Planning commission backs Herkenhoff (Rosa Hoff) Dairy expansion with conditions

Stearns County planning commissioners on June 26 recommended approval of a conditional use permit (CUP) for Herkenhoff Central Dairy (doing business as Rosa Hoff Dairy) to expand barn space and increase the milking herd to 499 animal units at the Freeport property now in the county’s shoreland overlay.

The expansion would increase the operation from the existing level to a proposed 499 animal units—described in staff materials as 272 mature dairy cattle, 150 dairy heifers and 66 dairy calves—and includes two attached barn additions and a concrete limited‑risk liquid manure storage area of 20,000 gallons or less. The site is within the 1,000‑foot shoreland overlay and is located at the address shown in the staff packet.

County environmental services staff told the commission the site has been a registered feedlot since 1998 and holds prior CUPs (2008 and 2009). A May 2025 compliance inspection found the facility compliant for water quality discharge but noncompliant for some manure record‑keeping entries; the applicant submitted a manure management plan on May 20, 2025. Staff noted that at 499 animal units the operation avoids a separate “good neighbor” notice requirement that would attach at 500 animal units, but that permitting requirements change at or above 500 if other thresholds are met.

Staff recommended three conditions if the commission approved the CUP: that the owner construct the improvements according to the submitted plans unless otherwise approved by Environmental Services Department (ESD); that the owner prepare an emergency response plan if manure storage will be less than six months with the proposed expansion; and that the owner notify ESD within three days of construction completion so a post‑construction inspection may be completed. Commissioners moved and seconded approval of the application with the three staff conditions; the motion passed. The commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to the Stearns County Board for final action on July 8.

Discussion and questions at the hearing focused on siting, prior registrations and inspection history, manure management documentation, and the permitting threshold at 500 animal units. Staff said the joint county/state feedlot permit application had been submitted in May and that if the operation’s management or permit status changes the applicant must meet Minnesota rule manure‑management requirements before additional permits would be issued. The staff report listed 15 residences within one mile, eight registered feedlots within one mile, and the nearest residence about 1,540 feet from the feedlot. The applicant—Tom Herkenoff—was present and had no substantive additions to the staff report.

The commission record includes the staff findings of fact and the draft minutes from the feedlot review committee (June 4). The county will send notice of the county board hearing to media and local units of government as indicated in the staff packet.