Tyson Foods is restructuring its beef business around three central U.S. facilities, ending operations at its Joslin, Illinois, beef plant and its Eagle Mountain, Utah, case-ready facility while pursuing the sale of its Pasco, Washington, beef plant.
The Springdale, Arkansas-based company said it will anchor beef production at facilities in Dakota City, Nebraska; Holcomb, Kansas; and Amarillo, Texas, to create what it called a more competitive footprint amid one of the most historic cattle shortages the country has experienced. The company said recent USDA cattle inventory data, including continued evidence of limited heifer retention, indicates supply constraints are likely to persist.
The Joslin closure affects about 2,500 union workers, according to a joint statement from Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and Rep. Eric Sorensen, who called the news devastating for workers at a time when families are struggling with rising costs. A WARN Act notice sent to Joslin employees said harvest operations would end on or around Aug. 13 and processing operations on or around Aug. 14, the same day the closure was announced.
The Eagle Mountain case-ready plant, built with a $300 million investment announced in 2019, was designed to employ 800-1,200 workers.
A more efficient network
Capacity from the closing locations will move to what the company described as more strategically located facilities with room to grow. Tyson also plans to ramp back up a second shift at its Amarillo plant as cattle become available, reversing cuts announced late last year that affected about 1,700 workers when the plant went to a single shift. The company said the changes collectively will allow it to maintain a similar level of cattle harvesting across a more efficient network.
Tyson said it is committed to supporting team members through the transition, including helping them apply for open positions at other facilities.
Beef segment losses mount
The restructuring comes as Tyson’s beef business absorbs steep losses. The segment reported a $138 million adjusted operating loss in the third quarter, with revenue down 3.9 percent and volumes down 16 percent, and the company has said the business could lose as much as $600 million this fiscal year after losses totaling $720 million over the previous two years. The moves follow the January shutdown of Tyson’s beef plant in Lexington, Nebraska, which had about 3,200 workers.
Tyson Foods is a protein-focused food company with brands including Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, Wright, State Fair, Aidells and ibp. The company had approximately 133,000 team members as of Sept. 27, 2025.