OFA Opposes Measure J and Here's Why

OFA Opposes Measure J and Here’s Why

This November, voters in Sonoma County, California will have the opportunity to vote on Measure J. If passed, the measure would amend the Sonoma County Code to phase-out existing and prohibit future dairy and poultry Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), including small, medium and large farms with CAFO designation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assigns the designation of CAFO in order to regulate operations that could pose a risk to natural resources. The definition of CAFO includes confinement of animals for 45 days or more, and categorizes operations based on size and contact with surface water. 

Organic Farmers Association (OFA) recognizes that factory farms are disastrous for the environment, human health, and animal welfare. Promoting animal welfare and fighting corporate consolidation are consistent policy priorities of OFA. However, this measure is so broadly written that it would include small to medium pasture-based and certified organic farmers. These farmers independent organic farmers would become collateral damage, outweighing whatever benefit it might generate.  

In Sonoma County, 100% of dairies are pasture-based and 84% of these dairies are organic (1), with cows managed on pasture and with stringent requirements for animal welfare. If Measure J were to pass, it would prohibit all dairies over 700 cows from operating regardless of how those cows are managed. However, since organic and pasture based dairies in Sonoma County must often house their animals in the winter months to protect soil and pasture health, operations as small as 200 cows could also be forced to close or downsize. This would have a ripple effect throughout the region, impacting agricultural equipment and processing businesses and leaving thousands of acres of farmland and pasture at risk for development.

While OFA does not often weigh in on local policies, we have chosen to support our California members and allies in opposition of Measure J. 

For more information on Measure J, read this statement from Community Alliance with Family Farmers, and visit No On Measure J or Sonoma Food No On J.

If you are interested in finding ways to oppose factory farms around the country, OFA supports the Farm System Reform Act. The Farm System Reform Act would:

• Place an immediate moratorium on new and expanding large CAFOs, and phase out by 2040 the largest CAFOs as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency
• Hold corporate integrators responsible for pollution and other harm caused by CAFOs
• Provide a voluntary buyout for farmers who want to transition out of operating a CAFO
• Strengthen the Packers and Stockyards Act to protect family farmers and ranchers, including:
  • Prohibit the use of unfair tournament or ranking systems for paying contract growers
  • Protect livestock and poultry farmers from retaliation
  • Create market transparency and protect farmers and ranchers from predatory purchasing practices
• Restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling requirements for beef and pork and expand to dairy products
• Prohibit the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from labeling foreign imported meat products as “Product of USA”

Please find your Legislators’ information here, and ask them to support the Farm System Reform Act (S. 271, H.R. 797)  to fight factory farming and provide a more just food system.

1 – https://www.farmtrails.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/48-5_14_2024-COUNTY-COUNSEL-INITIATIVE-PETITION-FOR-SONOMA-COUNTY-PROHIBITION-ON-CONCENTR.pdf