Environmental Review Underway for North Dakota Mega Dairy Farms

The International Red River Watershed Board is conducting a review of two proposed mega dairy farms in Hillsboro and Abercrombie, North Dakota. This review aims to assess whether the environmental impacts on water ecosystems, especially concerning nutrient loading, have been adequately considered. The farms are expected to house a combined total of 37,000 cows.

Environmental groups, including the Manitoba Eco-Network, have voiced concerns about potential phosphorus and nitrogen runoff from these farms contributing to toxic algae blooms in Lake Winnipeg. Currently, the waterway is reported to be 69 percent over the phosphorus target set by the International Joint Commission.

Riverview LLP, the Minnesota-based company proposing the farms, asserts that their operations are designed to meet stringent environmental standards. They emphasize that discharges to surface waters such as the Red River are prohibited by both state and federal laws, and that their facilities are engineered to prevent such occurrences.

The review process was initiated following lobbying efforts that involved collaboration with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Mike Moyes. Although there is no set timeline for the review's completion, its findings will serve as a recommendation for governments in both the United States and Canada. Despite the ongoing review, the farms' development is permitted and advancing in North Dakota.

The coalition of environmental advocates views the review as a positive step forward, but acknowledges that further action and attention are required to address the potential environmental threats posed by the dairy farms.