Nebraska Cattlemen Association members are expressing concern at the loss of beef processing following the recent fire at Tyson’s Holcomb, Kansas meatpacking plant. Tyson officials have pledged to repair the plant at its same location but it remains unknown when the facility will be fully operational again. Nebraska Cattlemen Association President Mike Drinnen says they need and want more information from Tyson on how they plan to proceed.

Tyson officials said they’ll use their other plants in the region including those in Dakota City and Lexington, Nebraska, and Amarillo, Texas and Joslin, Illinois to keep their supply chain full. Drinnen says they’ve asked their elected officials to be aware of the problem and the potential implications it may have for cattle producers.

He says cattle producers should not have to endure the total cost of the fire at the Holcomb plant.

Drinnen says the longer uncertainties are allowed to linger, the most costly it will become for all segments of the cattle industry.