STAR program provides farmers recognition for soil health practices

SYCAMORE, Ill. — The Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources program is designed to be free, straightforward, voluntary and locally relevant.

“The STAR program was created by farmers and for farmers,” said Natalie Kerr, Illinois coordinator for the program.

“Cofounders Steve Stierwalt and Joe Rothermel are conservation pioneers,” Kerr said during a presentation in Sycamore at the 2026 Conservation Cropping Seminar, coordinated by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Champaign County Soil and Water Conservation District.

“When the nutrient loss reduction strategy conversations were happening across the state, they wanted a way for farmers to have a roadmap to help figure out a way to be successful with conservation,” she said.

The national nonprofit STAR program was launched in 2023.

“It now has presence in 11 states with Washington and Missouri having the largest programs after Illinois,” Kerr said.

The national STAR program features a standardized approach that includes a 1- to 5-star rating.

“It is meaningful wherever you are even if it is connected to completely different resource concerns or conservation decisions,” the state coordinator said.

Kerr is excited about the growth of the program in Illinois.

“In 2024, we had 1,197 fields, 498 farmers, 65,698 acres and the average star rating was 3.45,” she said. “In 2025, we have 1,519 fields, 518 farmers, 75,775 acres and the average star rating was 3.58.”

For the program, farmers complete a questionnaire about field-level management practices that impact soil health and water quality. The scoring is converted to the 1- to 5-star rating and the farmers receive a score report.

“One of the reasons I like the star rating is we are taking all of Illinois’s primary water quality concerns and using one number that show progress based on multiple outcomes and progress that is based on actual on-ground activities,” Kerr said.

Conservation practices are not one size fits all, she noted.

“So, you can choose your own practices,” she said. “It is up to you how you want to generate enough points to get the star rating that you are going for.”

A soil health assessment is required for all Illinois state-funded conservation practices.

“Last year the Illinois Department of Agriculture selected STAR to be that soil health assessment,” Kerr said. “So, anyone applying for the Partners for Conservation program will fill out the STAR form.”

Farmers can receive assistance with the program from STAR navigators.

“All Illinois soil and water conservation districts have at least one STAR navigator on staff and the University of Illinois Extension also has a navigator that helps in Peoria, Tazewell, Mason and Fulton counties,” Kerr said.

When filling out the field evaluation form, farmers receive points for various practices in several sections — including crop rotation, conservation practices, cover crops, soil sampling, nutrient management and tillage.

“Having a diverse crop rotation is better than not, so you will get more points for diversity if you put a small grain or a forage in the rotation,” Kerr said. “In the cover crop section, winter hardy is better than winter killed and multispecies is better than a single species.”

Farmers receive more points if they take soil samples in the spring or summer.

“The science advisory committee is encouraging spring or summer sampling because they want to provide people with enough time to use the information from the soil sampling to make decisions for the upcoming crop year,” Kerr said.

Currently, work is in progress to add a hay field form to the STAR program.

“Hopefully, we will roll it out next year,” Kerr said. “It will ask about your seeding, if there is a nurse crop, the amount of stubble remaining after you cut your hay and the tillage used for the seedbed preparation.”

In addition to score report and a free field sign, farmers also have the opportunity to receive rewards by utilizing the STAR program.

“The Siemer Milling Company is a family-oriented business and they got involved with STAR because they were looking for ways to connect with their growers to preserve farmland and legacy,” Kerr said. “They want to find eligible fields and compensate growers for conservation practices.”

The company, based in Teutopolis in south-central Illinois, committed $75,000 per year for three years — 2025, 2026 and 2027.

“It is a three-year program because Siemer wanted to give farmers time to improve,” Kerr said.

Farmers sign an agreement with Siemer to be eligible for the reward.

“The sign-up period will open in June for 2026 and 2027,” Kerr said. “At 5 stars, you get paid $25 per acre, and if you are less than five stars, you have to show improvement.”

The program was piloted in 2023 and one farmer participated.

“In 2024, 10 farmers were eligible and they received $65,000 worth of payments,” Kerr said. “In 2024, we had 24 farmers sign up, 10 were paid a total of $75,000.”

“That was a huge success and I am hoping to have other companies get involved,” she said.

For more information about the program, go to illinoisstar.org.