FRANKLIN, TENN. — Natural pet food brand NUTRO™, a Mars subsidiary, recently announced the recipients of this year’s Soil Growth Grants, totaling $300,000. As part of its GREATER GROUND™ initiative, the grants help farmers within the NUTRO supply chain with the transition costs needed to implement healthy soil practices. 

The GREATER GROUND initiative, launched by NUTRO on World Soil Day in 2022, aims to raise awareness on the importance of healthy soil and encourage farmers to adopt healthy soil practices. In 2023, the brand awarded the inaugural Soil Growth Grant to Schiff Farms Inc. in the amount of $150,000. Views of its animated commercial, Tail of Two Farms, launched in 2023, drove the increase of the amount the grants offered in 2024 to $300,000. 

The 2024 recipients of the grants are Megan Bishop of Bishop Farms, Trey Hill of Harborview Farms, and Tyler Zimmerman of Zimmerman Farms. The grant recipients will use their funds to purchase equipment and/or cover crop seed that will help them implement healthy soil practices on their farms. 

Bishop Farms plans to use the grant to fund the purchase of cover crop seed and a broadcast spreader  ̶̶  a tool that can distribute cover crop seeds into current crops that can help support soil health. Haborview Farms plans to purchase a 60-foot crimper to help manage cover crop residue, which can help suppress weeds, conserve moisture and, in turn, help improve soil structure when left on the field. Zimmerman Farms will invest in both a roller crimper and cover crop seed to help scale up cover crop implementation. 

NUTRO has also partnered with Understanding Ag to provide training and mentorship for GREATER GROUND Soil Scholarships. By the end of 2024, 108 farmers will have received training through the program, according to the brand. 

Read more about sustainability efforts across the pet food and treat industry.