WHITEHALL, Wis. — A Trempealeau County joint committee approved on Tuesday a Galesville, Wis., dairy farmer’s permit to expand his feedlot, and attached a restriction that will require him to prove to the committee an ability and willingness to mitigate the odor.

The Land Conservation and Zoning committee granted Paul Halderson’s request to expand his dairy farm above 1,000 units after a contentious three-hour hearing that drew more than 70 people.
Halderson said he will continue to explore purchasing a manure digester in the coming weeks, and then seek loans and grants. Halderson said he has three companies that manufacture digesters coming to his farm Jan. 6, and will have a better idea of the costs early next year.

Nearly 40 residents signed letters or spoke in opposition to Halderson’s plan. Afterward, some said the decision was appropriate, but others were still upset.

Halderson plans to expand his herd to fund the digester, though he said it’s too early to tell by how much. At the meeting, he proposed a figure between 10 percent and 20 percent. If he expands to more than 1,000 units (his current farm is about 800 units), he will have to apply for a water and soil management plan through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Before he expands, he must meet conditions attached Tuesday. A unit is a way of measuring animals based on type and size. One thousand units equal 714 dairy cows.

The committee also placed a restriction on machinery lights, after residents complained about being bothered by lights in the field late at night. County staff will decide on an appropriate measurement and present it to Halderson.

Reporter Brian Voerding can be reached at (507) 453-3514 or at brian.voerding@winonadailynews.com.

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