PENDLETON, Ore. — The owner of a controversial mega-dairy in Boardman, Ore., has been arrested on charges of patronizing a prostitute and possessing methamphetamine.

Lost Valley Farm owner Greg te Velde was arrested during a sting in Kennewick. The Benton County Jail website says he was booked Aug. 19 and is free on bail.

His cellphone would not accept messages. Lost Valley Farm general manager Travis Love said in a written statement that the company takes the allegations seriously but can’t comment.

Oregon regulators approved the 30,000-cow dairy farm in March, turning aside complaints from a coalition of health and environmental groups.