STAR Program Bulletin: Enrollment, Hiring, and Partnerships
STAR is open for grains and legumes, juice and wine grapes, and tree fruit, and will open soon for vegetable and root crops. And we’re hiring a new Market and Incentives Specialist to make it all happen!
Author: Dani Gelardi
September 8, 2025
The STAR (Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources) program is gaining traction in Washington and beyond—providing a free, science-based tool to evaluate the conservation impact of farm management practices. Developed in response to producer requests for tools that improve both soil health and farm profitability, STAR supports a future where soil health practices are both practical and financially viable.
What is STAR?
Washington STAR is a FREE and voluntary program that uses a science-based 1-to-5 STAR rating to evaluate a grower’s engagement in conservation. Participants are connected to local technical and financial assistance to help them maintain or improve their STAR scores. The program has been developed by a diverse coalition of commodity groups, researchers, conservation districts, and producer networks.
At the heart of STAR is the Conservation Innovation Plan—a step in the STAR web tool that connects producers directly to local and national resources for customized support. Through this framework, STAR helps producers plan and improve their soil health practices. Washington STAR is currently developing a suite of STAR-exclusive financial incentives alongside partners in the supply chain. Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities!
Enrollment is LIVE!
Enrollment is currently available for producers of:
- Grains & legumes (irrigated & non-irrigated)
- Tree fruit
- Juice & wine grapes
Enrollment will soon open for producers of:
- Vegetable row crops & root crops
- Grazing systems
Questionnaires are tailored using location- and crop-specific science, environmental outcomes, and agronomic feasibilities, ensuring that STAR remains relevant across diverse farming systems in Washington. Additional development is planned for hops and hayland in the coming year.
Partner with STAR!
- If you’re a farmer, visit STARtool.ag to explore the tool, complete a STAR assessment for your fields, and take the first step toward enhanced soil health.
- Are you a conservation district interested in using STAR with your farmers or in your VSP monitoring? Contact WaSHI@agr.wa.gov to find out how!
- Are you a processor, packer, or food company interested in using STAR to green your supply chain? Contact WaSHI@agr.wa.gov to find out how!
STAR is hiring!
- We are looking for the next STAR coordinator! Join the Washington State Department of Agriculture as the Market and Incentives Specialist. This role will be part of the dynamic WaSHI team and help improve the business case for soil health in Washington.
- The Market and Incentives Specialist will:
- Manage and expand the STAR program:
- Serve as the primary liaison between Washington STAR and National STAR, other state affiliates, and the Washington STAR science and advisory teams
- Distribute STAR ratings and program materials to participating growers
- Manage the scientific rigor and timeliness of field verification
- Partner with and train conservation districts to use STAR in their operations and provide technical assistance to enrolled growers
- Pursue market and incentive opportunities for growers interested in soil health:
- Develop and implement STAR-exclusive incentives with private sector partners
- Engage the Washington food, fuel, and fiber sectors to integrate soil health into their supply chains
- Maintain awareness and respond proactively—including through grant writing—to opportunities within the Farm Bill, carbon markets, pilot programs, etc.
- Develop opportunities within crop insurance reform, landowner partnerships, agricultural finance and lending, and other innovative partnerships
- Promote STAR and the business case for soil health through outreach and education:
- Present at grower conferences, meetings, and webinars to educate and enroll interested producers in STAR
- Aggregate and communicate soil health and financial opportunities through program newsletters, blogs, and website updates
- Manage and expand the STAR program:
- The ideal candidate will:
- Have experience with and a strong interest in:
- managing a business or growth-minded program
- grant writing
- outreach and education
- marketing and promotion
- Be meticulously organized and excel at multi-tasking—able to handle complex long-term projects through developing incremental timelines and strategic frameworks
- Understand the principles, practices, benefits, and barriers to conservation practice adoption
- Have excellent written and oral communication skills
Deadline: October 1st, 12:00AM Pacific
- Have experience with and a strong interest in:
Want to learn more?
- Sign up for our newsletter at: https://washingtonsoilhealthinitiative.com/star/
- Contact WaSHI@agr.wa.gov
Dani Gelardi
Dani Gelardi is the Senior Soil Scientist and Climate Coordinator at the Washington Department of Agriculture where she leads soil and climate efforts for the agency including the Washington Soil Health Initiative.
This article was published by the Washington Soil Health Initiative. For more information, visit wasoilhealth.org. To have these posts delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to the WaSHI newsletter. To find a soil science technical service provider, visit the Washington State University Extension website or the Washington State Conservation District website.