Mega-dairies play a major role in driving dairy farmers off the land across the country, including in Oregon. They over-produce and flood the market with cheap milk, while externalizing their environmental and social costs, making it hard for small dairy farmers to compete. Forty years ago, Oregon was home to more than 4,000 dairies, mostly mall, family-owned businesses. Now just over 200 remain.
Threemile Canyon Farms mega-dairy began operating around 2000, and Oregon lost an average of 9 dairy farmers per month between 2002 and 2007. The pandemic has brought further challenges for small dairy farmers. Now, more than ever, Oregon needs to rebuild our economy, and re-regionalize our food system, wherein we prioritize small farmers who feed our communities.
A ‘timeout’ on new and expanding mega-dairies in Oregon is one place to start leveling the playing field.
This 2021 legislative session, alongside the Stand Up to Factory Farms coalition, Senator Michael Dembrow (D-23) and Representative Rob Nosse (D-42) are introducing legislation to enact a mega-dairy moratorium in Oregon and protect our air, water, climate, rural communities, small farmers, and animal welfare from the harms of this destructive industry.
Please join us for a virtual conversation with Senator Dembrow and Representative Nosse. You'll also hear from local experts including the Center for Food Safety’s Amy van Saun and Food & Water Watch Legal Director, Tarah Heinzen on the impacts of mega-dairies. We’ll also hear stories from the frontlines as Eastern Oregon community members share their experience living with mega-dairies.
Oregon deserves clean air, clean water and a vibrant local food system. Mega-dairies won’t get us there.
We hope you can join us on January 26th for a conversation on how passing a mega-dairy moratorium in the 2021 legislative session can protect our communities from the harms of mega-dairies and learn what you can do to support this important legislation.