Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources is a free and confidential evaluation tool that provides farm operators and landowners a means to evaluate, measure, and increase their use of conservation practices based on locally identified resource concerns. STAR is used in over 70 Illinois counties and four Indiana counties; three different states are preparing to implement STAR statewide. Using a simple evaluation system, it assigns points for various cropping activities, management decisions, and conservation practices of a field. The total points are used to assign a one to five STAR Rating. The higher the rating, the more on-farm activities are protecting soil and water resources. After the STAR evaluation, farmers receive field signs with their earned STARs, which can increase as they adopt additional practices. The signs provide farmers with recognition of their good work and create awareness in the community. The ratings are based on local resource concerns and vetted by a local technical advisory committee.
In early 2021, STAR finished its third year of enrolling fields and documenting conservation. It has steadily grown reaching more farmers and fields and engaging with new partners (Table 4.29). Through support from its partners, the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts was able to hire a full-time STAR coordinator and kick off the first Pilot Incentive Program, providing payments to farmers that can demonstrate an improved STAR Rating over consecutive years. STAR engages directly with SWCDs and other licensees to help deliver local conservation assistance.
Table 4.29. Enrollment in the STAR Initiative
STAR Enrollment | 2019 | 2020 | Percent Increase |
Acres enrolled | 83,592 | 169,241 | 102% |
Fields enrolled | 1,175 | 2,461 | 109% |
Participants enrolled | 214 | 406 | 90% |
The following are highlights from the 2019 crop year report:
- Cover Crops — 35% of total fields (411) planted a cover crop; 29% of total fields (341) planted a winter hardy cover crop; and 24% of cover-planting fields (272) planted “green.” Cover crops helped keep 1,168 truckloads of sediment out of Illinois waterways and helped keep over 4,000 lb of phosphorus and over 73,000 lb of nitrogen in the field.
- Tillage — 76% of total fields (893) did not perform any fall tillage; 33% of soy fields (388) are under no-tillage or strip till management; and 24% of corn fields (282) are under no-tillage or strip till management. Use of no-till and strip till helped prevent 3,374 truckloads of sediment from eroding into Illinois waterways and kept 150,000 lb of phosphorus in the fields.
- Nutrient Management — 51% of fields applying nitrogen (600) used a rate at or below the MRTN suggested rate, avoiding 27,195 lb of nitrogen loss; 35% of fields applying fall nitrogen (411) used a nitrification inhibitor; and 24% of total fields (282) have a nutrient management plan.
For more information, see starfreetool.com.
