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Winona County BOA Denial of CAFO Variance a Win for Farms, People & the Land

It's Time to Start Investing in a Sustainable Ag Economy

By Tim Ahrens, Sam Streukens & Matthew Sheets
December 2, 2021

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Today, the voice of the people in Winona county prevailed against an attempt by a factory dairy farm to blow by local, sensible limitations on the number of animals (and thus the amount of manure) that can be housed in one location. After thoroughly considering the evidence, the Winona County Board of Adjustment once again denied a request brought forward by Daley Farm for a variance to the Winona County animal unit cap. At issue is Daley Farm’s attempt to add roughly 3,000 animals to its existing operation, which would put the operation at around 6,000 animal units, almost four times the county’s animal unit cap of 1,500 animal units. Today’s vote was a reaffirmation of the Winona County Board of Adjustment’s decision over a year ago to protect the water, land, and rural economies and hold up local control.

It’s time to stop wasting public resources on the “get big or get out” model of agriculture this sort of expansion attempt represents and instead invest in an agricultural economy that creates prosperous, sustainable communities while protecting our water and the land. We value our community and the future of Winona County when we invest in local foods and small to mid-sized farms.

Getting bigger to put our neighbors out of business is not the solution. Investing in the health of our community is the legacy that we must maintain for family farms and the next generation.

We have been organizing, along with other members of the Land Stewardship Project and our community in Winona County, to stand up for a better agricultural system. We have pulled together and shown our support for building a food and farming system that works for everyone. We must continue to stand together to support our communities, farmers, land, and water, and to say “no” to the expansion of factory farms.

LSP members Tim Ahrens and Sam Streukens live in the Winona County communities of Altura and Winona, respectively. Matthew Sheets is a  Land Stewardship Project organizer. For more information, contact Sheets at 612-767-9709 or MSheets@landstewardshipproject.org.

Winona County residents gathered on Nov. 28 to call for the Board of Adjustment to deny Daley Farm’s request for a animal unit cap variance.

 

Category: Blog
Tags: CAFO • Daley Farm • local control • local democracy • Winona County

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July 2025

Thursday July 24

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
Thursday July 24
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
Sleepy Eye Brewing Company, 121 Main St W, Sleepy Eye, MN 56085, USA

Join Renewing the Countryside and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) this summer at one of their eight conservation events in a town near you, where you will:

  • Learn how conservation benefits Minnesota’s rural communities.
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For more information, click here. 

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Each event is free, open to all, and runs from noon to 2 p.m. at the venues listed. Space is limited, please register in advance.

  • Hallock (Kittson County) – Tues, July 22 @ Far North Spirits
  • Elbow Lake (Grant County) – Wed, July 23 @ Elbow Lake Community Building
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5:30 pm – 9:00 pm
LSP Twin Cities Cookout & Potluck
Thursday July 24
5:30 pm – 9:00 pm
LSP Twin Cities Cookout & Potluck
Land Stewardship Project, 821 E 35th St Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55407, USA

Join Land Stewardship Project members and supporters for a fun and casual evening of delicious local food, live music, and dancing. Bring a dish to share for the Twin Cities’ best potluck, among other Cookout favorites:

  • A Pie Raffle in support of LSP’s work keeping the people and the land together.
  • An opportunity to hear from LSP members and staff about on-the-ground organizing and how you can get involved!
     
  • Square dancing with caller Julie Young Walser. There will be square dancing, line dancing, and Bachata lessons from Eduardo Peñascoa. 

  • LSP’s Summer Silent Auction: Winners will be called at the Cookout. Find out if you won! Haven’t placed your bids? Do so here.  

It’s never too early to RSVP! Follow this link to let us know you’re coming.
 
LSP could still use more volunteers to make this event run smoothly. Please consider signing up for a shift.

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9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: White Earth
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Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: White Earth
1482 MN-200, Mahnomen, MN 56557, USA

Details are here.

Saturday July 26

9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: White Earth Nation Community Day
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Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: White Earth Nation Community Day
1482 MN-200, Mahnomen, MN 56557, USA

Details are here.

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Premier Soil Health School 2025
Tuesday July 29 – Wednesday July 30
Premier Soil Health School 2025
38270 Kenwood Ave, Redwood Falls, MN 56283, USA

Details are here.

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  • Land Line: Tax Bill’s Ag Impact, Farmer Privacy, CAFO Water Demand, Honeybees, Nitrates, Solar’s Bright Spot, Farm Bankruptcies July 15, 2025
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