Stopping a Chicken Factory Farm in Oregon
Oregon communities, family farmers, and Center for Food Safety secured a major legal victory blocking a proposed mega-chicken factory farm near the North Santiam River after a court ruled the state permit violated Oregon law.
What Is J-S Ranch?
J-S Ranch was a proposed industrial mega-chicken factory farm in Linn County, Oregon, capable of raising approximately 3.5 million broiler chickens annually near the North Santiam River. Community members, farmers, and environmental advocates raised serious concerns about the facility’s potential impacts on water quality, air pollution, wildlife habitat, and nearby rural communities.
The proposed operation would generate massive quantities of manure and waste, including ammonia emissions and contaminated runoff that could threaten groundwater and nearby waterways. The North Santiam River provides drinking water, recreation, and habitat for threatened fish species including salmon and steelhead.
JS Ranch Litigation
Center for Food Safety, alongside Oregon farmers, river advocates, and community groups, challenged multiple state permits issued for the proposed J-S Ranch mega-chicken factory farm in Linn County, Oregon.
The proposed facility would house approximately 3.5 million broiler chickens annually near the North Santiam River and generate thousands of tons of manure and ammonia-laden waste each year. Plaintiffs argued the operation posed serious risks to groundwater, nearby rivers, wildlife habitat, and surrounding rural communities.
The lawsuit argued the Oregon Department of Agriculture failed to comply with updated factory farm protections passed under Oregon Senate Bill 85 and ignored significant pollution risks posed by the operation.
In a major legal victory, an Oregon circuit court ruled that the permit issued to J-S Ranch was unlawful and revoked the approval for the proposed facility. The court agreed that J-S Ranch qualified as a “new CAFO” under Oregon law and therefore must comply with enhanced protections for waterways, public notice requirements, and local setback rules.
The ruling halted development of the proposed mega-chicken operation near the North Santiam River and affirmed stronger protections for Oregon communities, clean water, and family farms.
J-S Ranch, Factory Farms, and Our Work
J-S Ranch is a proposed mega-chicken factory farm in Oregon capable of raising millions of chickens annually near the North Santiam River. Community members and environmental groups warned the facility could threaten groundwater, rivers, wildlife habitat, and nearby farms with massive quantities of manure, ammonia, and waste runoff.
The North Santiam River provides drinking water, recreation, and habitat for threatened fish species including salmon and steelhead.
Local farmers, river advocates, and Oregon residents strongly opposed the project, arguing the operation endangered rural communities, clean water, and neighboring farmland.
Community members submitted hundreds of public comments, attended hearings, and challenged state permits issued for the facility.
Center for Food Safety, alongside allies and impacted community members, challenged permits issued to J-S Ranch in Oregon state court.
In a major victory, a judge ruled the state improperly approved the permit and failed to comply with Oregon’s updated factory farm protections. The ruling halted development of the proposed mega-chicken operation and reinforced stronger safeguards for waterways and nearby communities.
