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Planning panel recommends approval of Brewcher dairy expansion with 1,568‑animal‑unit cap
Summary
The Morrison County Planning Commission voted July 7 to recommend approval of an after‑the‑fact conditional‑use permit allowing a dairy to move from a tier‑3 to a tier‑4 feedlot, imposing a 1,568 animal‑unit cap and other conditions; the MPCA is overseeing permitting for the site.
The Morrison County Planning Commission voted unanimously July 7 to recommend that the County Board approve an after‑the‑fact conditional‑use permit (CUP) to expand an existing dairy feedlot to a tier‑4 operation, while capping permitted animal units at 1,568 and imposing several construction and site‑management conditions.
Land services staff presented the application and told the commission the site has grown beyond its 2006 tier‑3 permit and now registers about 1,467.5 animal units; the applicants propose expanding to 1,568. “This is an after the fact conditional use permit request for a tier 4 dairy feedlot,” staff said. Amy, the land services presenter, said the expansion triggered Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) oversight because county authority changes when a feedlot surpasses 1,000 animal units.
The commission’s discussion focused on manure storage capacity, odor offsets and restoring a northern pasture area that staff said had been functioning as an unauthorized animal‑holding area. Commissioners noted the tier‑4 classification allows up to 2,500 animal units but the proposed storage improvements provide nine months of liquid manure storage only for the requested 1,568 units. Commissioner Clint urged a numeric cap to prevent the operation from growing beyond the storage capacity; commission staff recommended and recorded that cap as a condition.
Applicant David said the herd increased over time rather than by a single large purchase: “It isn’t like we went out and bought a bunch of cows. It just kinda grew.” He and other family members described plans to re‑seed pasture, relocate calf hutches away from the road, and add berms and vegetated treatment areas to maintain zero discharge standards required for an MPCA‑regulated site.
Amy read five recommended conditions into the record: seed the berm before construction; place the animal‑unit cap at 1,568; ensure calf hutches meet setback requirements upon pit completion; maintain the north lot as pasture; and obtain the required SDS/NPDES permitting from the MPCA before construction or operation as applicable. The feedlot officer on hand confirmed MPCA permitting and operating permits would be required.
The public comment period produced a brief statement of support from Ripley Township supervisors, who said they inspected the site and favored the proposal. With public comment closed, Commissioner Brent moved—and Commissioner Clint seconded—to recommend approval to the County Board. A roll call vote recorded unanimous support from the five commissioners present. The planning commission will forward the recommendation to the Morrison County Board of Commissioners for final action at its July 14, 2026 meeting.
The commission’s recommendation imposes the 1,568 animal‑unit limit and the construction and management conditions noted above; final permit terms will be set by the County Board and MPCA permitting decisions.
