Factory Farm in Trenton
Rob-N-Cin Farms CAFO
The Issue
Rob-N-Cin Farms has applied to become a permitted Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). This factory farm has been operating as a CAFO for at least 2 years without a permit, and plans to grow from 1,470 animal units to 2,500 animal units by 2028. This farm is located in the Town of Trenton, which does not currently have a zoning class that allows for CAFOs.
As of 2024, the farm has at least 2,788 acres for spreading of manure, with 455 acres owned by the farm, and 2,323 acres that are leased. These fields are located across eastern Washington County and western Ozaukee County, and runoff would likely impact additional streams within the Milwaukee River Watershed, most of which are already impaired by phosphorus and bacteria pollution.
There are several areas proposed for manure spreading near Trenton, Newburg, and Saukville that have permeable soils, shallow water tables, and shallow/porous bedrock, which make the water aquifer – used by local communities for drinking water – susceptible to contamination from manure and other agricultural chemicals.
Why Should You Care About THIS Issue?
CAFOs produce massive amounts of manure, which if not managed properly, can lead to contamination of waterways and harm aquatic ecosystems. This CAFO is spreading approximately 9.5 million gallons of liquid manure, which would increase to nearly 17 million gallons of manure and other wastewater by 2028. Manure spreading is proposed near areas with permeable soils, shallow water tables, and porous bedrock—putting local drinking water aquifers at risk.
Increased runoff of pollutants to the Cedar Creek and Milwaukee River Watersheds, which are already impacted by high levels of nutrients and bacteria, will impact local communities, water quality, and wildlife.
Allowing “after the fact” permits sets a bad precedent that puts our waterways and drinking water at risk, without affording the public a meaningful opportunity to ensure their concerns are addressed. Without penalties, entities will continue to violate the law at the public’s expense.
What Does Milwaukee Riverkeeper Support?
Milwaukee Riverkeeper will be providing written comments with the goal of improving permit conditions and offering solutions to protect local waterways and wells. Check back for our official comments soon.
What Can You Do to Help?
Attend the DNR’s virtual public hearing on December 16th and voice your concerns. Register here.
Submit comments until 12/23: Email comment’s and concerns to the Permit Drafter, James Salscheider, at James.Salscheider@wisconsin.
You can also mail in comments to:
James Salscheider, DNR,
2984 Shawano Ave, Green Bay, WI 54313
Additional Resources & Recent News
CAFOs
A CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) is a large-scale industrial agricultural facility where large numbers of animals—such as cows, pigs, or chickens—are raised in confined spaces for food production. These operations are designed to maximize efficiency and output but often have significant environmental and public health consequences.
Since CAFOs are often located near water sources for convenience, their pollutants can quickly enter streams, rivers, and aquifers, degrading water quality and harming aquatic ecosystems. This is particularly concerning for watersheds that provide drinking water or support sensitive habitats. CAFOs can overwhelm natural systems with their waste output, leading to long-term damage if not properly regulated.