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LSP Demands Answers Surrounding Recent Manure Spill in Kandiyohi County

Riverview's Meadow Star Dairy Suffers Manure Leak From Biogas Digester System

March 7, 2025

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PENNOCK, Minn. — The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) today called on one of the country’s largest dairy farming firms and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to release details on a recent manure spill that was reported in southwestern Minnesota’s Kandiyohi County.

According to the West Central Tribune, Riverview, LLP officials reported to state officials that on Feb. 28 manure escaped a holding tank at the Meadow Star Dairy near Pennock. Riverview owns the operation, and the tank is part of a manure digester biogas system installed at the dairy by Amp Americas. Amp Americas has also constructed digesters at Riverview’s East Dublin Dairy near Murdock in Swift County, Swenoda Dairy near Montevideo in Swift County and Louriston Dairy near Murdock in Chippewa County.

When contacted by the Land Stewardship Project, a spokesman for the MPCA provided this statement:

“We are aware of a spill of manure at a farm in Kandiyohi County. We are monitoring clean-up and working with the reporting party to determine the cause. At this time, there is no indication that there has been an impact to waterways. It’s important to note that proper siting helps ensure that surface waters are still protected when a major release like this happens. The amount that was released is part of an ongoing investigation. A majority of the release was contained in a stormwater pond, and the owner has transferred the contents to an existing manure storage basin onsite.”

An official with Amp Americas told the Tribune that a “mechanical, physical failure of the tank occurred.” The Tribune reported that “less than a week’s worth” of manure was spilled — no other specifics were provided on the amount of manure released.

According to an article published in Agweek in 2015, Meadow Star Dairy originally went online milking 7,000 cows, with 1,500 dry cows also housed on the 20-acre site. Based on the figure that on a daily basis a lactating cow produces 18 gallons of manure and a dry cow 10 gallons of manure, a conservative estimate is that Meadow Star produces at least 141,000 gallons of manure daily.

To put the spill in context, it would take the average-sized Minnesota dairy farm (223 head) six months to produce the same amount of manure that Meadow Star does in just five days.  If the spill had occurred at an average-sized Minnesota dairy, the amount spilled over a five-day period would be less than what Meadow Star produces in just 3.5 hours.

Riverview is based in Morris, Minn., and is one of the largest milk producers in the country. It also has operations in Arizona, Nebraska, New Mexico and South Dakota. Despite serious concerns raised by local residents related to potential impacts on water and air quality, North Dakota officials recently gave Riverview the green light to build a 12,500-head dairy near Abercombie, in the eastern part of the state.

The Land Stewardship Project is concerned about the lack of information available to local residents related to the manure spill at Meadow Star Dairy. This is particularly important given serious concerns raised in the past by farmers and other rural residents when it comes to Riverview’s potential environmental impacts. Earlier this week, during an LSP town hall meeting held near Morris with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, participants expressed concerns about the impact Riverview’s facilities were having on local water resources. LSP is calling on officials with Riverview and the MPCA to release the following information in an expedited manner:

  1. Specifically, how much manure was released during the incident?
  2. What is the specific nature of the “mechanical” failure that caused the spill, and does similar infrastructure exist at other Riverview facilities in the region?
  3. How much time elapsed between the release of the manure and its discovery?
  4. What measures are being taken to prevent the contamination of local water resources?
  5. What measures are being taken by Riverview to prevent similar future incidents from occurring at Meadow Star, as well as other facilities owned by the firm?
  6. What enforcement actions are being taken by the MPCA in reference to this incident?

As the MPCA moves toward amending its current set of feedlot rules, this manure spill reinforces that rural residents who live and farm in communities near such facilities deserve transparency from the owners of large concentrated animal feeding operations as well as the government agencies whose stated mission is to protect the environment and serve the public good. People and communities that are most likely to be impacted by such incidents deserve to hear firsthand how they occurred and what’s being done to prevent future spills.

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The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering an ethic of stewardship for farmland, promoting sustainable agriculture and developing healthy communities in the food and farming system. LSP has offices in the Minnesota communities of Montevideo, Lewiston and South Minneapolis. 

Category: News Releases
Tags: CAFOs • clean water • dairy farming • factory farm • manure digesters • Manure spills • MPCA • Riverview

CONTACT

Matthew Sheets, LSP western Minnesota organizer, e-mail

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June 2025

Saturday June 28

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
LSP's Boots & Roots: A Celebration of Land & People
Saturday June 28
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
LSP's Boots & Roots: A Celebration of Land & People
Dream Acres, Co Hwy 8, Spring Valley, MN 55975, USA

Join Land Stewardship Project members and supporters to kick-start the Driftless summer with an evening of good food, good music, and good times. We’ll have activities for all ages that will get you out in nature, exploring the connection between our region’s farms and your community’s food, land, and water. Bring a side or dessert to share for dinner, and the Dream Acres wood-fired oven will provide locally-sourced pizzas and flat breads. Dinner will be followed by live music and contra dancing by the Crater City String Band.  

To reserve a spot, click here.

