Cargill to close Wisconsin beef plant, cut 221 jobs

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. agribusiness Cargill will completely shut its beef processing facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and remove 221 jobs, based on a submitting with the state, the most recent U.S. beef plant to be shuttered amid rising prices for meatpackers.

WHY IT MATTERS: The U.S. cattle herd is at its lowest stage in practically 75 years, pushing up costs and difficult packers’ margins.

The Cargill Meat Options facility will cease manufacturing round mid-April and totally shut across the finish of Could, a discover filed by Cargill with the Wisconsin Division of Workforce Improvement mentioned. The plant makes a speciality of contemporary beef, floor beef, and value-added merchandise however doesn’t slaughter cattle.

Chicken, eggs benefit from demand for economical protein

Strong demand for protein and status as an economical alternative to beef bodes well for chicken and egg demand in 2026 according to recent analysis from Farm Credit Canada.

Cargill mentioned the transfer was made “to raised align our portfolio with present buyer demand and prioritize investments,” including that floor beef manufacturing will shift to its different North American amenities with no impression on its shopper contracts. The corporate operates seven different amenities within the state and among the workers affected are anticipated to maneuver to 1 in close by Butler, Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee plant closure comes after rival meatpackers JBS and Tyson Foods introduced they have been shuttering beef crops late final yr.

Beef costs are hovering close to document highs attributable to robust demand and decreased provide. U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signed a proclamation to hike low-tariff imports of Argentine beef.

U.S. beef packers have been shedding cash as tight provides of cattle pressured them to pay extra for the livestock they slaughter and course of into hamburgers and steaks.

The U.S. cattle herd has dropped to the bottom stage in practically 75 years attributable to persistent drought that dried up grazing pastures. A halt on U.S. imports of Mexican cattle tightened provides additional, as Washington seeks to maintain out New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite.