Ag Matters: Tyson to shut down Illinois beef plant

Tyson Foods is closing its Joslin, Illinois, beef packing plant as tight cattle supplies continue to reshape the packing industry. Oklahoma State Livestock Marketing Specialist Derrell Peel says Tyson is concentrating its operations on its largest plants, but the adjustments may not be over.

Could more be on the chopping block? Peel says the industry still has more capacity than the current cattle supply can support.

Those packing plant changes don’t just affect the companies and their employees – about 2,500 workers are losing their jobs in Joslin. Producers who have relied on Joslin will have to find another destination for their cattle. That could mean a higher transportation bill.

And while Joslin is closing, Tyson Foods says it could eventually restore a second shift in Amarillo. Peel says that could offset much of the lost slaughter capacity from the Illinois plant.

Again that was Oklahoma State Livestock Marketing Specialist Derrell Peel.