By Russell Wettle,
Staff Writer.
Measure J is a highly contested issue on the 2024 Sonoma County local election ballot. The measure proposes to amend the Sonoma County Code to phase out Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, often referred to as CAFOs. These are farms where animals are kept very close together and farmed only for their products, making sure the owners get as high a quantity as possible. CAFOs are regarded by animal rights advocates as a cruel form of factory farming. Many farmers in Sonoma County, who would be affected by this measure, also have strong opinions about this change. As a county with a large farming industry, Sonoma County is a volatile place for a ballot measure like J and this is visibly apparent as propaganda has shown up all over cities in Sonoma County in support of and in opposition to Measure J.
Because of the controversy surrounding the measure, many people have strong opinions for or against it. One such person opposing Measure J is senior Keelyn Walker, an agriculture student at Santa Rosa High School. “There are no factory farms in Sonoma County. There’s only family farms that are larger than regular farms,” said Walker, commenting on how the proposition can be seen as unclear when it comes to the issue of what is actually being outlawed.
Likewise, those who support Measure J also want their voices and opinions heard. Most of the support comes from animal cruelty activists who want CAFOs eradicated. They also want to support small farming operations, protect the environment and promote public health. Since CAFOs often have very high greenhouse gas emissions and are usually unclean, these activists have taken these opinions very seriously.
Ultimately, Measure J is very controversial among voters, as some will vote for the proposition in order to help to end cruelty to animals, while others argue that it isn’t targeting the actual issue and will open up an opportunity for larger factory farms to sell their products here.
