Pierce County, Wis. — On Feb. 20, the Wisconsin DNR announced their decision to issue a permit for Ridge Breeze Dairy to expand. Despite the DNR’s green light, many local people and families continue to oppose the plans from the Appleton-based corporation to build the largest factory farm in western Wisconsin.

The DNR's permit decision would allow Ridge Breeze Dairy to nearly quadruple the number of cows at a Pierce County location from 1,700 to 6,500. The permit would also authorize Ridge Breeze to spread 80 million gallons of untreated waste on more than 7,000 acres in Pierce, St. Croix and Pepin counties.

“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 Grassroots Organizing Western Wisconsin (GROWW). “People in Wisconsin deserve the freedom to decide what is being spread on their land, but companies like Ridge Breeze don't even want them to know.”

Powerful local opposition is looking to contest the water pollution permit that is riddled with a myriad of problems. More than 140 local people attended an in-person hearing on the massive expansion in July 2024, with another 300 people registered virtually to listen in and testify.

Among local concerns are Ridge Breeze’s repeated false claims that more than 100 landowners have agreed to have Ridge Breeze spread manure on their property. Many landowners have no agreement in place with Ridge Breeze. Some with property listed told GROWW they'd never even heard of Ridge Breeze.

Promises that the DNR would require Ridge Breeze to submit signed agreements with landowners have been broken. Instead, the 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.

“Massive livestock operations like these tear up roads, contaminate water, and shut down small farms across the state, but this is just a bad permit for a rogue corporation,” Akenson said. “They operated a concrete factory without county permits, ignored DNR orders and have stated they won't comply with local ordinances. We will be taking the next 60 days to explore contesting the DNR's deeply flawed determination.”

The impacts of corporate expansions like this one proposed at Ridge Breeze are spurring local opposition across the state. In December, community members in the town of Maiden Rock joined others in Bayfield County and Polk County in passing their own Operations Ordinance that requires factory farms to submit plans on how they will manage hazards like manure, fire risk, road wear and tear.

Judy Krohn was a member of the Study Committee that helped develop an Operations Ordinance in her Town of Maiden Rock. She shared, “Our fact-based ordinance provides rules and regulations to address citizens’ concerns, and is applicable to any factory farm using town roads and farmlands for manure hauling and disposal. At capacity, Ridge Breeze Dairy will generate more than 80 million gallons of manure every year that will have to go somewhere. It is urgent that towns in Pierce, Pepin and St, Croix Counties develop similar ordinances to protect the water, roads, health, safety and property values of their residents.”

People across western Wisconsin are working in groups like GROWW to pass Operations Ordinances and protect local people, water, and communities from outside corporate agribusiness.

GROWW is a grassroots organization based in western Wisconsin. We build power in our communities and create the change we need for all of us, no matter the color of our skin, how much money we have, or who we love. Together, we work toward a future where we all make ends meet, live with dignity, and have a voice in shaping the decisions that impact us. We began our work in 2019 as Pierce County GrassRoots Organizing, and grew out of the name as we began to organize with communities in seven Western Wisconsin counties: Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix. To get connected or learn more about GROWW, visit us at GRO-WW.org, on Instagram at @GrowWisconsin, or on Facebook at Facebook.com/GROWWisconsin.

Submitted by GROWW