By Rich Larson
Rep. Kristi Pursell (D-Northfield) of District 58A said one of her top priorities this week was bringing a major livestock-environment bill before the Minnesota House Agriculture Committee, arguing that the state needs closer scrutiny of very large animal operations and their impact on groundwater.
Pursell, a Democrat from Northfield, said she reintroduced legislation that would require a mandatory environmental impact statement for agricultural projects with 10,000 animal units or more. Under current law, operations with 1,000 or more animal units must complete an environmental assessment worksheet, a less extensive review.
She said the bill is aimed at what she described as “hyperscale” livestock operations, particularly very large dairies. Pursell pointed to Riverview Dairy, which she said has multiple locations around Minnesota and is seeking to expand one operation to 26,000 animal units, or nearly 19,000 cattle.
Her chief concern is water.
“These big operations can come in, they can tap into an aquifer that’s much deeper than the local neighbors,” Pursell said, linking the issue to broader worries about groundwater use already surfacing in other regional debates, including quarry and data center proposals.
Pursell said Minnesota is beginning to feel pressure because it remains relatively water-rich compared with states in the West, where drought and overuse have already forced tough conversations about allocation. She told KYMN that large companies are increasingly drawn to Minnesota’s water resources, making stronger environmental review more urgent.
She also referenced enforcement action in Arizona involving the same dairy company, saying regulators there found neighboring wells had been harmed. Pursell argued that Minnesota should act before similar conflicts emerge here.
While she said large agriculture interests opposed the proposal, Pursell added that many area farmers have supported closer oversight.
The committee hearing came as lawmakers returned from spring break and entered the final stretch of the 2026 legislative session. Pursell said that after next week’s deadline, the pace at the Capitol is expected to accelerate.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
