For four decades, Arthur “Dave” Cole has played an important role in cultivating the “green gold” adorning Wisconsin”s farmlands, and improving the income and standard of living of Wisconsin dairy farmers.

Cole, an agricultural consultant from Lodi, has worked constantly to improve forage production in Wisconsin. His efforts have earned him an Honorary Recognition Award from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

He is a founding member of the Wisconsin Forage Council, which began in 1977. During his term as president, the Council and UW-Extension launched the “IR van” – a mobile forage analysis lab that helped educate people about the importance of forage quality and balanced rations in livestock profitability. Cole”s efforts have helped near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy become the standard commercial forage testing system in Wisconsin and many other states. NIR analysis, with its speedy results, made possible the tested hay auction network that revolutionized hay marketing in the United States.

He helped create one of the first county forage councils, in Sauk County, and traveled to many other counties to help forage enthusiasts set up their own county councils.

As a crops and soils consultant, Cole has a professional interest in Wisconsin”s 4 million acres of forage crops. He also has a personal interest in maintaining high standards in the crop consulting profession, which led him to become a founder and charter member of the Wisconsin Association of Professional Agricultural Consultants. He helped develop the code of ethics for WAPAC, and continues to contribute to the organization, serving as president in 1997-98.

As a consultant, Cole”s job is to help his clients maximize their profits. A CALS graduate in soil science, he makes extensive use of the College”s information and resources, and networks with CALS researchers and extension specialists to stay on the cutting edge of production technology. Cole”s knowledge of farming practices in Wisconsin has made him a valued advisor and consultant to many extension specialists and CALS researchers. He has served on search-and-screen committees for the Agronomy department, and received the 1992 Friend of Agronomy Award for his contributions. Cole has served two 3-year advisor terms in agronomy at UW-River Falls and UW-Platteville.

Cole has served on the Westpoint Town Board and Land Use Planning Commission for the past 10 years. He has helped to develop Westpoint”s comprehensive land-use plan and ordinances geared to protect farmland and minimize land-use conflicts in an area under heavy development pressure from Madison.

Cole recently received the State Friend of Extension Award from Epsilon Sigma Phi, the national honorary Extension fraternity in recognition of his public service and support of the Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Service and its programs. He has also received the Friend of County Agents Award from the Wisconsin County Agents Association, and has twice received the Agri-Business Award from the Wisconsin Forage Council.

Cole will receive the award Nov. 5 at a banquet in the Memorial Union on the UW-Madison campus. Also at the banquet, Alfred E. Harper, professor emeritus of biochemistry and nutritional sciences at the UW-Madison, will receive the CALS Distinguished Service Award.

Honorary Recognition, the highest honor bestowed by the College, 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 more than 400 people with these awards. For information on attending the banquet, please call CALS Outreach Services, (608) 263-1672.