Vote No on Measure J
The ballot question named Measure J is: “Sonoma County prohibition on concentrated animal feeding operations. Should the County Code be amended to prohibit, outside of the Coastal Zone, farms and other animal production operations that meet the definition of ‘Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations’ (CAFOs), as defined by federal regulations, require phase out of existing CAFOs over three years, authorize daily financial penalties for violations and require, among other things, the Agricultural Commissioner to create a job retraining program for CAFO workers?”
Supporters and opponents of the measure are gearing up for a fight that will determine the future of agriculture in Sonoma County, CA (and maybe the world). The measure has the 19,746 signatures needed to reach the ballot. Passing the ballot would force a dozen or more major organic and conventional dairy, meat and egg operations to reduce the size of their operations, forfeit millions of dollars in revenue or shut down entirely. Measure J would make illegal all large and medium-sized Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Measure J uses the Environmental Protection Agency’s definition of a CAFO, which is determined by how many animals are confined for at least 45 days over a 12-month period. Considering winter storms and high summer temperatures, many substantial livestock businesses—even smaller operations—in the county, and country, fit these criteria. Farms with 1,000 or more cattle or cow/calf pairs are designated as a Large CAFO and a medium CAFO is 300-999. Farms with 700 or more mature dairy cattle are a Large CAFO and those with 200-699 are a medium CAFO.
Organic and conventional farmers in the area are concerned that, if successful, this could be replicated nationally. The proponents of the measure are trying to create a double regulation using EPA rules based on CAFO and AFO (AFO are EPA designated Animal Feeding Operations) standards. Passage of the measure would mean anybody can sue a farm because of their perceived violation(s) of the Clean Water Act. Farms are already regulated by the California Department of Water Resources, and this would double the regulation and encourage wasteful lawsuits. The measure would also open the possibility of citizens suing farmers if there is a perceived devaluation of their property from a dairy farm spreading manure in the fall, even if the farms is 5 miles away.
For more information, please go to: https://www.noonmeasurej.com/ or contact the Sonoma County Family Farmers Alliance, 3589 Westwind Boulevard, Santa Rosa, California 95403.
