Scott Williams, swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Scott Williams Construction crews have started earth-moving work for a Matsche Farms Inc. expansion that includes two new barns, a new milking parlor and a manure pit capable of storing 25 million gallons.
Plans submitted to Shawano County show the estimated 40-acre existing Matsche farm south of County Road N and the expansion site to the north.
In a move that could create one of Wisconsin’s largest dairy operations, Matsche Farms Inc. has unveiled plans to expand its herd by hundreds of animals and to build a manure pit the size of four football fields.
State regulators say expansion of the family-owned farm near Birnamwood would put its herd at an estimated 9,000 cows, heifers and calves, making it the biggest such operation in Shawano County.
It also would rival the state’s largest dairy farms — sometimes called factory farms by critics — in Kewaunee County, Outagamie County and Rock County.
Although environmentalists voice concerns about the impact on water quality and air quality, local officials are cheering Matsche Farms for a project that they say would signal healthy growth in the agriculture industry.
“It’s the wave of the future,” town of Almon Chairman Jim Gutt said. “The little farms are gone — let’s face it.”
According to plans submitted to the county, Matsche Farms plans to build two new barns, each about a quarter-mile long, as well as a new milking parlor and a storage pit capable of storing 25 million gallons of manure. The pit would be about 20 feet deep and would be lined with concrete.
Matsche Farms officials said their plans are state-of-the-art and would comply with government regulations designed to protect the environment. Those officials also said they are not striving for industry prominence, but rather are replacing outdated facilities while improving comfort for their animals and employees.
“We just want our cows to have the best,” spokeswoman Carrie Matsche said.
Although the farm’s plans call for a herd of about 9,000 animals eventually, family members said they would initially add just 1,300 to a herd of 4,700.
Responding to expected concerns from environmentalists, family member Heather Matsche said the operation seeks to educate children and others about farming and the agriculture business.
“We’re not doing anything bad around here,” she said. “We’re just expanding because we have to.”
Large farm expansions in other parts of the state have drawn criticism from environmentalists who argue that the businesses threaten water quality in particular, by generating huge volumes of animal waste. Environmental groups are battling Kinnard Farms Inc. in Kewaunee County over a proposed expansion similar in size to that of Matsche Farms.
One watchdog group, Midwest Environmental Advocates, was unaware of the Matsche Farms project, but voiced concern about its magnitude.
“That type of expansion should be accompanied by a robust environmental review process,” said Tressie Kamp, an attorney for the Madison-based group.
Farms with more than about 1,000 animals — also known as “concentrated animal feeding operations,” or CAFOs — are permitted and regulated by the state Department of Natural Resources.
DNR officials said Matsche Farms has not yet sought approval for its expansion, and that the project could be considered simultaneously with a permit renewal process starting later this year. The farm’s existing permit, issued in 2011, expires in June.
The state has permitted about 270 such CAFO operations statewide, including seven dairy farms in Shawano County.
The largest in the county now is Green Valley Dairy LLC, located on Hintz Road northwest of Pulaski. State records show that Green Valley Dairy has between 4,800 and 5,600 animals approximately.
The government’s formula for counting a herd is based on “animal units” rather than actual numbers of animals.
State records put the Matsche Farms herd at 3,270 animal units, or about one-third of its planned 9,280 units. DNR agricultural specialist Danielle Block said that a herd of that projected size would likely include about 9,000 actual cows, heifers and calves.
Shawano County Farm Bureau President Deb Mielke applauded the Matsche Farms expansion plan as an encouraging show of strength for agriculture.
“Wisconsin is the perfect place to do dairy,” Mielke said. “More power to them.”
Shawano County planners endorsed the farm expansion in May, determining that it would present no serious threat to public health. Nearby landowners were notified of the plan, and none of them raised objections.
In addition to facilities for on-site manure storage, Matsche Farms told the county that manure is spread on fields totalling 1,800 acres owned by Matsche Farms and another 2,000 acres rented for that purpose.
When county officials measured odor emanating from the farm, they found acceptable levels for all but two neighbors. Both of those neighbors signed forms indicating that they have no objection to the Matsche Farms expansion.
One of those neighbors, Lea Tatro, said she anticipated that supporting the project would bring her a buyout offer from Matsche Farms. A subsequent offer of $100,000 was far below what her property is worth, she said, calling it a “lowball” offer.
Tatro said she does not really support the expansion. She dislikes the smell and noise, and she fears that a bigger farm will hurt her property values, making it difficult to find another buyer.
Referring to Matsche Farms, she said: “I don’t want to stop them, but I don’t want to live next to that, either.”