The expansion is being driven by continued demand for dairy products in both domestic and export markets. Riverview says the project would strengthen Minnesota’s position as a major milk-producing state, while creating construction work and long-term jobs in Stevens County. The company plans to build new cross-ventilated barns, manure storage facilities and additional infrastructure to support the larger herd.

However, the scale of the proposal has generated strong opposition from local residents and environmental groups. Critics argue that the larger dairy could place heavy pressure on groundwater supplies, with the project expected to require up to 226 million gallons of water annually. Opponents are also concerned about manure management across roughly 13,200 acres and the risk of contamination affecting nearby wells, wildlife areas and rural communities.

The Land Stewardship Project and other advocacy groups are calling for a full Environmental Impact Statement before any permits are approved. They argue that the current environmental review does not go far enough for a project of this size, noting that the expanded facility would be nearly twice as large as any existing livestock operation in the state. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has extended the public comment period as scrutiny intensifies.