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LSP Media Statement on Latest Daley Farm Appeals Filing

May 23, 2024

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LEWISTON, Minn. — The Land Stewardship Project (LSP) filed a legal brief May 22 with the Minnesota Court of Appeals contesting Daley Farm’s appeal of the state District Court’s decision to deny the operation’s attempt to circumvent Winona County’s rules related to the size of large livestock operations. Daley Farm is seeking a variance so that it can add 3,000 cows, which would put the operation at 5,968 animal units, almost four times Winona County’s animal unit cap. The expanded facility would use 92 million gallons of the area’s groundwater and produce 46 million gallons of manure and wastewater in an area dominated by karst geology.

It is troubling that Daley Farm is attempting to concentrate the manure of approximately 4,500 dairy cows in a region where drinking water is already plagued by such high nitrate levels that the Environmental Protection Agency has directed state agencies to take action to protect the health of residents.

This latest legal action comes at a time when LSP, working with our allies, was successful in getting various proposals passed during the recently concluded session of the Minnesota Legislature that will help residents in southeastern Minnesota grapple with their region’s nitrate pollution crisis. Lawmakers approved $495,000 for the Soil Health Financial Assistance Program, directed toward southeastern Minnesota farmers who are using practices that build soil and protect water quality. And feedlots under 1,000 animal units will now be eligible to apply for $850,000 in grants to implement manure management practices that improve water quality or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, $2.8 million will be directed to help private well owners alleviate the cost of installing water treatment systems and $2.79 million will be available via the Clean Water Fund to inventory, test, and provide education and outreach related to water quality in southeastern Minnesota’s private wells. The Clean Water Fund will also provide $3 million to monitor and evaluate nitrate levels as a result of legislative action pushed by LSP and its allies.

LSP applauds the Minnesota Legislature for recognizing and taking action on the nitrate pollution problem in southeastern Minnesota. However, the fact remains that using public dollars to, for example, pay for reverse osmosis water filtration systems should not be necessary. We should be focused on promoting the kind of diverse, soil-friendly farming practices that prevent water pollution in the first place while supporting small and medium-sized farms. Allowing a large livestock operation to disregard a county’s size restrictions and concentrating more manure in a fragile ecosystem is the wrong approach.

Local units of government and community members, along with the courts, have repeatedly rejected Daley Farm’s attempts to circumvent Winona County’s animal unit cap. It’s time the operation’s owners stopped wasting public resources and accepted the truth: the people have spoken for the land and their community and will not be silenced by legal intimidation.

To view the legal brief filed on May 22, click here.

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Category: News Releases
Tags: CAFO • Daley Farm • factory farm • local democracy • manure • nitrates • southeastern Minnesota • water quality

Contact

Martin Moore, LSP organizer, e-mail, 320-226-9184

Upcoming Events

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September 2025

Tuesday September 16

9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Chicken Processing Workshop
Tuesday September 16
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Chicken Processing Workshop
14882 255th Ave, Sleepy Eye, MN 56085, USA

Join the SFA to learn how to process your own chickens at home. At this workshop, participants will actually be processing 35-40 chickens from start to finish, and they will learn how to kill, scald, pluck, and eviscerate the chickens. Each attendee will have the opportunity to perform the complete process with instructor help on several birds. 

Details are here. 

Wednesday September 17

9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Grazing for Invasive Species Management in Oak Savannas
Wednesday September 17
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Grazing for Invasive Species Management in Oak Savannas
Myre-Big Island State Park, 19499 780th Ave, Albert Lea, MN 56007, USA

For details on this workshop, click here.

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Extending the Grazing Season with Cover Crops & Native Grasses
Wednesday September 17
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Extending the Grazing Season with Cover Crops & Native Grasses
Bluffton Resort & Bar, 2619 W Ravine Rd, Decorah, IA 52101, USA

This Ducks Unlimited workshop will feature a discussion of how livestock producers can utilize cover crops and native grasses to extend the grazing season. Featured speakers include Adam Janke, who will discuss Iowa State University’s research on CRP grazing, and Brian Dougherty of Understanding AG, who will discuss the economics of grazing cover crops. There will also be a presentation on Ducks Unlimited’s Advancing Markets for Producers Partnership. 
 
For details, see this flier. or call Ducks Unlimited’s Liam Bonk at 612-483-3577. To register, click here.

Thursday September 18

5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Minnesota Women in Conservation: Conservation Land Walk in Dawson
Thursday September 18
5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Minnesota Women in Conservation: Conservation Land Walk in Dawson
Dawson, MN

During this Minnesota Women in Conservation event, participants will walk around a “homestead” farm site — exploring areas and goals the landowner hopes to improve in the future, including pollinator habitat, perennial plantings, wind breaks, privacy/noise screens, water quality improvements, well sealing, and compost placements. Participants will hear feedback and recommendations from a conservation professional on potential programs that could assist the landowner in achieving those goals. 
 
This is a FREE event, but you must RSVP here to get the address. For more information and to RSVP, click here.

Saturday September 20

All Day
Farm Aid
Saturday September 20
Farm Aid
Huntington Bank Stadium, 420 23rd Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA

 Farm Aid is heading to Minnesota for the first time for its 40th anniversary festival on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The event will launch a year-long celebration of four decades of impactful advocacy, historic cultural moments and unforgettable music.

Farm Aid 40 — a full day of music, family farmers, HOMEGROWN food and agricultural experiences — will feature performances by Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young (and the Chrome Hearts), John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds), and Margo Price, as well as Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Trampled by Turtles, Waxahatchee, Eric Burton of Black Pumas, Jesse Welles, Madeline Edwards and more artists to be announced.

For details, click here.

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