you know, it’s just unfortunate that it’s come to really at the end of the day. This measure is really a stepping stone for a group who doesn’t believe in animal agriculture in and of itself.”

[“No on Measure J” sign]

This script was provided by The Associated Press.