JOSLIN, Ill. – The abrupt shuttering of Tyson Foods’ beef processing facility in Joslin on Aug. 14 left at least 2,500 company employees jobless (some reports suggest 2,700) and many area cattle producers without a buyer for their beef. Tyson also announced the closure of its Eagle Mountain, Utah, case-ready facility and is seeking the sale of its Pasco, Wash., beef facility.

Tyson will consolidate its beef business around three centrally located slaughter facilities in Dakota City, Neb.; Holcomb, Kan.; and Amarillo, Texas, “to create a more competitive footprint amidst one of the most historic cattle shortages the country has ever experienced. Recent USDA cattle inventory data, which included continued evidence of limited heifer retention, indicates these supply constraints are likely to persist, requiring strategic action,” according to a statement from Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson Foods. “Tyson Foods recognizes the impact these decisions have on team members and communities. The company is committed to supporting our team members through this transition, including helping them apply for open positions at other facilities.”

As news of the closures gained momentum, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) issued the following (partial) statement: “NCBA is troubled by the closure of the Joslin beef processing facility. For many years, the plant has played a vital role in the Midwest beef supply chain, and its closure will significantly impact cattle producers, employees and rural communities across the region. We encourage Tyson to work closely with its longstanding customers to identify alternative marketing opportunities for their cattle.

“These decisions underscore the significant challenges that historically-low cattle inventories continue to create across the beef cattle industry. While we are disappointed by these developments, they also reinforce the importance of rebuilding the nation’s cow herd and maintaining adequate processing capacity to support cattle producers, strengthen market opportunities, and ensure a resilient beef supply chain for the future.”

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1546, which represents over 2,000 workers at the Tyson’s Joslin plant, released a statement critical of how Tyson handled the closure. “UFCW Local 1546 has a long-standing and proud union partnership with Tyson Foods, and we were extremely disappointed in not receiving advance notice of this news. If given the opportunity, we could have sat down and found an economic solution to keep this plant operating, but sadly our voice was silenced,” said Robert O’Toole, UFCW Local 1546 president and UFCW International vice president.

“Our local union stands firm with the over 2,000 skilled members who have worked tirelessly day and night to sustain our nation’s food supply and have now had their careers ripped out from underneath them without warning. We remain committed to doing everything in our power, including working closely with our legislative and community allies and our state and local union affiliates, to provide the necessary resources to ease them through this unfortunate transition,” O’Toole added.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker responded to the Joslin closure by offering immediate state support and resources to affected workers. 

Unincorporated Joslin, in Rock Island County, is home to just 85 or so residents. Located along Route 92 and Interstate 88 in the Quad Cities metro area, the Zuma Township village has been the location for a beef slaughter center since around 1983.

“People started fighting, people were yelling, people were crying,” said a worker who declined to give her name to news station WOAD. She said workers arrived for their early morning shifts only to be handed letters stating the plant had closed. “I know people that have been here for 30-plus years. I know people that have been here as little as three days,” the woman said.

One local cattle producer told news media that a beef buyer representing Tyson had been on his property earlier in the week and assured him the company would soon be in touch with an offer.