Jack Daniel’s scheduled its Cow Feeder Program to end on March 31, 2026, ending a low-cost source of feed for nearby cattle producers. The company says it will redirect the spent distiller’s grain, known locally as “slop,” to a planned anaerobic digester partnership with Three Rivers Energy. Farmers must weigh replacement feed against the full cost of raising cattle; available reporting does not establish the digester’s operating status or the countywide effects after the cutoff.
What changed when the Cow Feeder Program ended?
Jack Daniel’s told WSMV that the program would end on March 31, 2026. The company said its partnership with Three Rivers Energy required a consistent 350,000–500,000 gallons of spent distiller’s grain per day, requiring it to redirect the current “slop” volume. That range is the company’s stated contractual requirement, not an independently verified measure of daily operations. WSMV’s report covered the announcement.
The program had let some Moore County farmers collect stillage for cattle feed. Tennessee Lookout reported that farmer Danny Anderson had used it for decades, hauling it in large truck tanks and supplementing it with hay, salt and minerals. His experience illustrates one operation’s reliance on the byproduct; it does not show how many local farms depended on the program or what each farm’s costs were. Tennessee Lookout’s report also noted that livestock made up 89% of Moore County farm earnings, citing the most recent U.S. Census of Agriculture. The article did not identify the census data year.
Where is the stillage going?
Jack Daniel’s says it will redirect the spent grain to an anaerobic digester developed with Three Rivers Energy. In a 2022 interview, then-General Manager Larry Combs described plans for biogas or natural gas and fertilizer as outputs, presenting the project as part of the distillery’s circular-economy approach. Those were intended outcomes, not confirmation that the digester is now operating or producing those outputs. The 2022 interview also attributed local water-quality concerns about hauling slop—including odor, runoff and manure impacts—to Combs; that account is not an independent regulatory finding.
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WSMV reported that Jack Daniel’s described the transition as a long-considered decision and said it had given advance notice. The company’s explanation and the digester’s announced purpose do not establish its current status, actual feedstock throughput or production results. A local opinion article identified March 31, 2026 as the program’s last day, but reporting available here does not measure how much stillage was diverted after the cutoff.
What can farmers use instead?
There is no single substitute that fits every farm. UT livestock marketing specialist Andrew Griffith told Tennessee Lookout that commercially produced feed could be a short-term option, while farmers could also continue hay feeding or make blends such as corn or soybean meal. Moore County UT Extension agent Will Thomas named dried distillers grains (DDGs), syrup, silage corn, silage hay, pelletized feed, soybean meal and higher-quality hay as possibilities for discussion. These are options to assess with an adviser, not individualized ration recommendations. The Lynchburg Times’ report covered Thomas’s comments and a local Farm Feed Solutions meeting involving UTIA, Farm Credit of Mid-America and United Producers.
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- Commercial feed: A possible short-term replacement to test before making a major infrastructure change.
- Hay and higher-quality forage: Hay can remain part of a feeding plan; cutting hay at a better time may improve forage quality.
- Blends and byproducts: Corn or soybean meal, DDGs, syrup, silage and pelletized feed are among the options local advisers discussed.
- Pasture-based approaches: Rotational grazing may suit farms with adequate pasture. Thomas noted that rocky hillside farms and feedlots may have fewer easy alternatives.
A local farmer’s response illustrates why plans will differ. Tennessee Lookout reported Anderson had sold 50 cattle and planned to keep a herd of 50, feeding grass and hay with occasional feed mix in winter. Those numbers describe his decision, not a forecast for other producers.
How should a replacement feed be compared financially?
Compare the full cost of producing a pound of animal weight gain—not just the price printed on a feed bag. Griffith said that calculation for slop included the farmer’s time, fuel and equipment needed to collect it. A replacement may have a higher purchase price yet reduce hauling demands, or require new storage and delivery arrangements; the effect depends on the individual operation. The reporting does not give a universal replacement cost or price difference.
- Total cost per pound gained: Include feed, labor, fuel, equipment and storage, then compare against expected weight gain.
- Nutritional fit: Consider the mix of feed and whether the plan also needs hay, salt or minerals.
- Logistics: Account for collection or delivery, handling and storage—not only the feed’s price.
- Farm layout: Pasture access, rocky terrain and feedlot infrastructure affect which options are practical.
- Transition risk: Where feasible, test an alternative or phase it in before investing in major equipment or infrastructure.
What support or planning resources are mentioned?
Thomas identified Tennessee’s Agricultural Enhancement Program as a potential cost-share resource with equipment and hay-related categories, and UT’s MANAGE program as a farm-planning resource. Program categories, eligibility and application windows can change; producers should confirm current details directly with the programs before relying on assistance. The Farm Feed Solutions meeting reported by The Lynchburg Times brought together UTIA, Farm Credit of Mid-America and United Producers to discuss the transition.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is still unknown?
The available reporting does not verify whether the digester is operating, how much stillage it is taking in, or whether it is producing renewable gas or fertilizer. It also does not measure post-cutoff changes in Moore County cattle numbers, farm income or beef prices. The end of this local feed source may change costs and choices for affected farms, but it is not evidence by itself that all local producers will leave cattle farming or that consumers will see a broader beef-price effect.
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