Proposed dairy project in Traill County may revitalize dairy infrastructure in North Dakota

A proposed new dairy operation in Traill County could substantially increase the number of dairy cows in North Dakota and rebuild dairy infrastructure in the state.

A Minnesota-based company, Riverview LLP, recently revealed plans for a new dairy southeast of Hillsboro. The company has existing barns in Minnesota and South Dakota.

Amber Wood, executive director of the North Dakota Livestock Alliance, is hopeful that the Riverview proposal will help to rebuild dairy infrastructure for existing dairy producers in the state.

“Right now, we have a shortage of truckers, we have a shortage of dairy vets, just overall the industry – we’ve lost that infrastructure. For some of our dairy producers, it can be up to two days for them to get a mechanically specialized person to work on their dairy equipment, because they’ve got to bring them all away from Minnesota. So there’s challenges there. So, this will help rebuild that infrastructure, and especially on the processing infrastructure.”

The North Dakota Livestock Alliance has a two-tier approach to expansion of the dairy industry in the state. One tier is encouraging new growth, such as the eastern I-29 corridor of North Dakota for new dairy facilities, and the second tier is stimulating growth and sustaining existing dairy producers in western parts of the state.

“North Dakota’s existing 24 dairy farms –  NDLA is still 100% with them, and we are still working on that tier of the project to make sure that we can do the best that we can to help sustain and give them the opportunity to thrive, as well,” Wood says.

According to USDA statistics, the total number of dairy cows in North Dakota in 1980 was 93,000. As of January 1st, 2023, the dairy cow inventory in North Dakota had dwindled to 14,000. If completed, Riverview’s proposed dairy in Traill County could have 25,000 dairy cows.