south central WI | hinfarm - 1/16/2026 06:55
I realize the horse is already out of the barn with small dairy at this point but it’s hard to argue that one 25,000 cow dairy is better than 500 50 cow dairy’s when it comes to the local economy.
That should be 500 independent small businesses that buy manure spreaders, chopper boxes and haybines every few years. In addition to that you don’t have to drive 2 hours to get to the feed mill, the one in town is still just as busy as ever and so are a half dozen vets and dairy supply businesses.
So much for progress
While i agree to a point,Riverview is going to pay good or great rent,which the landowners/farmers will then spread out in the neighborhood. Those 500 50 cow dairies will use local feedmills,but I'd guess 5-25 of those will stiff the feedmill on a bill here and there,or let the custom guys go unpaid for a year+, possibly forever.
As a small/medium/large dairy farm (depending on how big you think a dairy should be), I'm not a fan of mega dairies. I have one about 20 miles from me,and they are a showplace. They make the dairy industry look good, unless you are set against them. They look a lot better than the half fallen old barn with the cows wallowing in the muddy lot. |
Belle Dairy/Riverview 25,000 dairy farm proposal
