Four major spirits companies are spearheading a multimillion-dollar program to boost sustainable corn farming practices across Kentucky’s bourbon industry.
Brown-Forman, Diageo North America, Heaven Hill Brands, and Suntory Global Spirits have partnered with the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) to launch a $2.8 million initiative supporting regenerative agriculture. The five-year program aims to implement sustainable farming practices across more than 100,000 acres of Kentucky farmland starting in 2025.
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Supporting Kentucky’s Corn Farmers
The project will operate in collaboration with Precision Conservation Management (PCM) and the Kentucky Corn Growers Association (KCGA), focusing on providing farmers with dedicated conservation specialists and data-driven resources.
Greg Goodwin, Director of PCM, emphasized the challenges facing modern farmers. “Farmers are spread thin and are already making hundreds of management decisions each year. They want to do a good job, but face time constraints and decision fatigue when it comes to analyzing data and making changes.
“Our specialists work hand-in-hand with farmers to identify opportunities to improve the health of their farmland and success of their operation. We are grateful for our partnership with the KDA and Kentucky distilleries as we make these great ideas a reality by supporting our farmers in effective, regenerative practices — a win-win for our industries.”
The initiative will provide participating farmers with free access to PCM’s Resource Analysis and Assessment Plan, allowing them to benchmark their operations against anonymized regional and statewide data. Farmers will receive sign-on incentives for their participation, with additional acre-based incentives offered by the distillery partners for adopting specific conservation practices.
Christian County farmer Joseph Sisk attested to PCM’s effectiveness, having worked with the program since 2015. “PCM has helped me better understand how our practices are closely tied to the supply chain and allows my markets and end-users to trust that our crops will support their sustainability objectives,” he said.
Kentucky Agriculture & Conservation
KDA President Eric Gregory highlighted the bourbon industry’s significant influence on Kentucky agriculture. “With much of our distillers’ corn being produced in Kentucky, we see the massive impact that Bourbon has on Kentucky’s ag climate. As these four distilleries unite to support regenerative corn growing practices, I look forward to seeing how new resources and incentives can further propel our local farmers without impacting our bottom line.”
The program will focus on implementing reduced tillage, cover crops, and improved nitrogen use efficiency – practices designed to enhance both environmental sustainability and farm profitability. Conservation specialists will work directly with farmers to analyze data and identify opportunities for improving farmland health while maintaining operational success.