S.T.A.R.+ PROGRAM

 The Eagle County Conservation District has been selected to participate in the Colorado Department of Agriculture's Soil Health STAR Plus Program. ECCD is working with 7 producers and over 500 acres of land to promote soil health management at the local level. Producers are provided with tools, resources and funding to help improve their yields and conservation practices on the land. 

In 2022, 17 conservation districts and 3 other eligible entities participated in STAR Plus. These districts received capacity support to provide up to 7 producers with technical assistance, guidance in filling out STAR field assessment forms, and assistance collecting a soil sample for a free soil health test. Districts distributed incentive payments to each participating producer for implementing soil health practices on a field of their choice, matched with an equal investment from the producer themselves. These conservation districts will also promote and implement STAR in their region, including in neighboring districts (with explicit permission). Matching contributions are not required to participate.

STAR Plus is open to all conservation districts in “good standing”. STAR Plus facilitates capacity building by providing matching state funds towards the cost of these projects and activities within each district. The program leverages the dollars provided by the producer to increase the capacity of soil health practices on the farm/ranch. Colorado Department of Agriculture will continue to offer this programming to more conservation districts in 2023.