The president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is concerned following the abrupt closure of a beef processing facility in Illinois.
Gene Copenhaver says while this is an exciting time for the beef industry, there are hurdles to overcome.
“In eastern Iowa and western Illinois with the Tyson announcement on Thursday, it’s going to not only hurt those feeder producers, it’s going to hurt the cow-calf producers. And a lot of my producers in the east (like in) Virginia, it’s going to hurt them too.”
Tyson announced last week it was shuttering its Joslin, Illinois beef processing facility.
Speaking to Brownfield at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines Saturday, the Virginia cattleman said processor contraction has happened before.
“And I think part of the problem is (like) the problems we had during COVID where we didn’t have enough hook space and then we prepare for hook space, and with the Mexican border being closed (and other factors) it just made the problem even worse.”
Tyson says it also plans to close its Eagle Mountain, Utah and Pasco, Washington facilities.
