configs:
- config_name: main_data
data_files: facilities.csv
license: cc0-1.0
Dataset Card for Cal-FF
Cal-FF is a comprehensive dataset of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in California, compiled using satellite imagery, computer vision, and human validation. It provides an improved and near-complete census of CAFOs, addressing gaps in administrative records.
The dataset and associated manuscript has been accepted for publication on Nature Scientific Data (will link ASAP).
This dataset has redacted some publicly-available information, including facility addresses, in order to protect privacy. Because these are highly regulated facilities and addresses are a key method of performing record linkage and using this data in research, we will share this data for research purposes upon request.
Dataset Details
Dataset Description
Cal-FF includes facility locations, ownership records, satellite images, and detailed annotations. It was compiled to improve upon incomplete or inaccurate state administrative records.
- Curated by: Varun Magesh, Nic Rothbacher, Saskia Comess, Erin Maneri, Kit Rodolfa, Sara Tartof, Joan Casey, Keeve Nachman, Daniel E. Ho
- Funded by: Anonymous Fund at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, Schmidt Futures, Google Cloud
- License: the Cal-FF Dataset © 2025 by Varun Magesh, Nic Rothbacher, Saskia Comess, Erin Maneri, Kit Rodolfa, Sara Tartof, Joan Casey, Keeve Nachman, Daniel E. Ho is marked with CC0 1.0. If used in an academic work, please attribute to:
Magesh, Varun, Nic Rothbacher, Saskia Comess, Erin Maneri, Kit Rodolfa, Sara Tartof, Joan Casey, Keeve Nachman and Daniel E. Ho. Cal-FF: A Comprehensive Dataset of Factory Farms in California Compiled Using Computer Vision and Human Validation. Unpublished manuscript, 2025. Available at https://huggingface.co/datasets/reglab/cal-ff.
Dataset Sources
- Repository: https://huggingface.co/datasets/reglab/cal-ff
- Paper: Submitted for review.
Uses
Direct Use
- Improved CAFO location tracking
- Analysis of regulatory gaps
- Research on environmental and public health impacts of factory farming
Dataset Contents
- Facility Footprints: Geospatial data about facility building footprint labels
- Regulatory Data: CAFO permits associated with facilities
- Land use data: Parcel information
- Annotations: Footprints, animal types, construction & destruction dates
Dataset Creation
Curation Rationale
To correct and expand upon existing CAFO datasets used in regulation and public health research.
Source Data
Data Collection and Processing
- CV model used on satellite imagery to detect CAFOs
- Manual review by trained annotators
- Cross-referenced with state permit data and parcel maps
Who are the source data producers?
- Satellite imagery providers (e.g., Google)
- Public data sources (ReGrid parcel data; CWIQS CA permit data)
- Environmental Working Group (provided initial locations)
- CloudFactory labeling team
- Undergraduate research assistants
Annotations
Annotation process
- Human-in-the-loop validation and correction of model predictions
- Labeling of animal types and facility boundaries
Who are the annotators?
- Undergraduate researchers
- CloudFactory contractors
- Authors
Personal and Sensitive Information
The dataset does not include private PII. Facility locations are publicly visible and cross-referenced with public parcel data.
Acknowledgements
The team would like to thank an Anonymous Fund at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, Schmidt Futures and Windward Fund for supporting this work. We thank Google Earth Engine for access to their analysis platform, the Environmental Working Group for providing data and insights on identifying CAFOs, and CloudFactory for contributing data annotation support. We also thank Ben Chugg for data analysis & model engineering assistance, and Vincent La and Dana Stokes for contributing software and data engineering support. Finally, we thank Brandon Anderson and Elena Eneva for their guidance, Christine Tsang for management support, and Arun Frey, Helena Lyng-Olsen, Yumna Naqvi, and Deborah Sivas for helpful conversation and suggestions.