Key Takeaways
- NUTRO™, part of the Mars family of brands, awarded $300,000 in Soil Growth Grants to three farmers within its supply network: Bishop Farms, Harborview Farms, and Zimmerman Farms.
- The grants will fund equipment and cover crop seeds to help recipients adopt or expand healthy soil practices.
- The grants are part of the GREATER GROUND™ initiative, which has committed $5 million to supporting regenerative agriculture practices through 2027.
- Additional efforts include partnerships with Healthy Food Ingredients, LLC, Anchor Ingredients, and Understanding Ag to provide training, mentorship, and data collection on soil health.
2024 Grant Recipients
Megan Bishop, Bishop Farms
- Grant Purpose: Purchase of a broadcast spreader and cover crop seed.
- Impact: Enables integration of cover crops to enhance soil health and carbon retention.
Trey Hill, Harborview Farms
- Grant Purpose: Purchase of a 60-foot roller crimper.
- Impact: Helps manage cover crop residue to suppress weeds, conserve moisture, and improve soil structure.
Tyler Zimmerman, Zimmerman Farms
- Grant Purpose: Investment in a roller crimper and cover crop seed.
- Impact: Scales up cover crop implementation and promotes polycropping to introduce field diversity.
GREATER GROUND™ Initiative
Launched on World Soil Day 2022, the GREATER GROUND™ initiative by NUTRO™ aims to promote soil health awareness and provide direct support to farmers in the company’s supply chain.
- Commitment: $5 million through 2027 to fund training, tools, and implementation of healthy soil practices.
- 2023 Inaugural Grant: $150,000 awarded to Schiff Farms Inc. to purchase an inter-seeder.
Collaboration and Training
NUTRO™ works with suppliers and partners to expand the reach of the GREATER GROUND program:
- Suppliers: Collaborating with Healthy Food Ingredients, LLC and Anchor Ingredients to assess soil health and implement regenerative practices.
- Training and Mentorship: Partnering with Understanding Ag, 108 farmers will receive training by the end of 2024, with 51 hours of workshops and one-on-one consultations provided this year.
