NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — A subsidiary of JBS will close a beef facility in the coming weeks. Swift Beef Company will close its Riverside, California, plant in February, laying off 374 workers. The company told Meatingplace that production will be transferred to other facilities. This comes just after Tyson announced significant cuts to processing capacity in Nebraska and Texas.
Temporary processing plant outages can sharply widen the beef live-to-cutout price spread and increase week-to-week volatility, according to a new summary by Christopher N. Boyer, Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Tennessee. The findings show that unexpected shutdowns push spreads far above normal levels for several weeks, creating immediate financial and operational pressure for cattle producers and feedyards.
The analysis shows that these temporary shocks — such as the 2019 Tyson Holcomb fire and the COVID-19 slowdown — remove capacity without warning, causing harvest delays, firmer boxed beef values, and unstable grid returns. During these periods, producers typically face wider basis risk, tighter cash flow, and increased uncertainty in marketing plans.
Permanent plant closures tell a different story. Because they are telegraphed in advance, the cattle industry adjusts routing, freight, and scheduling before capacity is lost. As a result, spreads before and after a permanent closure resemble normal trading behavior with little persistent volatility.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Plan for sharp, short-term volatility after unexpected outages; permanent closures rarely trigger major price spread disruptions.
Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture for the week of Monday, November 17, 2025.
November 17, 2025 05:05 PM
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National Pork Board Chief Sustainability Officer Jamie Burr shares a closer look at the Pork Checkoff’s Pork Cares Farm Impact Report, a research program to increase trust in the pork supply chain.
November 17, 2025 02:03 PM
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Ethanol markets remain mixed — weaker production and blend rates are being partially balanced by stronger exports as winter demand patterns take shape.
November 17, 2025 01:24 PM
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Tariff relief may soften grocery prices, but it also intensifies competition for U.S. fruit, vegetable, and beef producers as cheaper imports regain market share.
November 17, 2025 01:20 PM
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Strong U.S. yields and steady demand leave most major crops well supplied, keeping price pressure in place unless usage strengthens or weather shifts outlooks.
November 17, 2025 01:17 PM
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Retail competition and improved supplies are helping offset food inflation, pushing Thanksgiving meal costs modestly lower despite higher prices for beef, eggs, and dairy.
November 16, 2025 03:00 PM
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While agriculture doesn’t predict every recession, the sector’s long history of turning down before the broader economy
November 16, 2025 12:00 PM
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The ACRE Act modestly reduces farmland borrowing costs now, with more savings possible once federal guidance clarifies which loans qualify.
November 15, 2025 03:00 PM
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ARC-CO delivers the bulk of 2024 support, offering key margin relief as producers manage tight operating conditions.
November 15, 2025 12:00 PM
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