Tyson plant closure hits Nebraska town
State agencies mobilize rapid response teams to help affected families navigate unemployment benefits, job searches and financial aid programs.
By Curt Arens, senior editor of Nebraska Farmer, Nebraska Farmer.
Farmprogress.com
December 10, 2025
It is a devastating loss. For Lexington, Neb., a town with a population of about 11,000, losing the Tyson Foods beef processing plant in January that employs around 3,200 workers is a deadly blow. For farmers, losing a marketing avenue and beef slaughter capacity causes real angst.
The closure, set to take place Jan. 20, affects local farmers and ranchers who were selling to the plant, which has a slaughter capacity at about 5,000 head per day. It impacts workers losing their jobs, and their families.
It impacts the economy, the culture and the infrastructure that Lexington has built over the years the plant has existed there. Everything is turned upside down.
That’s why on Nov. 29, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced an important collaboration between multiple agencies and community organizations to assist Lexington families impacted by the closure.
This rapid response team includes Nebraska departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Economic Development, and Agriculture. A special event was held Dec. 3-4 at the Dawson County Fairgrounds for Tyson workers, with agencies covering such topics as unemployment insurance benefits, job search resources and other financial support programs.
In his statement, Pillen said, “The whole state is behind the community of Lexington as they face this tough transition. Our state agencies are working together to provide the support this community deserves.”
“This is a difficult time for the community and the impacted workers, but they have truly come together to help make DOL’s efforts possible. An event of this size would not be happening this quickly without community support,” said Katie Thurber, commissioner of labor, in a news release. “Nebraska employers are also coming together for job fairs, with more details to be announced soon.”
In addition to efforts by state agencies, the Lexington Community Foundation has information about local organizations that are providing and accepting assistance to support workers.
“On the broader impacts for beef producers, the closure removes a major regional processing outlet and will have ripple effects across the supply chain,” said Bobbi Howard, farm and community director at the Center for Rural Affairs, based in Lyons, Neb. “The loss of jobs at the plant will have significant economic and community-level consequences, but for producers, the immediate impacts include delays, fewer marketing options and longer hauling distances, particularly for those who relied on this plant for consistent throughput.”
In the long term, closure of the Tyson plant, even as slaughter capacity is picked up in other facilities, reduces Nebraska’s total cattle harvest capacity by about 15%, Howard said.
While Sustainable Beef in North Platte helps to improve the slaughter capacity landscape, it is a smaller plant ramping up to slaughter about 1,500 head per day, much less than the Tyson facility.
“Disruptions at this scale often increase interest in local or direct-to-consumer marketing,” Howard said. “That can create opportunities for some producers, but it’s not a simple pivot. Processing appointments, transportation and consistent sales channels remain ongoing restraints without additional support.”
Farmers exploring direct-to-consumer marketing or diversifying outlets can connect with resources with help from the Center for Rural Affairs, Howard added. There is technical assistance available, along with business planning support and partners who specialize in local and regional meat supply chains.
Curt Arens is the senior editor of Nebraska Farmer, Nebraska Farmer.
He began writing about Nebraska’s farm families when he was in high school.
By Curt Arens, senior editor of Nebraska Farmer, Nebraska Farmer.
Farmprogress.com
December 10, 2025
It is a devastating loss. For Lexington, Neb., a town with a population of about 11,000, losing the Tyson Foods beef processing plant in January that employs around 3,200 workers is a deadly blow. For farmers, losing a marketing avenue and beef slaughter capacity causes real angst.
The closure, set to take place Jan. 20, affects local farmers and ranchers who were selling to the plant, which has a slaughter capacity at about 5,000 head per day. It impacts workers losing their jobs, and their families.
It impacts the economy, the culture and the infrastructure that Lexington has built over the years the plant has existed there. Everything is turned upside down.
That’s why on Nov. 29, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced an important collaboration between multiple agencies and community organizations to assist Lexington families impacted by the closure.
This rapid response team includes Nebraska departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Economic Development, and Agriculture. A special event was held Dec. 3-4 at the Dawson County Fairgrounds for Tyson workers, with agencies covering such topics as unemployment insurance benefits, job search resources and other financial support programs.
In his statement, Pillen said, “The whole state is behind the community of Lexington as they face this tough transition. Our state agencies are working together to provide the support this community deserves.”
“This is a difficult time for the community and the impacted workers, but they have truly come together to help make DOL’s efforts possible. An event of this size would not be happening this quickly without community support,” said Katie Thurber, commissioner of labor, in a news release. “Nebraska employers are also coming together for job fairs, with more details to be announced soon.”
In addition to efforts by state agencies, the Lexington Community Foundation has information about local organizations that are providing and accepting assistance to support workers.
“On the broader impacts for beef producers, the closure removes a major regional processing outlet and will have ripple effects across the supply chain,” said Bobbi Howard, farm and community director at the Center for Rural Affairs, based in Lyons, Neb. “The loss of jobs at the plant will have significant economic and community-level consequences, but for producers, the immediate impacts include delays, fewer marketing options and longer hauling distances, particularly for those who relied on this plant for consistent throughput.”
In the long term, closure of the Tyson plant, even as slaughter capacity is picked up in other facilities, reduces Nebraska’s total cattle harvest capacity by about 15%, Howard said.
While Sustainable Beef in North Platte helps to improve the slaughter capacity landscape, it is a smaller plant ramping up to slaughter about 1,500 head per day, much less than the Tyson facility.
“Disruptions at this scale often increase interest in local or direct-to-consumer marketing,” Howard said. “That can create opportunities for some producers, but it’s not a simple pivot. Processing appointments, transportation and consistent sales channels remain ongoing restraints without additional support.”
Farmers exploring direct-to-consumer marketing or diversifying outlets can connect with resources with help from the Center for Rural Affairs, Howard added. There is technical assistance available, along with business planning support and partners who specialize in local and regional meat supply chains.
Curt Arens is the senior editor of Nebraska Farmer, Nebraska Farmer.
He began writing about Nebraska’s farm families when he was in high school.
