PETALUMA, Calif. -- In a stretch of Northern California known for scenic shorelines and celebrated vineyards, hundreds of brown-bodied hens waddle around a large barn at Weber Family Farms.

“You provide them a stress-free environment with ample water, food, and fresh air, ensuring they are healthy — and they will reward you by providing milk, eggs, or meat,” owner Mike Weber explained, proudly showcasing his farm with its hundreds of thousands of chickens.

However, some animal welfare advocates argue that large-scale farms like Weber's raise concerns.

Kristina Garfinkel stated that she doesn’t agree with confining tens of thousands of chickens in facilities without outdoor access. She argues that these massive operations are pushing out smaller egg and dairy farms and making it difficult for them to stay in business.

Garfinkel, leading the Coalition to End Factory Farming, has been campaigning for a ballot measure aimed at ending large-scale confined animal agriculture in Sonoma County. Supporters say the move is about ethical animal treatment. However, critics argue it is a misguided effort that could negatively impact local egg farming and dairies.

Residents of Sonoma County, located north of San Francisco and home to half a million people, will cast their votes this autumn on the proposed measure. The proposal would require the county to gradually eliminate what federal authorities classify as concentrated animal feeding operations, or farms where large numbers of animals are kept in confined settings.

The initiative enjoys the support of animal rights advocates. However, it has also ignited considerable opposition, with residents displaying a significant number of signs along roadsides, in front yards, and on farmland, voicing their dissent against Measure J.

Weber said California already has strict regulations concerning animal treatment, with farmers required to maintain records, undergo annual inspections, and provide adequate space for livestock. He believes the measure would force his family's century-old farm — one of many county farms affected by avian influenza last year — out of business. His commercial egg farm produces organic and conventional eggs, along with organic fertilizers.

"To declare that all animal agriculture is harmful and therefore our mission is to eliminate it is completely unreasonable, and it's not in line with American values," he said.

Garfinkel explained that the measure would impact 21 large-scale farms, which would be provided with time to adjust their operations.

“It primarily affects the largest, most detrimental farms,” she remarked about the measure.

In 2018, Californians overwhelmingly endorsed a statewide ballot initiative mandating that all eggs sold within the state originate from cage-free hens. The nation's most populous state had previously enacted another measure to elevate the standards for raising such animals.

Kathy Cullen, who operates a farm animal sanctuary, stated that she opposes confining animals for any reason. However, Cullen clarified that proponents are not seeking to shut down all farms, but rather advocating for their transformation. She added that the measure has contributed to heightened awareness regarding the well-being of farm animals.

Farmers feel the measure has increased awareness 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 with a long agricultural history and over 3,000 farms in 2022, according to national agricultural statistics.

The county is particularly known for its wine grape cultivation, but it also features dairies and poultry farms, as well as farms that grow vegetables and apples.

"Finding a positive aspect, to some extent, is that it's bringing the community together," Ghirardelli stated.