Tyson to close a beef plant in Nebraska

Tyson Foods, Springdale, Arkansas, announced Nov. 21 network changes designed to right-size its beef business and position it for long-term success.

The company will end operations at its Lexington, Nebraska, beef facility and convert its Amarillo, Texas, beef facility to a single, full-capacity shift, the company said in a news release. To meet customer demand, production will be increased at other company beef facilities, optimizing volumes across their network.

“Tyson Foods recognizes the impact these decisions have on team members and the communities where we operate,” the company said in a news release. “The company is committed to supporting our team members through this transition, including helping them apply for open positions at other facilities and providing relocation benefits.”

The Lexington plant employs about 2,700 people in a community of about 11,340 residents.

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-NE, in a social media post called the news “extremely disappointing.”

“As the single largest employer in Lexington, Tyson’s announcement will have a devastating impact on a truly wonderful community, the region, and our state,” she said. “Nebraskans are nothing if not resilient, and Lexington has a robust workforce. I hope their skill and experience will be sought after by other employers.

“Nebraska is the beef state, and we know better than anyone the highs and lows of the cattle market. It’s no secret that just a few years ago, packers like Tyson were making windfall profits while the rest of the industry was continuously in the red. As we head into the holiday season, I call on Tyson to do everything in its power to take care of the families affected by this short-sighted decision.”

With these changes, Tyson Foods is ensuring that it will continue to deliver high-quality, affordable, and nutritious protein for generations to come, the company stated in its announcement.

In a recent quarterly update, Tyson reported $426 million in adjusted operating income losses in its beef operations for the past 12 months.

Tyson did not say when the plant will stop its Lexington operations.

For more information, visit www.tysonfoods.com.

Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].