b'You dont want off notes, he says. You want very clean, high-quality corn because its not going into ethanol or feed; its for human consumption. Youre first making a beer, then a distil-late. Poor-quality inputs will ruin the entire process. High-quality agriculture makes high-quality bourbon, period.DeBolt emphasizes that most distillers prefer non-GMO corn not just for its marketability but also for its alignment with inter-national trade standards. You can safely assume that the older distilleries are using non-GMO hybrids. Its not just traditionits about export requirements, he explains. European markets are stricter on GMO products, so distilleries avoid those complications entirely.Despite misconceptions, non-GMO hybrids are not inferior in yield compared to GMOs. DeBolt explains that years of breeding have made non-GMO corn competitive in the spirits industry.Non-GMO hybrids today are really greattheyve come a long way, he says. If you look at the last 70 years of breeding, their yields are right up there with GMO varieties. Sure, you lose some conveniences, but the production quality is solid.Tradition Meets Precision AgricultureAt Homestead Family Farms, a sprawling operation in central Kentucky, JD Miracle, head agronomist, oversees 18,000 acres of farmland dedicated to producing non-GMO corn for some of the worlds top distilleries. While steeped in tradition, the farm embraces modern agricultural practices to meet bourbonsSeth DeBolt leads the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits. rigorous demands. PHOTO BY MATT BARTON, UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.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 aWe use precision agriculture, no-till farming and other meth-premium for it, so its worth the extra effort. ods to ensure were being responsible stewards of the land, he Managing this operation requires Miracle to balance agro- says. Its about producing high-quality crops while preserving nomic expertise with the practical challenges of growing non- the environment for the next generation.GMO corn. We planted 20 different hybrids this year, he says. Our landA Commitment to Heirlooms for Flavorvaries a lotfrom rich river bottoms to rolling clay hillsso weWhile Homestead focuses on large-scale non-GMO produc-need hybrids that fit each environment perfectly. tion, Jeptha Creed Distillery takes a more artisanal approach. Non-GMO corn also brings its own set of challenges, particu- Led by master distiller Joyce Nethery and her daughter Autumn larly when it comes to weed management.Nethery, the distillery is known for its use of Bloody Butcher Grass is our biggest problem, Miracle says. Were limitedcorn, an heirloom variety that brings a distinct flavor to their in the herbicides we can use, but if the field is clean, non-GMObourbon.yields can be just as good, if not better, than GMO hybrids. Bloody Butcher gives our bourbon a beautiful, unique flavor Homestead Family Farms approach to seed storage is just asprofileearthy, nutty and sweet, Nethery says. Yellow dent meticulous as its planting.corn just doesnt carry the same personality.We keep all our seed stored inside, in a kind of halfway con- The decision to use Bloody Butcher stemmed from Netherys trolled environment, Miracle explains. Its not heated or cooled,passion for heirloom crops and a surprising connection to her but its insulated and protected. And we only move the seed outsearch for authentic flavors. of the box oncewhen its going into the planter. It all started with tomatoes, she laughs. I was looking for a Miracle also highlighted the farms commitment to sustain- tomato that tasted like the ones from my mothers garden. The ability.hybrids were fine, but they didnt have the flavor I remembered.FEBRUARY 2025SEEDWORLD.COM /15'