It appears that animal protection groups have collected more than enough signatures to place a ban on sow gestation stalls, veal crates and egg-laying hen battery cages on California's November ballot. It also appears that the group backing the measure will have plenty of money to spend on its campaign.

According to the California Secretary of State's office, Californians for Humane Farms, the group backing the so-called Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, has already raised $1.6 million. All but approximately $250,000 of it has come from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

Meanwhile, a group organized to fight the measure has collected around $400,000.

The petition drive was backed primarily by HSUS and California-based Farm Sanctuary. HSUS, in a news release, said 790,486 signatures were collected, approximately 350,000 more than the valid number required.

Election officials are expected to take about 30 days to determine whether there are enough valid signatures to place the matter on the ballot. With voter approval, the measure would take effect in 2015.

The only major sow breeding operation in California is converting to a finishing-only facility and taking 9,000 sows out of production. Clougherty Packing-Farms Division, a subsidiary of Hormel and a supplier for the Farmer John plant in Los Angeles, Cal., made the announcement in January.

There is no veal production in California, but there are approximately 19 million egg-laying hens in the state.  

A group called Californians for Sound Farm Animal Agriculture (CSFAA) has been formed to oppose the measure. The group is described as a coalition of agricultural organizations that includes the United Egg Producers, Western Dairymen and others.

"These kinds of decisions should be made by veterinarians, scientists and animal welfare experts - not at the ballot box," said Scott Macdonald, spokesman for Los Angeles-based CSFAA. According to Macdonald, the principal strategy will be to "de-emotionalize" the issue through consumer education efforts.

"They may not understand farming," he said, "but they do understand government regulation. They understand that sticking your nose into somebody else's business is misguided and needs to be resisted."

The farm group coalition found itself playing catch-up before the game has even begun. The well-publicized animal abuse incident at a Chino, Cal., slaughterhouse has mobilized the animal welfare movement.

"It's already poisoned the well, to a certain extent," he said. "It'll make it a little more difficult. We have to stick a pin in that emotional balloon."