Why This Court Decision Matters for California Dairy Farmers

By Anja Raudabaugh, CEO, Western United Dairies

Last fall, as California’s dairy industry responded to the H5N1 outbreak, our dairy farmers worked side-by-side with veterinarians, state officials, and public health agencies to contain a disease none of us had ever seen in dairy cattle before.

That response depended on one thing above all else: trust.

Dairy farmers needed to know they could report suspected cases quickly, work openly with animal health officials, and focus on protecting their herds without worrying that their operations would become the subject of public attention during an active disease response.

That trust was put to the test when California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) filed a lawsuit seeking the names and physical locations of dairies that had been placed under quarantine during the outbreak.

Western United Dairies chose to become actively involved because we believed this case reached far beyond a public records request. The outcome had the potential to shape how California responds to future animal disease emergencies and whether dairy farmers would continue to have confidence in working with regulators during a crisis.

This week, the Sacramento County Superior Court affirmed that protecting confidential farm information during an active disease outbreak serves the greater public interest.

The court recognized what California’s dairy farmers have known throughout this response: protecting confidential farm information strengthens biosecurity, encourages early disease reporting, and preserves the partnerships necessary for an effective emergency response.

For our industry, that matters.

Disease outbreaks are controlled because dairy farmers report problems early and work closely with animal health officials. If that trust is weakened, everyone loses. Delayed reporting, unnecessary trespassing, and compromised biosecurity don’t just affect individual dairies. They affect the entire dairy community and California’s ability to respond quickly when disease threatens livestock, employees, or our food supply.

Western United Dairies dedicated significant time and resources throughout this litigation, working alongside state and university officials and providing industry expertise to help the court understand the practical consequences public disclosure would have had on California dairy farms.

While much of our advocacy happens in hearing rooms, court filings, and conversations that never make headlines, this case is an important reminder of why your membership matters. Protecting the future of California dairy often means engaging long before an issue becomes public, ensuring the voices of dairy farmers are heard when decisions with lasting consequences are being made.

This decision protects more than farm privacy. It protects California’s ability to respond to the next disease outbreak. When dairy farmers know they can work with animal health officials without exposing their operations to unnecessary risk, everyone benefits.