b'We supply all our corn to Diageos Bulleit Bourbon distillery, Miracle shared. They want non-GMO corn because it aligns with consumer preferences and export requirements. And they pay a premium for it, so its worth the extra effort.Managing this operation requires Miracle to balance agro-nomic expertise with the practical challenges of growing non-GMO corn. We planted 20 different hybrids this year, he says. Our land varies a lotfrom rich river bottoms to rolling clay hillsso we need hybrids that fit each environment perfectly.Non-GMO corn also brings its own set of challenges, particu-larly when it comes to weed management. Grass is our biggest problem, Miracle says. Were limited in the herbicides we can use, but if the field is clean, non-GMO yields can be just as good, if not better, than GMO hybrids.Homestead Family Farms approach to seed storage is just as meticulous as its planting. We keep all our seed stored inside, in a kind of halfway con-trolled environment, Miracle explains. Its not heated or cooled, but its insulated and protected. And we only move the seed out of the box oncewhen its going into the planter.Miracle also highlighted the farms commitment to sustainability. We use precision agriculture, no-till farming and other meth-ods to ensure were being responsible stewards of the land, he Seth DeBolt leads the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits.says. Its about producing high-quality crops while preserving PHOTO BY MATT BARTON, UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY. the environment for the next generation.A Commitment to Heirlooms for FlavorYou dont want off notes, he says. You want very clean,While Homestead focuses on large-scale non-GMO produc-high-quality corn because its not going into ethanol or feed; itstion, Jeptha Creed Distillery takes a more artisanal approach. for human consumption. Youre first making a beer, then a distil- Led by master distiller Joyce Nethery and her daughter Autumn late. Poor-quality inputs will ruin the entire process. High-qualityNethery, the distillery is known for its use of Bloody Butcher agriculture makes high-quality bourbon, period. corn, an heirloom variety that brings a distinct flavor to their DeBolt emphasizes that most distillers prefer non-GMO cornbourbon.not just for its marketability but also for its alignment with inter- Bloody Butcher gives our bourbon a beautiful, unique flavor national trade standards.profileearthy, nutty and sweet, Nethery says. Yellow dent You can safely assume that the older distilleries are usingcorn just doesnt carry the same personality.non-GMO hybrids. Its not just traditionits about exportThe decision to use Bloody Butcher stemmed from Netherys requirements, he explains. European markets are stricter onpassion for heirloom crops and a surprising connection to her GMO products, so distilleries avoid those complications entirely. search for authentic flavors. Despite misconceptions, non-GMO hybrids are not inferior inIt all started with tomatoes, she laughs. I was looking for a yield compared to GMOs. DeBolt explains that years of breedingtomato that tasted like the ones from my mothers garden. The have made non-GMO corn competitive in the spirits industry. hybrids were fine, but they didnt have the flavor I remembered.Non-GMO hybrids today are really greattheyve come aNetherys discovery of heirloom tomatoes sparked an idea. long way, he says. If you look at the last 70 years of breeding,When I found heirloom tomatoes, they had this amazing, nos-their yields are right up there with GMO varieties. Sure, you losetalgic flavor, she says. I realized that if heirloom vegetables could some conveniences, but the production quality is solid. deliver that kind of taste, then heirloom corn could too. Her instincts proved correct. Early experiments with Bloody Tradition Meets Precision Agriculture Butcher corn revealed a flavor profile so unique that even local At Homestead Family Farms, a sprawling operation in centralwildlife took notice. Kentucky, JD Miracle, head agronomist, oversees 18,000 acresWed see deer lounging in the yellow corn fields, but theyd get of farmland dedicated to producing non-GMO corn for some ofup and go eat the Bloody Butcher, she said. If the deer wanted it, the worlds top distilleries. While steeped in tradition, the farmI wanted it too.embraces modern agricultural practices to meet bourbonsHowever, growing and processing heirloom varieties is chal-rigorous demands. lenging. She says Bloody Butcher stalks get so tall they often 34/ SEEDWORLD.COMINTERNATIONAL EDITION 2025'