Residents on both sides of the border raise concerns over proposed ‘Mega’ dairy farms

Advocates on both sides of the Canada – U.S. border are coming together to raise their concerns over plans to construct two mega dairy farms in North Dakota, fearing that the pollution produced by the farms could pose a significant health threat, to communities all along the Red River and beyond.

“These two facilities will bring in over 37,000, that will more than triple what we currently have in the state,” said Sam Wagner, with the Dakota Resource Council.

In early February, the Dakota Resource Council along with residents from Abercrombie Township, approximately four hours south of Winnipeg, filed an appeal challenging the state’s approval of an over 12,000-head dairy operation, proposed by Riverview LLP, after they say an independent hydrogeologist expressed significant concerns over the threat of water pollution.

“Basically told us it’s not a matter of if it’s a matter of when, we would expect contamination of the Red River in less than a year, given the site and proximity to the water table,” explained Wagner.

The DRC says if constructed the facility is estimated to produce approximately 400 million litres of waste annually, primarily manure rich with nitrogen and phosphorus. The one in Abercrombie is just half of the size of the facility planned for Hillsboro, North Dakota, just an hour north.

“What is happening in North Dakota is going to impact Manitoba but one of the most substantial further pollution of Lake Winnipeg,” said Vicki Burns, with Hog Watch Manitoba.

Burns has long raised concerns over the connection between factory farming and the deteriorating state of Lake Winnipeg. 

Which has increasingly become a dead lake in recent years, due to the expanse of algae blooms brought on by excessive phosphorus and nitrogen runoff.  

“It’s not clean, it’s not safe to and it’s not safe for any life that depends on it,” said Burns.

Back in North Dakota, Wagner says by no means are they against dairy farm expansion, they just want to see it done safely.

“That would more than triple what we have in our state, we would rather see multiple 3-5,000 head facilities spread out over a much larger area.”

In response to CityNews, Riverview LLP disputes the claim saying their number one goal is to always be a good neighbour, and that all manure will be stored on-site, before being used as natural fertilizer on surrounding farmland.