Board approves Scotch Prairie Farms expansion to 4,129 animal units and requires dust‑control on township road
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Summary
The county board approved Brian Yoder's feedlot expansion application, limiting the operation to 4,129 animal units and adding a condition that the applicant must control dust by applying chloride to the township road from County Road 4 to 500 feet beyond the second residence’s driveway.
Wabasha County commissioners on June 3 approved an amendment to the conditional‑use permit for Scotch Prairie Farms LLC, allowing expansion of the feedlot to a maximum of 4,129 animal units and imposing conditions intended to limit environmental and neighborhood impacts, including a new dust‑control requirement on the township road leading to the operation.
Planning staff summarized the planning commission’s recommendation (5‑0) and the board discussed concerns raised by two nearby residents about dust from additional truck traffic. The planning commission’s conditions (as presented) limited the animal units to 4,129.2 AU, required compliance with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) rules, and required submittal of any MPCA/NPDES permits and feedlot registration updates.
During the meeting, staff and commissioners discussed dust‑control options and cost. County staff noted an application to chloride a gravel road is roughly $2,400 for a single application covering a lane width; heavier traffic or road condition may require a second application later in the season. The board amended the CUP to add a condition requiring the applicant to apply chloride (or equivalent dust control) on the township portion of 661 First Street from County Road 4 to 500 feet beyond the second residence’s driveway (the stretch identified by concerned neighbors) to mitigate dust from increased truck traffic.
Commissioner Powers moved to approve the amendment with that added condition; Commissioner Waki (second) supported the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Other conditions require adherence to MPCA rules, furnishing copies of any required NPDES stormwater permit and feedlot registration to Wabasha County, and that any further intensification (additional animal units or manure storage) would require an amendment to the CUP.
What to watch: The applicant must provide MPCA/NPDES permits to the county and comply with state feedlot standards. The board’s chloride condition assigns dust control responsibility to the applicant and identifies a specific stretch of township road for mitigation; the township had not reported formal opposition but did not appear to chlorinate the whole road at present.