Last week, the Minnesota Court of Appeals told the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to take animal methane emissions into account when reconsidering a previously-approved permit. That permit was for a planned dairy expansion of 1,500 to 3,000 milking cows and young stock at the Daley dairy in Winona County Minnesota. Dairy co-owner Shelly DePestel says there is concern activist groups will use this method to delay permits for other farms. “We’re farmers. We are trying to finish harvest and feed animals. They’re putting us back in the court room with litigation. The environment is our top priority.” DePestel says there’s no place in the Environment Assessment Worksheet, a document used to outline the basic steps of a project, that explains greenhouse gas emissions. The dairy is seeking further clarification.
