Your opportunity to weigh in on the expansion of a Door County dairy farm is coming up on Wednesday.

The proposed expansion of Gilbert Farms in Sturgeon Bay would increase the herd from approximately 1,443 animal units to 2,430 by 2026, which is a 68% increase. The expansion requires the farm to file a Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit application to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to detail its wastewater and manure management strategies.

Community members have expressed concerns about the impact on the county's wells and groundwater, particularly given the region's sensitive geology. Gilbert Farms stated that it began the permit process to adhere to a higher standard for all waterways and is working with a DNR approved engineer to upgrade its manure facility. The farm has made some changes to its plan based on community requests, such as lining the manure pit with concrete and clay. The farm has stated that it will not be implementing requests for a methane digester or a wastewater treatment facility, as it believes these are not economically viable and may not significantly reduce odor.

The DNR is holding its public hearing for Gilbert Farms' application in person on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Door County Gala in Sturgeon Bay. The meeting is also available on ZOOM.  

The DNR is reviewing the permit application and will consider the public comments before making a final decision