Double Diamond Dairy Expansion Project

The Double Diamond Dairy Expansion Project seeks approval to increase the size of an existing dairy operation in unincorporated Merced County, California, by expanding the herd from approximately 9,870 to about 15,430 cattle. The expansion will be contained within the current dairy footprint on previously disturbed land and will include the construction of new free stall barns, a maternity barn, and a milking parlor to accommodate the larger herd. All existing infrastructure, including the on-site wastewater management system comprising lagoons, separators, and land application of manure to roughly 1,990 acres of cropland, will remain in use and continue to operate as part of the expanded operation. There are no plans to modify the General Plan, rezone the property, subdivide the land, or build new off-site infrastructure. The project anticipates only minor increases in truck traffic associated with the higher animal count and does not require any new utilities or external support systems beyond current operations. The application is being processed under Conditional Use Permit No. CUP25-007 through the Merced County Community and Economic Development Department. Key contacts include Planner III Mark Hamilton for municipal coordination, Principal Planning Team Lead Brandi Cummings for environmental and planning support, and General Partner Mike D. Vander Dussen representing the dairy operator. The project was posted as a forecast on June 18, 2026, and all activities are confined to the existing agricultural land use without altering surrounding zoning or requiring additional public infrastructure. The site is identified by the ZIP code 95317, and the project will proceed under existing regulatory frameworks governing agricultural activities and waste management in the county.