Massive local opposition to an outside corporation's plans to build the biggest dairy factory farm in Western Wisconsin continues, despite thumbs-up from Wisconsin DNR.
The Department of Natural Resources published a positive letter of determination on February 20 for a permit that would allow Appleton-based Ridge Breeze Dairy to quadruple the number of cows at a Pierce County dairy from 1,700 to 6,500. The pollution permit would also authorize Ridge Breeze to spread 80 million gallons of untreated waste on more than 9,000 acres in Pierce, St. Croix, and Pepin counties.
Powerful local opposition is looking to contest the water pollution permit that is riddled with myriad problems. Communities are also looking to pass local ordinances to protect their health and property.
More than 140 local people attended a hearing on the massive expansion in July 2024, with another 300 people registered virtually to listen in and testify with GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin (GROWW).
Among local concerns are Ridge Breeze's false claims that more than 100 landowners have agreed to have raw feces, urine, and cleaning water dumped on their property. Many landowners have no agreement in place with Ridge Breeze. Some with property listed told GROWW they've never even heard of Ridge Breeze.
Promises that DNR would require Ridge Breeze to submit signed agreements with landowners have been broken. Instead, DNR is only requiring signed affidavits from operators who rent land from landowners. These affidavits claim that landowners agree to receive manure from Ridge Breeze Dairy. However, landowners have come forward to state that they have no such agreement with Ridge Breeze despite being listed on signed affidavits.
“We have proven to the DNR repeatedly that Ridge Breeze is not to be trusted and that this is a bad permit," said Danny Akenson, a community organizer with GROWW. "Landowners have a right-to-know what is being spread on their land, but for obvious reasons, Ridge Breeze doesn't want them to know."
Residents also point to the large number of acres Ridge Breeze wants to spread waste on that already have high levels of phosphorus. Much of the land has soil that is sensitive to nitrate pollution of wells. Their communities will be bombarded by more than 10,000 truckloads of waste from the huge dairy factory roaring up and down their country roads.
"This is a bad permit for a rogue corporation," Akenson said. "They operated a concrete factory without county permits, threatened elected officials with lawsuits and have implied they won't comply with local ordinances. We will be taking the next 60 days to explore contesting DNR's deeply flawed determination."
Kay Kashian is a Town of El Paso resident and GROWW member who lives near fields where Ridge Breeze plans to dump waste.
“I’m worried about the impact Ridge Breeze will have on our rivers and wells,” Kashian said. “Our excellent fisheries and the wells Pierce County residents rely on could be at risk. We can stop this by working together. We will make a difference.”