Voters in Northern California county to vote on whether to allow large-scale farms
A proposal to phase out large-scale confined animal farms will be put before voters in a Northern California county
PETALUMA, Calif. (AP) — 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 water, with food, with fresh air at all times, make them free of illness — and they’re going to reward you whether they’re going to give you milk, eggs or meat,” owner Mike Weber said, proudly showing off his business that has hundreds of thousands of chickens.
But some animal rights advocates say such large farms like Weber's are a problem.
Kristina Garfinkel said she doesn’t believe in confining tens of thousands of chickens in facilities that provide no access to the outdoors, and she argues that these massive operations are actually crowding out small egg and dairy farms and making it hard for them to stay in business.
