Agricultural Economy

The lowlands along the Boise River provide Star with a very flat topography allowing for numerous irrigation systems. Among these systems, the earliest to be installed was the Pioneer Canal, which dates from the 1860s. Others included the Lawrence Kennedy Canal on the south side of Star and the Middleton Canal to the north. The Canon Canal headgate is located on the Boise River just upstream from the Star Bridge. The Pioneer ditch was started in 1863 by M.B. Palmer and later extended to the Middleton Mill. This irrigation ditch and its supply of water allowed the country between Star and Middleton to be settled early. The area's surrounding farms have supported diversified farming, with the soil and climate being especially favorable for crops like alfalfa, sugar beets, and grains such as wheat and oats.