Star of the West Milling Company has launched its 2026 Sustainable Tracking of Agronomic Resources (STAR) program, offering farmers up to $50 per acre in incentives for adopting or expanding sustainability practices. The program incorporates Ostara's CG P2X™ fertilizer, a highly efficient phosphate fertilizer designed to release nutrients in response to crop demand, helping farmers deliver measurable sustainability outcomes.
The STAR program focuses on the Great Lakes Grain Initiative and is supported through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) grant. It enables Star of the West to provide downstream food companies with credible data on supply chain impacts, helping meet increasing sustainability reporting requirements. This is particularly important as food companies face growing pressure to demonstrate environmental responsibility and transparency in their supply chains.
Farmers supplying wheat, dry beans, or food grade soybeans can participate in the program, which aims to create value by rewarding sustainable practices. The program not only provides financial incentives but also helps farmers generate data that can be used to verify sustainability claims, potentially opening up new market opportunities.
Star of the West, a 156-year-old company headquartered in Frankenmuth, Michigan, operates 32 locations across six states, including four flour mills, five agronomy locations, and eighteen elevators. Its organic division, Everbest Organics, operates in Michigan, Minnesota, and North Dakota. The company’s long history and extensive footprint in the agricultural industry position it well to lead such sustainability initiatives.
The inclusion of Ostara's CG P2X™ fertilizer is a key component of the program. According to Ostara, CG P2X is the first and only highly efficient phosphate fertilizer proven to release nutrients in response to crop demand, which can reduce nutrient runoff and improve environmental outcomes. This aligns with the program’s goal of delivering measurable sustainability results.
This announcement matters because it addresses two critical trends in agriculture: the need for sustainable farming practices and the demand for supply chain transparency. By providing financial incentives and leveraging advanced fertilizer technology, the STAR program could encourage wider adoption of sustainable practices among farmers in the Great Lakes region. Additionally, the program's focus on data collection and reporting helps bridge the gap between farm-level actions and corporate sustainability goals, a growing priority for food companies and consumers alike.
For more information about Star of the West, visit www.starofthewest.com. To learn more about Ostara’s CG P2X, visit www.phosphateperfected.com.
