Counties generally monitor dairies, review proposals and field complaints. But the primary environmental caretakers of dairies are state water quality officials. They police the nonbusiness end of cows to ensure that urine, manure and other waste don't pollute ground and surface water. Scattered over nine regions, those officials track the location and size of dairies along with the amount of waste generated and where it goes. They also have inspection duty but, as a practical matter, that rarely happens in most regions.
Dairymen are on the honor system.
Remember, our families live right here on the dairy. We farm within 100 feet of our homes. Anything we do, we look at how it might affect the people that we love. State law requires dairymen to inform water quality officials when they build new dairies or expand herds. Dairymen also sign pledges to follow environmental rules.