Belle Dairy
Facts & Frequently Asked Questions

Riverview, LLP proposes a 25,000-head dairy farm in Section 29 of Belle Township. The project reflects growing domestic dairy demand and processors’ need for milk, and the site was chosen in part for its strong forage supply and favorable manure application circle. Riverview operates modern dairy farms across the Midwest, including Redstone — the dairy farm Belle Dairy’s freestall barn design is modeled after.

Today, Riverview, LLP has grown into a diversified agribusiness with dairy farms and feedlots in the Upper Midwest and Southwest. We are dedicated to creating a respectful and ethical workplace, ensuring animal health and comfort, enhancing land productivity, and adding value to the communities where we live and work. Riverview is a partnership with multiple partners. About 70% is owned by Riverview employees, and the remaining 30% is owned by family and friends of the partnership.

Belle Dairy first needs state and county permits, then construction, before milking can begin. Riverview plans to secure permits first and figure out construction timing after that.

The site design includes one freestall barn modeled after Riverview’s Redstone dairy farm, covered manure storage basins with about 14 months of storage capacity, an asphalt feedpad, and three 128-stall rotary milking parlors. The dairy farm is expected to produce approximately 22 loads of milk per day; a milk processor has not yet been determined.

Animal care is a top priority for Riverview. The company follows an animal welfare program called “BE KIND,” with handling protocols designed by veterinarians and reviewed through third-party audits.

The plan is to use rural water, with WEB, a regional rural water system.

Yes. Water is recycled — rainwater and snowmelt are captured and used within the dairy to offset water demand. This is expected to give the project a 30–40% reduction in the water supplies otherwise needed.

No. Belle Dairy is designed and will operate as a zero discharge system. All manure and process wastewater are fully contained on site — none is released into surface water or local waterways.

The dairy farm’s manure is applied on approximately 16,000 acres annually under a state-approved Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). The plan requires soil sampling, manure sampling, and agronomic rate calculations. Solids and liquids are separated: solids are reused as bedding or land-applied as organic matter, and liquids are drag-hose applied.

Manure is generally priced at a discount to commercial fertilizer, based on the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium applied, with the price including application costs. Application rates are determined by the NMP, which accounts for crop nitrogen needs and credits from the prior year’s crop and manure applications. Farmers don’t have to sell forage to Riverview to receive manure — the manure program is available to local farmers independent of any forage or silage arrangement.

Odor and fly control measures include covered lagoons, cross-ventilated barns, good housekeeping practices, routine pen cleaning, and minimizing movement or agitation of manure.

Belle Dairy requires multiple state and local permits before construction can begin. As with any project, the permitting and construction process is expected to take time. Riverview plans to permit first and plan construction from there, since timelines can shift.

In South Dakota, the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) is the primary regulator of Belle Dairy. DANR issued the state feedlot permit that governs the design, construction, and operation of the dairy, including manure storage, handling, and land application.

The county regulates the project from a local land use planning perspective through a County Conditional Use Permit, which implements the Edmunds County Zoning Ordinances applicable to the project.

The dairy farm’s Nutrient Management Plan requires annual soil and manure sampling to confirm application rates stay within state-approved agronomic limits.

Because the project is located on SD 45, Riverview will need to notify the South Dakota Department of Transportation. Riverview does not want the project to create additional costs for townships and plans to work with townships and the county on road improvement and maintenance related to harvest activities.

Belle Dairy is expected to directly employ about 90 people. Riverview accepts applications from anyone. All employees are drug-tested and E-Verified, a voluntary federal program that confirms U.S. work authorization. On-site housing is planned in accordance with county zoning.

Estimated annual economic contributions include approximately $6 million in payroll, $150,000+ in county taxes, $5 million or more in annual repairs and supplies, and $4 million in utilities. A regional Reinvestment Payment Program (RPP) could return roughly $4.4 million to the local county, similar to a nearby county’s experience with the program.

Yes. The project supports local farmer profitability through custom service opportunities and silage/haylage purchase programs, which can lessen farmer workload and overhead. Forage agreements are arranged on an annual basis with local farmers, giving both sides the flexibility to change year to year. Feed needs are substantial: approximately 16,000 acres of corn silage, 5,000 acres of alfalfa, and about 1,000,000 bushels of dry corn annually, creating a steady local market for area crops. Silage is priced per ton using a multiplier of the local spot corn price, with forward contracting, delayed pricing, and average pricing options available.

The region offers abundant feed, land, and water. Global demand for dairy products and cheese consumption continue to rise, and growing dairies help support growth among regional milk processors. For Riverview, growth also creates a culture of opportunity for employees — meaningful work and personal growth for co-workers eager to take on new responsibilities.