Wisconsin Ag Connection - DNR Okays Key Permit for Rosendale Dairy Expansion Project

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DNR Okays Key Permit for Rosendale Dairy Expansion Project
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 03/03/2009

The owners of an eastern Wisconsin dairy farm that hopes to expand up to 11,500 animal units appears to have cleared its biggest hurdle. On Friday, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources granted final approval to a Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit for the Rosendale Dairy in Fond du Lac County. The move was one of the last legal steps the farm owners needed to have in place before resuming construction of its expansion project--which will boost its current 700 dairy cow facility up to 4,000. A second phase of the project would then double the size up to 8,000 cows several years down the road.

The issue became tense last fall when the DNR changed its policy regarding the approval process for new farm construction projects. On November 14, the agency decided to begin requiring environmental impact statements for all future commercial dairy and livestock operations that exceed 4,000 dairy cows, or 5,750 animal units. The farm's owners blamed environmental groups for pressuring the DNR to make what they called an 'unnecessary burden,' but agreed to cooperate with the new rules. The DNR then held a public hearing and took written comments before releasing last week's decision to grant the necessary permit.

Jim Ostrom, one of the farm's partners, says his project is one of the most publicly scrutinized and heavily regulated dairy business in Wisconsin; and said he has completed over 30 permits and other regulatory approvals before getting this far.

One particular farm group, which has been supporting the farm's expansion proposal, says the announcement is a victory for Wisconsin's dairy industry.

"We are pleased that the DNR recognized the dairy's many efforts to protect the environment and public health by approving this $70 million project," said Laurie Fischer, executive director of the Dairy Business Association. "This is a positive move for Wisconsin's dairy industry and for our state's economy."

Meanwhile, another state farm organization isn't moving as fast to back the project. Wisconsin Farmers Union President Sue Beitlich says the DNR has yet to fully understand the environmental and economic ramifications of a farm of this size.

"The groundwater contamination and air pollution produced by Rosendale will be unprecedented in Wisconsin," Beitlich said. "When Rosendale's plans are complete, it will produce 75 million gallons of manure per year and match the waste produced by the city of Green Bay."

The WFU also has concerns about how the state's dairy plants will be able to handle the extra milk on the market, as many of them have claimed to be at full or near-full capacity in recent months.

Besides Ostrom, John Vosters and Todd Willer are also partners in the venture. Each of them own other larger dairy facilities.

According to their projections, the three partners figure the farm will create 70 permanent local jobs, support hundreds of construction jobs and purchase $40 million per year from local contractors and vendors once their farm is up and running.