Ag groups join Lewiston dairy in continued fight for expansion

(KWNO)-Daley Farms is seeking an exemption to expand its operation by about 3,000 cows and now the Lewiston dairy is getting support from several agricultural groups. In a January 11 court filing the Minnesota Milk Producers Association, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, Minnesota Pork Producers Association, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association and Winona County Farm Bureau asked the Court of Appeals to overturn a lower court ruling that upheld a Winona County decision to block the expansion. The Winona County Board of Adjustment has to approve any expansion and the BOA denied requests by Daley Farm in 2019 and 2021.

In 1998 Winona County set an animal unit cap of around 1,000 cows per feedlot. The county was aiming to reduce the environmental impact of industrial agriculture, particularly nitrate contamination in groundwater. A Minnesota Department of Agriculture study shows up to 55% of homes in western Winona County and eastern Olmsted County have high nitrate levels in water which can lead to serious health problems.