Tyson Foods announced this week that it was shutting its Perry, Iowa plant. Press reports indicate that the facility has a capacity of about 9,000 hogs per day, industry estimates put it at around 8,250 to 8,500 head per day. It is a relatively smaller plant and is now 61 years old. Given the state of the industry, with a smaller pig crop and fewer market hogs, this plant would be expected to stay closed. It will be closed at the end of June, and any loss of capacity (netting the extension of the line speed pilot program, etc.) would most likely be felt in Q4 of the year. From a price perspective, that could hit Iowa. Nonetheless, pork production is forecast to increase in 2024, driven by demand. High retail prices for beef are a factor be...
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.
What You Need to Know Today: Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, including a proposal to halt attacks on civilian shipping that could help restore grain flows from Ukrainian ports. Tyson Foods announced plans to permanently close its Joslin, Illinois, beef processing facili...
The big news in the cattle markets yesterday was Tyson Foods’ move to close two more beef plants. One of them, the Joslin, Illinois, plant was shuttered immediately after the announcement. The other, in Eagle Mountain, Utah, is a case-ready plant that does not slaughter cattle. Tyson also...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. In July, the CPI rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy, or the “core” infla...