JBS to Shut Pennsylvania Beef Plant as U.S. Cattle Shortage Bites

JBS USA will shutter its beef processing plant in Souderton, Pennsylvania, and a value-added protein packaging facility in Memphis, Tennessee, as the world’s largest meat supplier grapples with a historic U.S. cattle shortage. The closures, announced June 12, 2026, mark the latest contraction in the U.S. beef sector, where the national cattle herd has fallen to a 75-year low due to prolonged drought and soaring production costs that have forced ranchers to cull herds aggressively. JBS will consolidate operations into other plants as part of a broader industry-wide pullback. The company reported widening losses in its U.S. beef unit last month. Wesley Batista Filho, CEO of JBS USA, warned during a May 2026 conference call that persistent dry conditions are further delaying herd rebuilding efforts. The shutdowns follow similar moves by rivals: Tyson Foods has closed a Nebraska facility, while Cargill shuttered a plant in Milwaukee. JBS’s Pennsylvania beef plant and Tennessee protein packaging site will cease operations, with production redirected to other facilities. JBS USA ranks No. 68 on Transport Topics’ Top 100 list of largest private carriers in North America and No. 10 among agriculture and food processing carriers.