Nebraskans lament Tyson decision to close Lexington plant with 3,200 workers

[Silent Type]

6. Cattleman's Beef Association says it is because of low cattle numbers. Have no idea if true.

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s CEO Colin Woodall provided his reaction to the Oklahoma Farm Report- “NCBA is disappointed by the closure of the beef processing facility in Lexington. Similarly, the reduction in operations at the beef processing plant in Amarillo. This raises concerns about the impact on family farmers and ranchers, but it is the unfortunate result of the industry experiencing excess processing capacity in the face of historically low cattle numbers. We are closely monitoring this situation and are working to ensure the beef supply chain continues to function properly.”

The announcement by Tyson reminds those in the cattle business of the shock that rumbled through the industry a little over a decade ago when we also had tight cattle numbers. The Cargill beef processing plant in Plainview, Texas shut down operations on February 1, 2013, due to tight cattle supplies from prolonged drought, and by 2015 Cargill had put the plant up for sale, leaving it permanently shuttered.

https://www.oklahomafarmreport.com/okfr/2025/11/21/tyson-to-shutter-lexington-nebraska-beef-plant-make-amarillo-a-single-shift-plant/

I know they are going to have to put steaks behind locked glass at today’s prices.