S.T.A.R. is an exciting program developed by soil and water conservation professionals that offers farm operators and land owners a simple, free, and confidential tool to evaluate their conservation land management practices. The goal of S.T.A.R. is to encourage the continued adoption of conservation practices, and recognize farmers for their commitment to sustainability.
The initiative utilizes a simple field form that requests information from a farmer or non-operator landowner concerning individual fields for a given crop year. From improved nutrient management to cover crops to edge of field water treatment and even crop rotation or inclusion of livestock, a suite of practices can result in a rating between one and five stars!
More than 70 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) in counties across Illinois and several other states support S.T.A.R. and can assist with the program.
2020 Field Forms are now available. For more information on how to participate, visit https://starfreetool.com/get-started