Saving Tomorrow's Agricultural Resources (STAR)

What is STAR?

The Colorado Saving Tomorrow’s Agricultural Resources (STAR) Program is a free and voluntary tool to inspire producers, give bragging rights, and structure conversations around soil health. STAR is a practice-based rating system that assigns points for the following soil health practices: cropping, tillage, nutrient application, and other best management practices based upon a 10-minute form that producers fill out about each field. As a result, the farmer or rancher receives a STAR rating from 1-5 stars that help them understand how well they are doing in promoting soil health and upholding the 5 principles of soil health:

• Soil Armor

• Minimize Soil Disturbance

• Plant Diversity

• Continual Live Plant/Root

• Livestock Integration

STAR could become a market signal to pay producers more for products grown using healthy soils practices and provide an onramp to other opportunities.  

How does it work?

Step 1: The producer completes a field assessment form for each field for a given crop year

Step 2: Points are assigned for soil health practices

Step 3: The producer converts their total points into a STAR Rating (1 to 5):

1 Star (Average)
A field with practices similar to what 80% of fields of that type are doing in that region.

2 Stars (Above Average)
A field beginning to implement soil health principles.

3 Stars (Great)
A field implementing multiple soil health principles.

4 Stars (Excellent)
A field implementing several soil health principles.

5 Stars (Ideal)
A field implementing all five soil health principles.

Step 4: CDA will verify a random sample of producer fields each year 

Why should I participate in STAR?

The primary purpose of a STAR rating is to help producers understand where their operations stand concerning soil health and what improvements are possible going forward. STAR also provides a new way for conservation districts to interact with local landowners and a structure to guide conversations about soil health. Participating in STAR may unlock new opportunities and revenue streams for Colorado farmers and ranchers. It will also be a part of other programs offered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture to encourage voluntary adoption of soil health practices.

STAR Verification

Individual producers who have submitted a STAR field assessment form to CDA will be subject to random verification by a CDA employee.  This verification process does not require a field visit, but will involve the submission of documentation showing the practices indicated in the STAR Form.  Documentation may include receipts, invoices, dated photographs, harvest logs, FSA Form 578, NRCS records, harvest logs, and other commonly kept records.