Thousands of workers at one of the country’s largest beef processing plants are on the picket line this morning.
3,800 at the JBS plant in Greely, Colorado have walked off the job. Union officials say talks have been underway since July, but note they have hit a stalemate. Workers are calling for better safety protocols, pay, and healthcare costs.
Traders have been watching negotiations closely since contracts there expired last summer, and they warn that plant may never see production again.
“3,800 workers will be displaced as they go on strike, and there’s a lot of talk that plant may not open again. They may just shift and divert slaughter to another facility and they may not ever open this plant, unfortunately,” said Brian Hoops with Midwest Market Solutions.
Hoops says this strike opens the door for JBS to relocate to a state that is considered more business-friendly.
“You hear a lot of businesses moving out of Florida or state of Washington, California, certainly into more tax-friendly states like Texas, Florida. Maybe JBS is looking at this as an opportunity to relocate, like you said, down into Texas. Of course, South Dakota has no income tax, and I believe Missouri is going in that direction as well back in 2027.”
Without additional support, many soybean operations will continue to face financial stress as they prepare for the 2026 crop.
January 26, 2026 09:41 AM
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Public Lands Council published a joint press release regarding the advancement of legislation to delist the Mexican Gray Wolf from the Endangered Species Act.
January 23, 2026 05:05 PM
Placements and marketings beat expectations, but declining on-feed totals and feeder constraints keep the supply story supportive for cattle prices into 2026. Dr. Derrell Peel, with Oklahoma State University, joined us to break down cattle-on-feed numbers and provide his broader market outlook.
January 23, 2026 04:40 PM
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USDA Rural Development Director for Kentucky, Travis Burton, joined us to discuss the Princeton facility (formerly Porter Road Meats), now backed by the USDA, and its role in expanding domestic meat processing capacity.
January 23, 2026 03:39 PM
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Farm CPA Paul Neiffer joined us to break down the recent Fifth Circuit Court decision overturning a prior Tax Court decision on self-employment tax for limited partners, the ruling’s impact on farmers, and potential next steps in Congress.
January 23, 2026 02:00 PM
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Americans for Prosperity Arkansas Director Ryan Norris talks energy infrastructure, regulatory reform, and the role of critical minerals in supporting rural America.
January 23, 2026 01:54 PM
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