ROSENDALE DAIRY GETS GO-AHEAD

A pivotal regulatory permit has been approved by the state Department of Natural Resources, paving the way for a major expansion of a dairy farm in Fond du Lac County. The DNR said Monday that it has approved a wastewater discharge permit for Rosendale Dairy that will allow the owners to increase the size of the herd from fewer than 700 cows to 4,000. A second expansion is planned to expand operations to 8,000 cows, which DNR officials said would make Rosendale the largest dairy farm in the state.

Rosendale’s expansion has angered some local residents and officials who are fear that the manure will harm the groundwater. Opponents also raised concerns about the odor and increased traffic congestion from milk and supply trucks and farm machinery moving in and out of the farm. In a statement, Jim Ostrom, one of the farm’s owners, said Rosendale has spent two years working on environmental issues, ranging from air quality to manure management. The entire expansion is expected to cost $70 million. Rosendale said it will spend $32 million annually with local contractors and vendors.