Barnes County Commission Approves CUP Permit for CAFO

Pipestone Farms to build 7,717-swine hog farm in Barnes County, North Dakota

Mar. 18, 2026 at 2:30am

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The Barnes County Commission voted 4-1 to approve Pipestone Farms' request for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to build a 7,717-swine or 3,161 Animal Unit (AU) hog farrowing Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) in Barnes County, North Dakota. The farm will be located 13 miles north of Oriska and employ 16 full-time workers, using an estimated 175,000 bushels of corn and 40,000 bushels of soybeans annually to feed the animals.

Why it matters

The approval of the CAFO permit highlights the ongoing tension between agricultural development and local community concerns over environmental and quality-of-life impacts. While the project is expected to provide an economic boost, some residents near the proposed site have expressed disappointment with the commission's decision.

The details

Pipestone Farms will now pursue approval of several state permits before being allowed to build the CAFO facility. The three proposed buildings - a gestation barn, farrowing barn, and gilt growing barn - along with a compost site, will be used to house the pigs. Manure will be stored in pits beneath the barns and applied as fertilizer to local croplands in the fall.

  • On March 17, 2026, the Barnes County Commission voted 4-1 to approve Pipestone Farms' CUP request.
  • On March 10, 2026, the Barnes County Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved the CUP following a public hearing.

The players

Pipestone Farms

The company that requested the CUP permit to build a 7,717-swine CAFO facility in Barnes County.

Barnes County Commission

The local governing body that voted 4-1 to approve Pipestone Farms' CUP request.

Vicky Lovell

The sole commissioner who voted against approving the CUP permit.

Marilyn Henderson

A local resident whose family farm is located two miles east of the proposed CAFO site, and who was disappointed with the commission's decision.

Grady Karges

A local farmer north of Oriska who spoke about the benefits of the hog facility for his family's farming operation.

David Bullerman

A representative of Son-D-Farms who discussed the positive impact the CAFO would have for area corn farmers.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

Additional public hearings will be held in the future as Pipestone Farms pursues the state permitting process for the CAFO facility.

The takeaway

The approval of the CAFO permit highlights the ongoing tension between agricultural development and local community concerns, as the project is expected to provide an economic boost but has also drawn criticism from some nearby residents.