Farm requests expansion in Town of Almon

About a dozen people were in attendance at the Almon Town Hall on April 21 to listen to details about a license request with a proposed expansion of a livestock facility on the Strassburg Creek Farm, N7339 Regina Road, just north of Bowler.

The proposal of the expansion, coming from the Kenneth and Shirley Strassburg Revocable Trust, would be from 1,650 animal units to 2,530 animal units. An animal unit is a way to measure how an animal impacts a farm in relation to food and waste. Larger animals often have an animal unit above one.

According to Scott Frank, Shawano County conservationist, the meeting was held in order to provide an explanation on the application for the expanded livestock facility and to receive public input on the application. Frank also mentioned if people within the community wanted to submit questions to the county land conservation office, that they can do so through May 3.

“The county shall grant or deny the application within 90 days after giving notice that the application is complete,” said Frank. “That 90 days is up to July 8.”

Frank added that past licensing procedures have not typically approached 90 days.

Frank also mentioned that the farm’s existing license was approved on March 5, 2008, which led to the 1,650 animal units.

“The decision on the license is based upon odor management, waste and nutrient management, reviews of the waste storage facilities, run off management and setbacks that have to be set for livestock structures and waste storage structures,” said Frank.

Jeff Strassburg, owner and operator of Strassburg Creek Farm, mentioned that the farm has grown over the years while keeping key employees.

“With the expansion here, our hope is that to milk 300 cows with the same amount of labor,” said Strassburg. “We want to keep continuing doing what we do and keep the key employees that we have. It also allows us to bring the next generation into the farm.”

Jennifer Keuning, an environmental consultant representing GHD out of Green Bay, presented the details of the application to those in the audience.

“Today, our application that we are putting forth is for 2,530 animal units,” said Keuning. “That will be accommodated through the addition of a new free-stall barn.”

Keuning also mentioned that the 377 foot by 255 foot free-stall barn will include robot milkers.

“This will allow the farm to adopt new technology and continue to do all of the work with the same amount of labor,” said Keuning. “That new free stall barn will have room for 540 cows.”

This will allow for the rest of buildings on the farm to not be too overcrowded. All together, Keuning predicts that there will be an addition of 250-300 animals.

According to Keuning, the design for the free stall barn also includes a manure channel that will move manure out of the barn into a reception tank.

Keuning mentioned that there is an emergency response plan in place in case of an accident on the farm.

“We will stop the leak or the spill, assess the situation and make the phone calls that we have to make,” said Keuning. “It is not against the law to have a spill, but we have to do the right thing if it happens.”

Part of the proposal included an odor management plan. In the odor management plan, Keuning stated that the farm needed to be kept clean.

“I always tell my clients that people smell with their eyes,” said Keuning. “If the place looks like a dump, then people are going to assume things that may not be true — but they are still going to assume it.”

At the meeting, there was no public concern for the details of the expansion of the farm.

After May 3, when all public comments are considered, the Shawano County Land Conservation Department will go through the process of making the decision to approve or deny the application.

A map detailing the proposed plans of the site is included on the Shawano County website, https://www.co.shawano.wi.us/i/f/files/4-14-21%20LCD%20Strassburg%20Site...