Programs

Introduced to the Center Conservation District for production year 2024, the Colorado Soil Health Program (formerly known as STAR+) encourages conservation districts to provide financial and technical support to producers for the purpose of improving soil health. Participants gain expertise with new practices and an increased understanding of the environmental and economic outcomes associated with them. In 2024, 32 conservation districts are offering the Colorado Soil Health Program, including the Center Conservation District. Through this program, our District received capacity support to provide producers with technical assistance, guidance in filling out field assessment forms, assistance with conducting soil tests and installing soil moisture probes, and acting as the administrating source for participating producers by managing the program and distributing incentive payments.

See our Colorado Soil Health Program page for more information!

In partnership with the Rio Grande Conservation District, the Center Conservation District is collaborating with agribusiness, biology, and environmental science students from Adams State University to conduct drought-tolerant crop trials on the Districts' jointly shared 6-acre mini-pivot. This project is projected to run from 2024-2026 and is expected to continue after the current three-year project. 

While administered and monitored by the Center & Rio Grande Conservation Districts, this project is being developed and conducted by Adams State University students. Please see the Adams State University Mini-Pivot Project page for more information.

Meet the new innovative soil amendment that is currently being tested with partners of the Center Conservation District - wool pellets! Wool pellets are packed pieces of unwashed wool fibers that are designed to benefit the soil and crops alike. While currently developed with the intended use in potted plants, gardens, and greenhouses, the San Luis Valley Wool Pellet Project is designed to test wool pellet usage in large-scale agriculture. This multi-faceted project is also discovering the capabilities to develop wool pellets here in the San Luis Valley using local wool - a winning situation for crop producers, sheep ranchers, and the local economy!

Wool pellets have many benefits that are currently being discovered under this project. For more information on wool pellets, please see the San Luis Valley Wool Pellet Project page for more information.