Massive dairy farm proposal opens for public comment in North Dakota

North Dakota’s Department of Environmental Quality has opened public comments until June 2nd on Riverview Dairy’s proposed 25,000-cow operation in Traill County. If approved, “Herberg Dairy” would become the state’s largest dairy farm, requiring 700,000 gallons of water daily and producing 170,000 gallons of milk. A public hearing is scheduled for May 20th at Hillsboro High School. The Minnesota company already holds a permit for a 12,500-cow facility near Wahpeton, though it faces legal challenges from environmental groups concerned about water usage and manure management impacts on local aquifers. Riverview officials state construction won’t begin until securing a processor for the milk production.