Sonoma County voters overwhelmingly rejected a ballot measure Tuesday that would have banned concentrated animal feeding operations in the county. The final tally was about 85% against and 15% for Measure J.
Had the measure passed, 21 farms would have been considered CAFOs and been forced to shut down. Central Valley ag groups and other farm organizations in the state expressed concern that a CAFO ban would set a precedent. Western Dairies United created a separate campaign against the measure.
The Coalition to End Factory Farming (CEFF) was behind the effort, which received nearly double the required number of signatures to get on the ballot. But the opposition had wide-ranging support from ag groups and county farm bureaus across the state.
Additionally, a study from California State University, Chico, earlier this year concluded the measure would cost local workers $80 million in wages and increase Sonoma County unemployment by 13%.
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