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STAR Program expands incentivized practices for wheat, dry beans, and food-grade soybeans

Star of the West Milling Company says farmers can reduce fertilizer use and lower input costs through incentives offered by the Great Lakes Grain Initiative.

soyVice President of Agronomy Keith Martus tells Brownfield the Sustainable Tracking of Agronomic Resources (STAR) program is in its second year, helping wheat, dry bean, and food-grade soybean growers adopt practices that support the Initiative.

“We’re hoping to use less fertilizer, so we’re not contaminating the environment, we’re saving the grower money,” he says. “And, if we’re putting the fertilizer where it needs to be put most, we’re hoping that the grower obtains better yields.”

Martus says low-emission fertilizer options have been added to the list of incentivized sustainability practices this season.

“We can use 30 to 40 percent less of the product,” he says. “When you calculate it out by less usage, more efficiency to feed the crop, it actually turns out to be very, very competitive with standard programs.”

Data collected is helping to expand supplies of Star of the West’s low-emission flour and providing environmental performance information throughout the supply chain.

The Initiative is supported by a USDA Advancing Markets for Producers grant for farmers in Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, and New York.