The resolution was in response to a controversy over a proposed 5,000-cow dairy in Ogden Township. It also occurred as controversy is building over manure management problems at the 6,200-cow Vreba-Hoff dairy operation at two facilities near Hudson.

The Sierra Club Michigan chapter called Wednesday for the Vreba-Hoff dairies to be immediately shut down because land application of liquid manure was started Tuesday in violation of a lawsuit settlement with the Department of Environmental Quality. The agreement prohibits land applications after Dec. 15.

A Hudson-based environmental group also called Wednesday for “an immediate injunction to stop Vreba-Hoff Dairy’s knowing violations of a court judgment prohibiting any winter application of manure.”

Rachel Matthews of the DEQ district office in Jackson said Vreba-Hoff officials gave notice they would begin land applications this week to avoid exceeding manure storage capacity at the farms.Vreba-Hoff cited a clause in the agreement that allows winter applications to avoid “catastrophic events,” she said.

Source: The Daily Telegram