On March 31, 2026, Jack Daniel’s will end its Cow Feeder Program. For 45 years, local farmers in Moore County, Tennessee could collect leftover distillery grain (known as whiskey slop) for free or at a low cost. For many small farms, the grains gave them one less thing to worry about.
Instead what Jack Daniel’s will do with that grain is actually pretty cool. They’re redirecting up gallons of it into renewable energy.
Whiskey slop into clean power
The distillery has partnered with Three Rivers Energy Partners to funnel its spent grain into a brand-new anaerobic digester facility. This plant will break down the whiskey slop and turn it into renewable natural gas (RNG) and fertilizer.
For Jack Daniel’s, the move is about survival in a changing industry. The goal is to reduce emissions, and meet stricter international standards. It also makes it easier for the company to sell its whiskey abroad. As more companies move away from clean energy, it’s nice to see Jack Daniel’s keep their commitment to run their operations in a more sustainable way.
Farmers say it’s a betrayal
While the move is a cool idea, the farmers of Moore County don’t feel the same way. For decades, they leaned on the Cow Feeder Program to feed their herds. The end of the program comes at a time when farmers are struggling with drought conditions, unpredictable weather and an even more unpredictable president.
Some small-scale farmers have already begun selling off livestock. Others are thinking about selling land. To them, Jack Daniel’s isn’t just a distillery. It’s supposed to be a neighbor. They feel like the distillery is abandoning the community-focused values that made the brand so successful.
Jack Daniel’s gave fair warning
Jack Daniel’s didn’t spring this decision on anyone. The company said this decision “follows years of careful consideration and was communicated with advance notice, starting with our initial announcement back in March 2022”. That gave Moore County farmers three years to prepare for the end.
Of course, nobody could have predicted what would happen in those three years. Inflation, tariffs, and volatile trade talks have made life harder for farmers. At the same time, Jack Daniel’s shouldn’t be made out to be the bad guy here.
What happens when tradition collides with progress?
The Cow Feeder Program helped generations of Moore County farmers. On the other hand, Jack Daniel’s has to think about its long-term survival.
Across the country, old local traditions are colliding with the realities of global markets, climate pressures, and shifting corporate strategies. Jack Daniel’s is betting that renewable energy will secure its future. Farmers have a right to feel abandoned, but Jack Daniel’s isn’t wrong for trying to future-proof its operations.
