We wanted to share an important update from Stevens County, where Riverview LLP is seeking approval to expand its West River Dairy near Morris from 7,855 cows to 18,855 cows — a project that would make it the largest dairy facility and largest concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) in Minnesota. On Aug. 19, the Stevens County Planning Commission recommended, with conditions, approval of the conditional use permit for the expansion. This recommendation does not give Riverview final approval to move forward. The proposal now goes to the Stevens County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The Board still has authority over whether this project receives the local permit it needs.
The Math Doesn’t Lie
Riverview packed the Planning Commission’s meeting last week with organized corporate voices, but the true voice of the community was on display at the Stevens County Fair earlier this month — right in Riverview’s own backyard. LSP members and local residents took the fight directly to the fairgrounds, and the public response was incredible. At our booth, we gathered 107 local signatures for our petition to county officials, with more coming in every day. But the strongest sign of support came through the conversations we had. It’s easy to worry about pushback in a mega-dairy’s hometown, but the numbers tell the real story: over four days of conversations with people from all walks of life, only five people we spoke to said they supported Riverview.
The math doesn’t lie: even in Riverview’s hometown, the vast majority of local residents are deeply anxious about their water and are standing up to demand real protections.
Why This Statewide Fight Matters
This local decision matters far beyond one county. The West River Dairy expansion is part of a larger pattern of industrial dairy growth across the region that raises serious questions about water use, manure management, local control, and the future of independent livestock production. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has already decided not to require a full environmental impact statement for the project, despite more than 1,400 public comments and widespread concern from residents, farmers, and LSP members. That means the final phase of this fight will happen locally — and it will require people across Minnesota to stay informed, speak up, and support Stevens County residents who are organizing for clean water, strong family farms, and accountable local decision-making.
What Happens Next?
The Stevens County Board of Commissioners is expected to take up the conditional use permit on Tuesday, Sept. 1. LSP will continue working with local members and residents to push for the strongest possible protections, including a comprehensive, independent water study before any final county approval is granted.
How you can plug in:
• Sign up for LSP’s Digital Dairy Action Network at landstewardshipproject.org/dairyaction. Once you’re signed up, watch for rapid-response updates from LSP on when to contact decision-makers, attend public meetings, share messages online, and support Stevens County residents calling for a comprehensive water study.
• Submit a Comment to the MDA: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is currently soliciting public input regarding the non-environmental impacts of mega-dairies (operations with approximately 10,000 or more cows). The MDA will issue a report summarizing these findings directly to the Minnesota Legislature. This process is not a duplication of the MPCA’s environmental review of Riverview, but a crucial, in-depth look at how these massive operations harm local economies and independent producers across the state. Submit your comments to the MDA here.
Whether you live in Stevens County or elsewhere in Minnesota, your voice matters. These decisions shape the future of our water, rural communities, family farms, and local democracy. Please join LSP’s Digital Dairy Action Network today so we can be ready for what comes next.
For more information, contact LSP organizer Matthew Sheets via e-mail.