Proposed expansion would make Ridge Breeze the largest factory farm in Western Wisconsin

Pierce County, WI—Today, a group of Pierce County residents initiated legal action after the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued a permit that would allow Ridge Breeze Dairy to nearly quadruple in size and become one of the state’s largest factory farms. This decision came after prolonged community opposition amid concerns over negative impacts to water, air, roads, and small farms.

Midwest Environmental Advocates (MEA), a nonprofit environmental law firm, filed a petition for a contested case hearing on behalf of five individual Pierce County residents and GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin (GROWW), a nonprofit grassroots organization.

“One of my earliest memories of the Rush River was fishing at Fisherman’s Rest with my dad and brother, just off my Grandpa’s land and dairy farm. Since then, I’ve long had a dream of owning land along the beautiful Rush River,” said Larry Brenner, owner of the restaurant Vino in the Valley in the Town of El Paso. Brenner is one of the six petitioners involved in the contested case. His home and restaurant are both near fields that Ridge Breeze intends to use for manure spreading. “With 6,500 cows, 80 million gallons of very potent manure being spread all next to my land and around the county, I worry my dream of owning land along the Rush River could become a nightmare. I have two wells, one for the house and another for my business that are now at risk of being contaminated with excessive nitrates.”

The permit in question would allow Ridge Breeze, which is classified as a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO), to expand its herd from 1,700 dairy cows (approximately 2,400 animal units) to more than 6,500 dairy cows (approximately 9,000 animal units). The expanded facility would produce nearly 80 million gallons of liquid manure annually.

“Our clients are challenging the permit because it does not adequately protect local surface water and groundwater from being contaminated by the enormous amounts of manure that Ridge Breeze would produce,” said MEA Staff Attorney Adam Voskuil.