
Tim Cornie @ 1000 Springs Mill
Why Ag-Tech & Market Demand Are Key To A Regenerative Organic Future
On this episode, we have Tim Cornie who is a farmer and the Co-Owner of 1000 Springs Mill.
Tim manages more than 800 acres of Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) farmland where he grows diverse crops like ancient grains, purple barley, corn, and beans. Through the 1000 Springs Mill brand, Tim has created a vertically integrated operation, aggregating and processing ingredients from his own farm and his neighbors to create products including regular and gluten-free flours, popcorn, beans, and whole grains. 1000 Springs Mill products can be found online and at smaller retail outlets. It also sells to retailers for their private-label products – such as ROC™ certified flour for Whole Foods.
Born A Farmer, Buying A Processing Plant, & Building A Brand
Tim’s journey to building 1000 Springs Mill reflects his commitment to creating a healthier and more sustainable food system. Born into farming, Tim has witnessed firsthand the health challenges facing friends, neighbors, and his own family—challenges he attributes in part to chemical use in conventional farming. Tim’s global travels also shaped his perspective, particularly a trip to Europe where he observed a strong emphasis on soil health and nutrient-dense foods. Inspired by these experiences, Tim transitioned from raising cattle to growing diverse, organic crops using regenerative practices.
“Now you've got [regenerative practices] enriching your soil, and when the plant comes up it’s taking those nutrients to that seed head, and then we eat that seed head and the nutrients go into the biome of our gut. So you don't need the genetically modified bullshit. You don't need all this other stuff because you're going to be able to let mother nature do what it does best.” – Tim
Tim's vision extended beyond farming. He acquired a 250,000-square-foot former Pillsbury plant, transforming it into a hub for co-packing, ingredient sales, and private label deals. On the brand side, navigating the complexities of retail sales has been a learning curve, but Tim has secured distribution with KeHe and UNFI. His diversified approach—including processing and selling ingredients to other brands, co-packing for others, and private label partnerships—has been key to his success.
A Bullish Take On Regenerative Ag-Tech
Tim is a strong advocate for the role of technology in advancing regenerative agriculture. He envisions a future where artificial intelligence and robotics empower farmers to adopt sustainable practices more effectively. For instance, he imagines Tesla Cybertrucks operating autonomously in fields, using advanced technology to identify and treat plant diseases or perform laser weeding without chemical interventions. Innovations like these could revolutionize regenerative farming, especially by helping organic farmers manage weeds more efficiently without relying on tillage.
Tim has already integrated technology into his own practices, managing water pivots through his phone and using moisture sensors to optimize irrigation. He underscores the connection between soil health and water retention, noting that building soil organic matter significantly enhances water-holding capacity. As Kyle regularly points out on the podcast, each 1% increase in organic matter enables an acre of soil to retain an additional 20,000 gallons of water. Tim believes that accessible and affordable advanced technology will be a game-changer, enabling more farmers to transition to regenerative practices while improving productivity.
“[Regenerative] is a win-win, and it’s going to take technology and people with the brains to implement it. It’s a game-changer for the environment and everything.” – Tim
Creating Market Demand Is Key
Tim emphasizes that creating strong market demand for regenerative crops is essential to driving widespread adoption of regenerative agricultural practices. Farmers are ready to rise to the challenge, but they need clear and consistent markets to sell their products.
“Farmers can go regenerative, but where are they gonna go with that product? You gotta build a market and you gotta build a pipeline to get to the masses.” – Tim
Tim sees his role in aggregating and processing crops as a crucial step in building this demand pipeline. He believes private label programs sourcing regenerative staple products at a slight premium can help move the necessary volume while still providing affordable options for families.
Tim has diversified his market outlets to demonstrate the variety of end markets that can drive demand for regenerative farming. In addition to selling grains for flour and food products, he partners with alcohol producers like Farmers Gin and American Harvest Vodka. While Tim is passionate about creating foods that nourish the gut, he also sees value in selling wheat for regenerative alcoholic beverages, emphasizing that sharing a drink fosters social bonds, a different but meaningful form of nourishment.
50% Market Share For Regen
Tim believes that consumer awareness and education are essential to achieving 50% market share for regenerative brands by 2050. He emphasizes the need for clear certifications to define and communicate the benefits of regenerative agriculture to the public. Tim sees even greater potential in linking the benefits of regenerative practices to tangible outcomes for consumers, such as better health. Tim believes that connecting this message to the extra care and love behind regenerative products will help consumers understand why they are worth the premium. In terms of mass education, he hopes to see more documentaries like Kiss The Ground and broad media coverage like the recent coverage of 1000 Springs and Farmer’s Gin in Forbes.
Tim is optimistic that the new administration will support the broader regenerative movement. He is encouraged by advocates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) agenda, which he sees as aligning with the goals of reducing the use of chemicals and promoting nutrient-dense food. He hopes these efforts will lead to heightened recognition of regenerative agriculture’s role in creating a healthier food system.
This ReGen Recap was written by Katey Finnegan
You can check out the full episode with Kyle and Anthony HERE
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