DARLINGTON - The 2013 Lafayette County Conservation Awards were presented June 8 at the Lafayette County Dairy Breakfast on Martin Farms in Mineral Point.
The 2013 Dedicated Service Award went to Dennis Allendorf, who has been in the earth-moving and construction business since 1983.
In 2007, he started Allendorf Dozing, Inc. Allendorf installed conservation practices for others in and around Lafayette County that included tile outlet terraces, grade stabilization structures, grassed waterways, streambank stabilization and subsurface drainage. He has also installed these same practices on his own land to protect it.
The 2013 Conservation Farmer of the Year award went to Dale and Cynthia Wills and their family.
The Wills' farm is located about 3 miles south of Belmont on Holland Road. The Wills purchased the 163-acre farm in 1976 and throughout the years added on another 322 acres. The farm currently totals 485 acres. In 1977, a Lafayette County Conservation cooperator's agreement was signed and a conservation plan was developed. That same year, a 1,600 lineal foot grassed waterway was installed. From 1989 to 1991, contour buffer strips were installed, followed by a minimum tillage system. Conservation Reserve Program riparian grassed and forest buffers were installed in 1999. In 2011, a nutrient management plan was developed. The Wills grow corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and oats and raise farrow to finish hogs and some feeder cattle.
The 2013 Wildlife Habitat Development Award went to Nancy Bingaman and Gary Benson.
In 1995, Bingaman and Benson purchased a 100-acre farm located between Argyle and Wiota. A conservation plan was developed and a Lower East Branch Pecatonica Watershed Agreement was signed. Bingaman and Benson completed 1,140 lineal feet of stream bank riprap, 100 lineal feet of stream bank shaping and had five wooden lunker structures that were installed into the stream for fish habitat. They continued the maintenance of more than 14,240 newly planted trees on 17.8 acres of CRP. They also enrolled seven acres into the CRP riparian buffer program along the creek banks, and planted more than 1,100 trees in the area in 1999. The remaining crop fields are operated by Lee Montgomery. In 2012, Bingaman, Benson and Montgomery worked together to develop a Nutrient Management Plan.
The 2013 Dedicated Service Award went to Dennis Allendorf, who has been in the earth-moving and construction business since 1983.
In 2007, he started Allendorf Dozing, Inc. Allendorf installed conservation practices for others in and around Lafayette County that included tile outlet terraces, grade stabilization structures, grassed waterways, streambank stabilization and subsurface drainage. He has also installed these same practices on his own land to protect it.
The 2013 Conservation Farmer of the Year award went to Dale and Cynthia Wills and their family.
The Wills' farm is located about 3 miles south of Belmont on Holland Road. The Wills purchased the 163-acre farm in 1976 and throughout the years added on another 322 acres. The farm currently totals 485 acres. In 1977, a Lafayette County Conservation cooperator's agreement was signed and a conservation plan was developed. That same year, a 1,600 lineal foot grassed waterway was installed. From 1989 to 1991, contour buffer strips were installed, followed by a minimum tillage system. Conservation Reserve Program riparian grassed and forest buffers were installed in 1999. In 2011, a nutrient management plan was developed. The Wills grow corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and oats and raise farrow to finish hogs and some feeder cattle.
The 2013 Wildlife Habitat Development Award went to Nancy Bingaman and Gary Benson.
In 1995, Bingaman and Benson purchased a 100-acre farm located between Argyle and Wiota. A conservation plan was developed and a Lower East Branch Pecatonica Watershed Agreement was signed. Bingaman and Benson completed 1,140 lineal feet of stream bank riprap, 100 lineal feet of stream bank shaping and had five wooden lunker structures that were installed into the stream for fish habitat. They continued the maintenance of more than 14,240 newly planted trees on 17.8 acres of CRP. They also enrolled seven acres into the CRP riparian buffer program along the creek banks, and planted more than 1,100 trees in the area in 1999. The remaining crop fields are operated by Lee Montgomery. In 2012, Bingaman, Benson and Montgomery worked together to develop a Nutrient Management Plan.
