What does Tyson’s shutdown of two US beef plants mean for grocery costs?

Meat producer closes facilities in Utah and Illinois as beef prices rise for consumers amid historic cattle shortage

• People in the US: how much do you spend on food per month?

Tyson Foods, the largest meatpacking company in the US, announced last week that it is closing two of its facilities in Illinois and Utah and selling a beef facility in Washington state, and will lay off hundreds of workers as the supply of cattle hits a 75-year low.

The historic cattle shortage has been driven by a multi-year drought, rising costs and severe economic pressures, including consolidation among cattle ranchers. Beef prices have soared over the last year due to the shortage, though economists said the Tyson plant closures likely won't hit consumer prices so hard.

This article's headline and text were amended on 21 August 2026. An earlier version said Tyson recently announced the closure of two facilities in Iowa and Utah, rather than Illinois and Utah. There was a closure in 2024 in Iowa.