STAR Program and Conservation Ratings

 The Champaign County Soil and Water Conservation District is hoping to give a boost to awareness and competition for conservation in farming by promoting and managing a rating system similar to other industries. From the News-Gazette earlier this month:

Champaign County group hopes farmers reach for the STAR
...
But if a farmer wants to show that his or her field uses sustainable farming practices, there's not a popular certification program to turn to.

The Champaign County Soil & Water Conservation District is hoping to change that with the STAR program, which stands for Saving Tomorrow's Agriculture Resources.

"Who can be against that?" said Steve Stierwalt, a farmer near Sadorus and vice chair of the county conservation district.

Now in its second year, the STAR program gives fields one to five stars based on what conservation practices are used on them, such as reduced tillage or cover crops.

In its first year, 78 farmers from 15 counties in Illinois participated in the free program...

Besides playing on farmers' competitiveness, the STAR program is hoping to become a standard certification, like LEED and Energy Star.

It has a science committee to ensure the stars given are based on good science, and it's designed to be flexible, so that practices that work best in east central Illinois aren't forced on farmers with different conservation needs.

Full article with more information here. More information from the Champaign County Soil and Water Conservation District on the STAR program here (including a brochure).