- Tyson Foods has announced plans to close its beef plant in Joslin, Illinois, and its case-ready facility in Eagle Mountain, Utah, while also seeking a buyer for its beef plant in Pasco, Washington.
- The decision follows a $138 million operating loss in Tyson's beef unit caused by an ongoing national cattle shortage, rising operational costs, and declining retail meat demand driven by inflation.
- The Illinois shutdown alone is expected to result in roughly 2,500 union job losses, federal officials representing the state said in a news release, while more than 7,000 employees will lose jobs at the Utah plant.
- To maintain processing capacity, Tyson plans to consolidate primary beef operations across facilities in Amarillo, Texas; Holcomb, Kansas; and Dakota City, Nebraska, including reinstating a second shift in Amarillo.
- The move reflects broader industry pressures from multi-decade low U.S. cattle inventories and pest-related import limitations, which have also forced competitors like JBS to shut facilities after posting significant net losses.
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