2,000 Jobs Lost In Plainview, Cargill Meat Plant Set To Close February 1st

Drought and low cattle supply causes Cargill to shut down its Plainview meat plant on February 1st.

The Wichita, Kansas based company Cargill announced on Thursday (Jan, 17th) that it will be closing it's meat plant in Plainview on February 1st, 2013 leaving 2,000 Texan's without jobs. A low cattle supply and continuous drought made the company make the decision.

Cargil said in a press release:

“The decision to idle our Plainview beef processing plant was a difficult and painful one to make and was made only after we conducted an exhaustive analysis of the regional cattle supply and processing capacity situation in North America.”

Texas Ag Commisioner Todd Staples said in a statement:

“The news of Cargill’s plans to idle its Plainview plant next month is a devastating blow to this Texas Panhandle community and the economic health of Texas.

I am told by company officials that Cargill has no current plans to sell the facility, and I have directed Texas Department of Agriculture staff to work with the company and community leaders toward an expeditious resumption of business.

The most immediate priority is helping  those Texans left unemployed starting February 1. We are dispatching a team from our business development unit to assist the surrounding communities in finding employment for those hardworking Texans who will find themselves without a job next month.

I am saddened by this distressing news and pray for a quick recovery for all who are impacted.”

Although there is some hope that the meat plant could re-open in the near future if the cattle supply grows. The Friona based Cargill plant will remain open.