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Winona County Stewards

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This web page highlights the efforts of Land Stewardship Project members in southeastern Minnesota’s Winona County to create a regenerative farm and food system that is good for the water, land, and rural communities. During the past three years, many Winona County residents have been focused on fighting the attempt by Daley Farm to expand its dairy to 6,000 animal units, four times the county’s current animal unit cap. This expanded facility would produce 46 million gallons of manure annually in a karst geological area already experiencing problems with groundwater pollution.

Here you will find blogs, press releases, action alerts, letters-to-the-editor, and videos related to this fight.

The Big Picture: Winona County Videos

Check out these videos produced by Greener Pastures for LSP where Winona County residents make it clear why they are fighting factory farming in their community.

• LSP Members Speak Out for a Farming System that’s Good for the Community

• Where’s It Gonna End?

Take the Pledge: Say NO to Factory Farms

In the Upper Midwest, we know how special the land that sustains us is. Factory farms jeopardizes not only the land itself but the communities that rely on it. They threaten the water and land with pollution, force small to mid-sized farmers out of business, and weaken local economies. Join other LSP members in taking the “No to Factory Farms” pledge today.

Letters: Speaking for the Land, Farms & Communities

One way Winona County residents have made their voices heard on the Daley Farm issue has been through letters-to-the-editor published in local newspapers. Below are some of those letters:

  • Oppose Daley Farm expansion, by Karen and Richard Ahrens — Nov. 28
  • County Animal Caps Matter, by James Armstrong — Nov. 28
  • Proposed expansion brings danger, by Wayne Ode — Nov. 28
  • Big Ag is on an intimidation campaign, by Tessa Schweitzer — Nov. 27
  • Feedlot cap serves purpose; variances should be modest, by Richard Dahl — Nov. 24
  • Daley Farm to subject county to literacy test, by Tim Ahrens — Nov. 10
  • Factory farms threaten rural communities, by Sam Streukens — November 17
  • Does Daley Farm even qualify for a permit? by Barb Nelson — September 22
  • Stop the Daley Farm expansion now, by Deanne Sczepanski — September 22
  • Daley Farm should conform to existing rules, by Barb Nelson — September 12
  • Farm expansion is a public health issue, by Lisa Schnepper — August 11
  • Preserve water quality, keep animal unit cap on farms, by Doug Nopar — August 4

Blogs, Press Releases, Action Alerts

• Farm Aid Blog: Fighting for Family Farms in Minnesota (6/6/22)

• Press Release: LSP Statement on Daley Farm Appeal of Winona County BOA Decision (1/5/22)

• LSP Blog: Winona County BOA Denial of CAFO Variance a Win for Farms, People & the Land (12/2/21)

• LSP Blog: Court’s Decision a Win for Land, Communities & Farms (11/3/21)

Media Stories

• Winona Post: County Board sticks by animal unit cap (6/1/22)

• Star Tribune: Winona County rejects dairy farm expansion (12/2/21)

• Winona Post: Daley Farm expansion denied again, appeal possible (12/2/21)

community holding signs against factory farms
Winona County residents gathered on Nov. 28, 2021, to call for the Board of Adjustment to deny Daley Farm’s request for a animal unit cap variance.

Contact

Matthew Sheets, LSP organizer, e-mail, 612-767-9709

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Upcoming Events

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July 2025

Friday July 18

9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Russell Hedrick Soil Health Event: Lac qui Parle County
Friday July 18
9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Russell Hedrick Soil Health Event: Lac qui Parle County
1174 295th Ave, Dawson, MN 56232

Details are here.

Tuesday July 22

9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Sartell
Tuesday July 22
9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Sartell
2611 17th St N, Sartell, MN 56377, USA

Details are here.

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
Tuesday July 22
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
Far North Spirits, 2045 220th Avenue, Hallock, MN 56728, 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.
  • Hear from a panel of local speakers.
  • Discover available NRCS Farm Bill programs and the economics of on-farm practices.
  • Enjoy a complimentary lunch, plus a chance to win door prizes.
  • Network with local farmers, neighbors, and conservation professionals.
  • Receive helpful materials and personalized support on next steps after the event.  

For more information, click here. 

Locations & Dates:
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
  • Sleepy Eye (Brown County) – Thur, July 24 @ Sleepy Eye Brewing Company
  • Milaca (Mille Lacs County) – Tues, July 29 @ Gorecki Community Center
  • Mora (Kanabec County) – Thur, July 31 @ Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery
  • Owatonna (Steele County) – Tues, August 5 @ Owatonna Public Utilities Building
  • Jordan (Scott County) – Wed, August 6 @ Ridges at Sand Creek
  • Fairmont (Martin County) – Thur, August 7 @ Red Rock Center for the Arts
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Agrivoltaics: Growing Forages & grain Crops
Tuesday July 22
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Agrivoltaics: Growing Forages & grain Crops
Online Webinar

This free webinar series is about cattle and sheep solar grazing and growing forages or grain crops under solar panels.

The practice of grazing livestock under solar panels has become increasingly popular. It is often referred to as agrivoltaics or solar grazing. This system involves the use of land for both solar energy production and livestock grazing or crop production. In this session, Sabrina Florentino will talk about forage production research and the Rauenhorst Farm Agrivoltaics Project on growing row crops under solar panels.

To register, click here. 

Wednesday July 23

9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Villard
Wednesday July 23
9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ray Archuleta Soil Health Series: Villard
15290 127th St, Villard, MN 56385, USA

Details are here.

View Full Calendar

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  • ‘Bringing Small Grains Back to Minnesota’ Meeting Aug. 2 in Madison  July 14, 2025
  • Get Your Farm Photographed & Receive Free Images! July 10, 2025
  • ‘Fishing, Farming & Food: Rush Creek’s Fish Kill Anniversary & Why it Matters’ Event July 12 Near Lewiston July 8, 2025

Montevideo

111 North First Street
Montevideo, MN 56265

(320) 269-2105

Lewiston

180 E. Main Street
Lewiston, MN 55952

(507) 523-3366

Minneapolis

821 E. 35th Street #200
Minneapolis, MN 55407

(612) 722-6377

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