Jack Daniel’s Ends Free Feed, Tennessee Farmers Face Backlash for Entitlement
For decades, Jack Daniel’s distillery and Moore County farmers benefited from the Cow Feeder Program, where farmers received distillery byproduct for livestock feed. The program, ending March 31, has been replaced with a contract with Three Rivers Energy to convert the waste into renewable gas and fertilizer. This decision has devastated local farmers, who relied on the inexpensive feed source and now face land and livestock sales. While Jack Daniel’s cites sustainability goals and advance notice, the change will significantly impact the county’s many livestock operations and the distillery’s long standing relationship with its neighbors.
John Q. Hosedrinker