Massive dairy farm proposal stirs debate in Abercrombie

ABERCROMBIE, N.D. — A pair of dairy farms planned for eastern North Dakota could more than quadruple the number of dairy cows in the state.

Riverview, a Minnesota-based business, is planning on a $90 million dollar dairy farm in Richland County, just south of Abercrombie, N.D.

Officials at Riverview say the proposed dairy farm would be a boon for the community, but some residents are concerned about how it would impact small-town life in Abercrombie.

The Abercrombie dairy farm would include 12,500 dairy cows, officials said. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture estimates the current dairy cow population at 10,000 cows statewide.

Between Abercrombie and the dairy farm proposed in Traill County, if both projects come to pass, it would effectively quadruple the population of cows.

Riverview staff say it would create jobs, expecting to employ 45 people, although they admit other employees would be internal hires. They say the presence of the farm would increase job opportunities for other vocations, such as truck drivers and manure applicators.

Some residents are worried about what the proposed farm could do to the community.

Dylan Johnson has lived in Abercrombie township his whole life, and lives just a mile away from the proposed farm site.

“We’re really concerned with smell. We’re really concerned about our water as far as our wells,” Johnson said. “We’re also worried about contamination from manure, or, you know, missing or mishandling of it, another thing you know, smell, obviously … flies.”

He said many in Abercrombie only recently learned about the project, and despite the open house held on Wednesday, Sept. 11, Riverview hasn’t been transparent with the community. Area residents are worried the large amount of manure generated by the farm could potentially contaminate local water sources.

“What happens when we have overland flooding and all that newer, whatever bacteria, gets into the river and it flows up north, where Oxbow, Fargo get their water,” Johnson said.

For now, citizens with concerns are working on getting the state Department of Environmental Quality to hold a public hearing. They have until Oct. 5. So far, 273 signatures have been collected on a petition from the Abercrombie Citizens for Responsible Growth asking the Department of Environmental Quality to schedule a public town hall.

Residents who have concerns are planning on sharing those concerns with the community at a public meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Abercrombie Community Center.

Mike McGurran has been a reporter and anchor at WDAY-TV since 2021.