Michael Berg Receives Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award

Michael E. Berg of Blanchardville has been selected as the 2025 Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award^® recipient.

The $10,000 award honors farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land. 

Berg, a Lafayette County farmer, was revealed as the award recipient at the November 13 meeting of the Wisconsin Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection in Madison. He will be formally presented with the award at the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting on December 7. 

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In Wisconsin the award is presented with Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others to consider conservation opportunities on their land. In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold advocated for “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage. 

Earlier this year, Wisconsin landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award. Nominations were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders from Wisconsin. 

ABOUT MICHAEL BERG

Michael Berg views conservation through a long lens. 

His life’s work has taken place at Berg Family Farm. The farm’s scenic and dramatic topography is typical in the hilly, ecologically unique Driftless Area of southwest Wisconsin. 

The Berg family has long sought to prevent their limited topsoil from reaching the flood-prone Pecatonica River, a meandering snake of a waterway that weaves through their 540 acres of cropland, pastures, and forests. 

Michael’s father, Byron Berg, installed contour strips to prevent erosion in 1952, a practice followed to this day. He often told his children, “We don’t really own the land. We’re just taking care of it for the next generation.”

Those words stuck with Michael, who wears a commitment to conservation like a badge of honor. 

He recalls his father supporting local conservation efforts as chairman of the Lafayette County Board and hosting the state soil judging contest in 1962. To maintain topsoil atop rocky limestone hills, the Bergs began no-till farming in the 1970s. By the 1980s, they were hosting field days to show other farmers that crop yields weren’t dependent on plowed fields.

The Bergs worked closely with Natural Resource Conservation Service staff on a detailed assessment of how their land drains. With that information they developed two miles of terraces to divert water from rapidly flowing downhill. These areas host native grasses and wildflowers that provide a food source for bees and other pollinators. 

Over time, Michael and his wife Diane planted more than 25,000 pine and walnut trees on about 75 acres of marginal farmland. While others scoffed at taking land out of crop production, these woodlands provide income from timber sales, and habitat for deer, bobcat, and bear. 

Before retiring from dairy farming in 2002, the Bergs built two manure storage areas to prevent the loss of nutrients and protect water quality. After dairying, Michael and his son Taylor transitioned to rotationally grazing Red Angus beef cattle. They seeded pastures with Birdsfoot trefoil, a clover-like plant that produces quality forage while preventing erosion. 

The centerpiece of Michael’s conservation efforts has been restoring almost a mile of riverbank with riprap in 2020. More than 200 loads of specialized breaker rock were laid, then covered with dirt and re-seeded. The riprap slows the infiltration of silt into the river during heavy rains, keeping the river cleaner. 

To provide a natural transition from the river to its floodplain, grassland buffers are maintained at least 16 feet in width along each side of the river. To minimize streambank erosion, the height of the banks was reduced in some areas. Large tree root balls were buried in the river to deflect currents and prevent erosion while creating fish habitat.

Michael says that conservation measures like the riprap project are possible because his farm is profitable. In turn, conservation activities enhance profitability. His was the first farm in Lafayette County to participate in a phosphorus-water quality trading experiment with the nearby village of Argyle. 

Michael is a founder of the Pecatonica Pride Watershed Association, which brings together outdoors enthusiasts, farmers, landowners, business owners, and others to improve the river and inspire others to embrace conservation practices. 

By seeking new ways to fortify the soil, keep the water clean, and provide wildlife habitat while farming, Michael is strengthening his family’s legacy of land stewardship.

ACCOLADES

“Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is proud to partner with Sand County Foundation and the Leopold Conservation Awards to recognize farmers like Michael Berg, whose stewardship of the land reflects the care and commitment Wisconsin farmers bring to every acre and animal,” said Chad Vincent, CEO of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. “His family’s dedication to conservation shows how sustainable practices can protect our natural resources, strengthen rural communities, and ensure a thriving future for Wisconsin dairy and agriculture.”

“Wisconsin farmers are proving that conservation is not just a smart choice; it is a vital investment in both the land and future of agriculture. The Berg family embodies this commitment through decades of stewardship and innovation,” said Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Brad Olson. “Wisconsin Farm Bureau is proud to congratulate Mike Berg on receiving the Leopold Conservation Award and to honor his leadership in advancing a resilient and sustainable future for Wisconsin agriculture.”

“The Berg family has a long history of conservation, and Michael Berg continues to carry that legacy forward,” said Randy Romanski, Wisconsin Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. “Through numerous efforts throughout the decades, Michael has implemented soil and water conservation efforts on his own farm and been a leader for others in the conservation community, which will benefit those in southwestern Wisconsin for generations to come. Congratulations to Michael for all his efforts and for receiving this award.”

The Adamski family exemplify how to practice conservation, operate a successful business, and educate others on lessons learned in the field and on the farm. Thank you to Rick, Valerie, and their family for their work to ensure markets for farms, practice stewardship, and provide learning opportunities to farmers of all backgrounds.”

“These award recipients are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO. “Their dedication to conservation is both an inspiration to their peers as well as a reminder to all how important thoughtful agriculture is to clean water, healthy soil, and wildlife habitat.”

“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the award recipients,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that exemplary conservation involves the land itself, the practices employed on the land, and the people who steward it. This award recognizes the integral role of all three.”

Among the many outstanding Wisconsin landowners nominated for the award were finalists: Andy Bensend of Dallas in Barron County, Brattset Family Farm of Jefferson in Jefferson County, and Pat and Michelle Socha of Edgar in Marathon County. 

The Leopold Conservation Award in Wisconsin is made possible thanks to the generous contributions from American Farmland Trust, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Sand County Foundation, Culver’s, Compeer Financial, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board, Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association, and Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association. 

To view all past recipients of the Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award, visit: www.SandCountyFoundation.org/Wisconsin. 

# # #

SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION inspires and empowers private landowners to ethically manage natural resources so future generations have clean and abundant water, healthy soil to support agriculture and forestry, plentiful habitat for wildlife and opportunities for outdoor recreation. www.sandcountyfoundation.org