Perry, Iowa mayor remains optimistic following Tyson’s pork plant closure

The mayor of Perry, Iowa, has hope for a Tyson facility that is set to close and put 1,300 people out of work.

Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh told a local radio station that he is confident a deal will materialize despite stalled negotiations with a potential buyer for the facility.

Cavanaugh also shared plans to take a delegation of impacted community members to visit Tyson’s Arkansas headquarters to find a resolution.

He said they need Tyson to allow someone else to come in and help their rural community. Perry, Iowa, is home to just under 8,000 people.

Related Stories
“I see this as an opportunity rather than a challenge”
John Deere is cutting 100 positions from its Waterloo Works plant in 2025, and Butterball will cut 200 positions in Jonesboro, Ark.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Consumer demand for regional food systems is strong, but the challenge lies in scaling production and infrastructure to meet that growing need.
National FFA Organization Chief Program Officer Christine White previews the programs and activities planned for this year’s FFA Convention.
Dave Kestel, a farmer from Will County and member of the Illinois Farm Bureau, joins us to share a boots-on-the-ground update on the 2025 corn harvest.
Wed, 10/15/25 – 7:30 PM ET | 6:30 PM CT | 5:30 PM MT | 4:30 PM PT
American Coalition for Ethanol’s Ron Lamberty shares the significance of California’s approval, opening up the country’s largest gasoline market to a cleaner-burning, often lower-cost fuel option.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated this week that the government will intervene to help, following China’s withdrawal from the U.S. soybean market. One trader says the industry will remain in a holding pattern until Tuesday.
Agriculture Shows
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.