Proposed Dairy Farm Expansion Sparks Opposition In Dunn County

Rural Dunn County residents are urging the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to deny a permit for a proposed 5,000-cow dairy farm.

More than 100 people filled the tiny Rock Falls Town Hall in southeastern Dunn County on Tuesday to oppose the expansion of the Cranberry Creek Dairy from 1,300 cows to 5,000.

Resident Shane Urness said he’s worried about groundwater pollution from as much as 56 million gallons of manure the concentrated animal feeding operation, or CAFO, could produce.

“I think it’s a load of crap,” said Urness. “I don’t believe in any of it. I don’t think the cows are treated fairly. I don’t think a farm of this nature has any right anywhere, especially in this township.”

Cranberry Creek Owner Jeremy Radle declined an interview but previously told WQOW News that getting a permit for 5,000 cows doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll add that many.

No matter how big the expansion is, Rock Falls Town Board Chair Harry Warden said he wants agreements in writing from Cranberry Creek Dairy that will protect town residents.

“We are opposing this until, at the very least, we get some sort of agreement from the farm about road damage, a groundwater monitoring program of both the storage and the disposal sites,” Warden said.

There are 243 permitted dairy farms with more than 1,000 cows in the state. Earlier this year, a DNR audit found the agency failed to follow its own rules on inspecting and monitoring how large farms disposed of their waste.