The January 29 edition of the AgNet News Hour delivered one of the most wide-ranging and passionate interviews of the year as hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill sat down with Dayna Ghirardelli, Executive Director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau. From animal-rights extremism to water insecurity, vineyard market shifts, and the rising cost of simply staying in business, Ghirardelli laid out why farming in Sonoma County has become a daily fight — and why giving up is not an option.
Ghirardelli opened by acknowledging the beauty of Sonoma County, while making it clear that agriculture there faces relentless pressure. Wine grapes remain under market strain, the Potter Valley Project threatens regional water reliability, and animal-rights activists continue to target dairies and poultry operations despite strong local voter support for agriculture. “It’s another day in agriculture in Sonoma County,” she said. “And it never slows down.”
A major focus of the conversation was Measure J, a ballot initiative backed by animal-rights groups that aimed to ban so-called “factory farms” in the county. Ghirardelli explained that the measure deliberately misused the EPA’s CAFO definition, which is meant to regulate water quality — not eliminate animal agriculture. Had it passed, she said, the fallout would have devastated poultry, dairy, and the many businesses that support them. Voters overwhelmingly rejected the measure, stopping what she called an attempt to turn Sonoma County into a statewide test case for eliminating animal agriculture altogether.
The interview also addressed the recent conviction of Zoe Rosenberg, an activist tied to the Measure J campaign who was found guilty of felony conspiracy and multiple misdemeanors after trespassing, tampering with vehicles, and stealing livestock. While Ghirardelli welcomed accountability, she expressed frustration that the sentence amounted to just ten days in jail. “It sends a dangerous message,” she said, warning that weak penalties embolden extremists who view arrest as a badge of honor.
Water and environmental policy were another major theme. While Sonoma County hasn’t faced the wolf pressure seen in other regions, Ghirardelli noted that predator issues, NGOs, and environmental lawsuits are increasingly being used as tools to financially bleed farmers dry. “They don’t need to win,” she said. “They just need to make it expensive enough to keep farming.”
Education, she emphasized, is agriculture’s strongest defense. Ghirardelli said the industry has done a good job marketing, but not nearly enough educating. Programs like Ag Days, Farm Fest, and school outreach events are critical to reconnecting the public with where food actually comes from — especially in a state where many residents believe it comes straight from a grocery shelf.
Looking ahead to 2026, Ghirardelli called the moment urgent. Rising costs, regulatory overload, housing challenges, and political polarization are pushing California toward a breaking point. “People need to stop voting by party and start voting by reality,” she said. “Quality of life is on the line.”
Papagni summed it up simply: Dayna Ghirardelli isn’t just defending agriculture — she’s defending common sense.
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