Tyson Beef Struggles While Other Segments Lift Second Quarter Results

Tyson is still reshaping its beef footprint.

The raw meat packer and the slaughterer work in the slaughterhouse. By EmmaStock.png

The raw meat packer and the slaughterer work in the slaughterhouse.

By EmmaStock

Photo by EmmaStock via Adobe Stock

LUBBOCK, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — Tyson Foods posted stronger second-quarter results overall, but beef remained the company’s weak spot as tight cattle supplies and high livestock costs continued to pressure margins.

Tyson said second-quarter sales rose to $13.65 billion, while it still expects its beef segment to post an adjusted operating loss of $350 million to $500 million in fiscal 2026.

19297661-g.jpeg

Tyson Foods

The company’s better-performing protein businesses helped offset that drag. Tyson expects fiscal 2026 adjusted operating income of $250 million to $300 million in pork, $1.9 billion to $2.05 billion in chicken, and $1.25 billion to $1.35 billion in Prepared Foods.

Management credited chicken and prepared foods with driving momentum and market-share gains in the quarter.

Tyson is also still reshaping its beef footprint. In November, the company said it would close its Lexington, Nebraska, beef plant and convert its Amarillo, Texas, facility to a single full-capacity shift while increasing output at other plants.

Farm-Level Takeaway: Tyson’s second-quarter results showed how hard it is to process beef profitably — even as pork, chicken, and prepared foods perform better.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist

Related Stories
USDA reports a sharp decline in premium cotton use as domestic mills continue relying heavily on synthetic fiber.
SharkFarmer’s next “Man on the Street,” Tyler Froberg, says blending education and entertainment effectively tells agriculture’s story and bridges farmers with consumers.
Imported meat continued rising as total food, feed and beverage imports moved lower.
Longer feeding periods and weaker boxed beef prices are adding pressure to cattle markets.

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The National Federation of Independent Business says 27 percent of owners named labor quality or availability their biggest problem, up eight points from June.
Vylor will take over the seed business while Corteva focuses on crop protection.
USDA reports higher corn use for ethanol and increased soybean processing compared with last year.
Large federal financing needs could keep pressure on interest rates that influence agricultural borrowing costs.
USDA reports that colony numbers increased in the first half of 2026 as beekeepers continued to replace losses and manage Varroa mites.
Producers with eligible 2023 or 2024 disaster losses now have through Sept. 30 to apply and additional options for documenting quality-related losses.