LARSEN — Justin Duell acknowledges that growing trees instead of corn on his pasture isn’t viewed as a common practice.

“It’s a huge difference,” said Duell, who has owned The G Farm since April 2015. “But trees provide nut- and fruit-producing calories for animals in the future. They can replace the same calories that a soybean or kernel of corn can for those animals. So, it’s definitely completely different, but I still think it’s a great way to do things.”

And he’s not the only one who feels that way.

The Food Animal Concerns Trust, a national nonprofit that promotes the safe and humane production of meat, milk and eggs, was impressed with Duell’s efforts and awarded a Fund-a-Farmer Grant to The G Farm.

“We are thrilled to partner with The G Farm to expand humane farming and increase farm animal welfare,” said Larissa McKenna, FACT’s humane farming program director.