Camping sites are available at nearby Masonic Park and Forestville Mystery Cave and Lake Louise State Parks. Camping at Masonic is rustic,first-come-first-serve, free, and does not require a reservation. Fillmore County, who manages the park, only asks that you call the dispatchers at507-765-3874 when you arrive with your vehicle information and phone number in case of emergency. State Park reservations cost $25 a night and can be made online.

July 2025

Wednesday July 9

8:00 am – 10:00 am
Risk to Resilience Climate Cohort
Wednesday July 9
8:00 am – 10:00 am
Risk to Resilience Climate Cohort
Online

Farming has always required adaptability, and today’s changing weather patterns are creating new challenges and opportunities. The Land Stewardship Project, in collaboration with University of Minnesota Extension, has created a resilience-focused program that gives commodity and small grain growers the opportunity to join a cohort with other like-minded farmers and learn how to prepare their operations for the future. At this Risk to Resilience cohort, you will learn:

  • How changing weather patterns in the Upper Midwest are likely to affect your farm. 
  • How you can prepare a plan that protects your farm from a changing climate.
  • How to improve your planning skills and meet with experts for opportunities to grow climate resilience  on your farm.
  • How to build community with fellow farmers interested in creating operations that are sustainable and resilient in the long term.

Program Details:

  •  Online format — join from your home or farm.
  •  Four sessions, 10-15 hours total investment — built for busy schedules, beginning July 2025. We’ll pause workshops for small grains harvest and resume in August 2025.
  • A $250 stipend will be provided to participants who attend the sessions and provide feedback on experience and content.

Dates of the Risk to Resilience Sessions:

  • Wednesday, July 9, 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
  • Wednesday, July 16, 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
  • Harvest Break
  • Wednesday, August 20, 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
  • Wednesday, August 27, 8 a.m.-10 a.m. 

To register, click here. 

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
LSP Lewiston Office Summer Potluck Lunch
Wednesday July 9
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
LSP Lewiston Office Summer Potluck Lunch
Land Stewardship Project, 180 E Main St, Lewiston, MN 55952, USA

Spring planting is behind us and midsummer is upon us! Take a quick break from all the action by celebrating summer with the Land Stewardship Project by joining us for lunch at our Lewiston office.

Our Summer Potluck will be held on Wednesday, July 9, from noon to 2 p.m., at our office in downtown Lewiston, Minn. (180 E. Main Street). This will be an opportunity to build community, hear from other farmers, socialize, and enjoy a great meal together. We also invite everyone to take a self-guided tour of the newly renovated spaces in our office that we have been working on over the winter. As a member-driven organization, this is your space too.

LSP will be providing the main dish (meat and vegetarian options) and we invite you to bring a dish to pass. This event is open to all, so please bring a friend or two as well. Let’s celebrate the joy of summer through good food and good company!

RSVP’s are encouraged, but not required. Hope to see you there — you can RSVP by e-mailing LSP’s Alex Romano direct.

Saturday July 12

10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Fishing, Farming & Food: Rush Creek's Fish Kill Anniversary & Why it Matters
Saturday July 12
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Fishing, Farming & Food: Rush Creek's Fish Kill Anniversary & Why it Matters
Farmers Community Park, 23274 Arches Road Lewiston, MN 55952

During the Fishing, Farming & Food: Rush Creek’s Fish Kill Anniversary & Why it Matters event, the Land Stewardship Project will mark the three-year anniversary of a major fish kill in southeastern Minnesota that spawned citizen action and led to new public policy around how such events are reported. Join Land Stewardship Project and our partners at Farmers Park, Saturday July 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Lewiston, Minnesota. Register here.

What to expect?

  • Fly fishing demonstration led by Minnesota Trout Unlimted and LSP member, Lee Stoe. Please bring your own fishing gear.

  • Minnesota Trout Unlimited & Izaak Walton League staff and members will be leading macroinvertebrate sampling of Garvin Brook and discussing what they tell us about the health of the stream.

  • Discussion on how regenerative farming systems can support healthy soil and clean water.

  • Opportunity to take action! Help prevent future fish kills by sharing how you think the Minnesot Feedlot Rule, which is open for comment through July 22, should be stronger. Postcards will be available to fill out and send with your comments.

  • Farmers Park is a great spot for birding. Please bring your binoculars!

  • You are welcome to bring your own snacks or picnic lunch; food will not be provided at this event.

LSP is partnering with several community groups for this event, including:

Minnesota Trout Unlimited, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Izaak Walton League, Food & Water Watch, and Savanna Institute

Register HERE. For more information, contact LSP’s Kate Rowe at krowe@landstewardshipproject.org.

Tuesday July 15

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Organic Fruit & Vegetable Field Day
Tuesday July 15
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Organic Fruit & Vegetable Field Day
1805 Dudley Ave, Falcon Heights, MN 55113, USA

Join U of M researchers and Extension for updates on organic fruit and vegetable research and tour the Student Organic Farm and the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station in Saint Paul. Topics include: organic insect management, integrating livestock into vegetable farms, new crops for Minnesota, irrigation strategies, and more. Free to the public.
 
For details and to register, click here.

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