Why soil health?

Providing opportunities for all farmers and ranchers to improve their soils is critical to maintaining the vibrancy and resilience of Colorado’s agricultural community. The past two decades in the American West have been the driest in several centuries, and aridity and higher temperatures are expected to increase in the future. Market uncertainty will likely continue and food production will face challenges. Helping Colorado farmers and ranchers improve the health of their soil is of utmost importance. 

Colorado has a robust legacy of soil conservation and soil stewardship. Healthy soil are drought resilient because it retains more water and is less prone to erosion. Through soil health practices that improve nutrient cycling, farmers can increase the productivity of land while also reducing labor and input costs. Colorado’s producers are long-time advocates of soil health. Nonetheless, barriers remain to adopting soil health practices. The Soil Health Program reduces impediments to healthy soil through a voluntary and incentive-based framework. 

What is the STAR Program? 

The Colorado Saving Tomorrow’s Agricultural Resources (STAR) program uses the STAR Rating system, an innovative and simple framework allowing farmers and ranchers to evaluate their current production system, identify areas for improvement, document their progress, and share successes. 

The evaluation system assigns points for annual management activities and scores a 1 to 5 STAR Rating, with 5 STARs indicating the most ambitious commitment to a suite of practices proven to improve soil health, water quality, and water availability. In Colorado, STAR evaluates 11 different cropping systems and grazing lands for soil health. Any Colorado farmer and rancher can submit a STAR field form on CDA’s website to receive a STAR Rating and a free soil health test.

The STAR Plus program is a partnership with Colorado’s Conservation Districts and Eligible Entities to provide financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers across our state. CDA's initial launch of the STAR Plus program began in 2022 working with 130 farmers and ranchers, 16 conservation districts, and 3 eligible entities implementing new practices on one field over three years. Participants build expertise with new practices and an increased understanding of the environmental and economic outcomes associated with them. 

STAR Plus provides significant capacity support, equipment grants, training, and other support to conservation districts and eligible entities so they can provide technical assistance to landowners. These partners deliver trusted local support and knowledge ensuring producer success.