California dairy expansion raises water quality concerns in farming community

A proposed dairy farm expansion near Planada, California has prompted residents to worry about groundwater and air quality after decades of agricultural intensification transformed the region.

First covered Jul 5, 2026 · 2:00 AM PT · 1 article

Coverage

6h Inside Climate News Dairy Farms’ Expansion Plan Worries California Families Who Once Had a ‘Little Piece of Heaven’ — PLANADA, Calif.—David Rodriguez learned to swim in the canals near his childhood home in the 1960s, back when orchards of figs, peaches and almonds encircled…

Primary sources

cdfa.ca.gov CDFA - Statistics

dho.stanford.edu Digesters (dho.stanford.edu)

epa.gov Cafo Status Report 2024 (epa.gov)

More coverage from around the web

mercedcountytimes.com Water at center of dispute over Planada dairy expansion — Merced County Times

inthesetimes.com Big Dairy is Milking California Dry - In These Times

waterboards.ca.gov Dairy Program | California Northcoast Regional Water Quality Control Board

thebullvine.com California town downwind of dairy fights proposed expansion. ‘Can’t stand the smell’ | The Bullvine

dairycares.com California Dairies Protect Water Quality

Appeared in: 2026-07-05 (#11)

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