Berkeley, California, has recently passed a groundbreaking law that bans factory farming within its city limits, becoming the first U.S. city to do so!

Enacted through Measure DD, which was supported by over 60% of Berkeley voters, this new law targets the practices associated with Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).

Measure DD, a citizen-initiated ballot measure, aims to outlaw these operations in the city. CAFOs, including large-scale industrial farms that confine numerous animals like cows, pigs, and chickens, are primarily focused on maximizing profits by maximizing space, often at the expense of animal welfare. These operations can also involve animals used in entertainment or sports, emphasizing efficiency over ethical considerations.

CAFOs are a major component of U.S. agriculture, with an estimated 99 percent of farm animals housed in such environments. According to Measure DD, a CAFO is an agricultural facility where animals are kept confined and fed for 45 days or more within a 12-month span, without access to the outdoors. Facilities are designated as CAFOs based on size thresholds defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or their potential threat to water quality.

Factory farms are often criticized for their severe confinement practices, where animals are deprived of outdoor access, spending most of their lives in restricted spaces. These farms can accommodate hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions, of animals, leading to significant environmental degradation, including substantial pollution of local air and water resources, impacting surrounding communities.

Berkeley currently has no CAFOs, as the last one, a horse racing track called Golden Gate Fields, was closed in June after many protests about animal deaths. This new ban now stops any CAFOs from being built in the city. With over half the votes counted, 60 percent support this rule. The groups Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) and Compassionate Bay, who helped get this rule on the ballot, say it will be enacted once the vote is officially confirmed. More votes are still being counted, and the final certification of the vote will occur in December.

DxE has expressed hope that other jurisdictions will be inspired by Berkeley voters’ decision to keep the city factory farm-free.