The Heidel Dairy Farm in Random Lake has undergone some major renovations since its owners, David and Angelita, revolutionized their way of thinking about farming.
After practicing traditional farming methods for 20 years, Heidel converted the 60-cow dairy farm situated on approximately 240 acres to a grass-based intensive rotational grazing system in the1990s. In 2003 the herd became USDA organic certified. He is a producer and member of the Organic Valley Cooperative in La Farge. Both changes reflect Heidel's commitment to alternative farming methods that improve the health of his herd and his land. Heidel's commitment has also earned him the Honorary Recognition Award from the UW-Madison's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
Heidel received his bachelor's and master's degrees in agronomy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is recognized as an innovator, educator and leader in Sheboygan County. While serving as president of the Adell Cooperative Union, Heidel initiated and planned its merger with Great Lakes Feed. His farm has been the site of crop walks, field days and grazing meetings, demonstrating to other producers Heidel's success using rotational grazing and alternative feed systems.
Converting from corn to a barley-alfalfa rotation for the dairy herd produced several benefits. It not only improved milk production but improved the environment, decreasing chemical inputs from fertilizers and pesticides and reducing soil losses. In some dairy operations they are slaughtered after about three years but on Heidel's farm, some cows have produced milk for up to 10 years.
Heidel is committed to conservation practices. Since 1976 he has been involved in Sheboygan County Land and Water Conservation Department programs. The farm is bordered by the Milwaukee River. In 1990 Heidel was one of the first to sign a contract for the North Branch Milwaukee River Watershed Project. When manure and nutrient runoff from the farm was threatening the health of the river, Heidel worked with conservation specialists to devise a solution: he erected a slurry storage facility in 1991.
In addition, Heidel has implemented the Farmland Preservation Project, fencing off a stream and planting trees and shrubs to provide a riparian buffer. He helped rewrite guidelines in the county for EQIP, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
When his children were younger, Heidel was an active leader and educator in local 4-H and FFA chapters and helped oversee his children's projects. One of those projects-selling chickens to the Asian community-is still going strong today. Last year, the farm sold more than 6,000 free-range, "chemical-free" chickens to Asians in eastern and southeastern Wisconsin.
"I found Mr. Heidel to be knowledgeable and innovative in his approach to sustainable agriculture," said Dexter Porter, USDA district conservationist in Sheboygan Falls. "As a conservationist, he has demonstrated a strong ethic regarding land and water stewardship. When I am working with growers who are contemplating the switch to rotational grazing and organic production, I always encourage them to visit Dave Heidel."
Heidel will receive his award Oct. 27 at a banquet in the Memorial Union on the UW-Madison campus. Honorary Recognition, the highest honor bestowed by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, recognizes people who have made outstanding contributions toward the development of agriculture, protection of natural resources, and improvement of rural living. Since 1909, the College has honored some 500 people with these awards.
