Tyson Foods to close beef plants in Illinois and Utah

Tyson will transfer production from the Illinois and Utah facilities to other sites and is also seeking a buyer for its beef plant in Pasco, Washington, as part of the restructuring. Going to The business, operations at its Amarillo facility will eventually return to a second shift as cattle supplies improve, allowing it to maintain a similar volume of cattle processing with fewer facilities. Tyson responds to cattle scarcity The closures come as the US cattle trade faces one of its most severe supply shortages in decades, growing pressure on beef processors and contributing to heavy losses in Tyson’s beef business.

Tyson forecasts its beef division to record losses of up to US$650 million in fiscal 2026, highlighting the financial pressure behind the changes to its processing network. Analysts at Little Rock-based Stephens Inc. estimate that the restructuring could reduce Tyson’s annual costs by between US$100 million and US$150 million.

The scheduled closure of the Joslin facility has as well drawn criticism from Illinois lawmakers, with US Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, along with US Representative Eric Sorensen, issuing a statement after Tyson unveiled the decision. Going to The firm, the changes are intended to reduce the number of facilities it operates while shifting production to sites better positioned to process cattle more efficiently, as supplies remain tight.