This week ,L. and H. Packing Company announced that due to drought they’re closing their San Antonio, Texas Beef Plant. Officials says the exceptional drought conditions in Texas and shrinking cattle supplies helped cause the closure. Nebraska Cattlemen Association’s Executive Director Pete McClymont says that’s a disturbing development and will negatively impact the entire cattle industry.
McClymont says while drought may have been a factor in the Texas plant’s closing the shrinking cattle supplies being felt nationwide have contributed to other closings. Last week, Cargill announced the closure of its Milwaukee beef plant. He says with the national cattle herd at its smallest numbers some producers are retaining heifers in order to build up their herds.
McClymont says Nebraska is better positioned than are other states with its harvest plants in order to serve cattle producers in the state and region.