COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — Cargill plans to convert a beef processing plant in Columbus, Nebraska to make cooked meat, and two other beef plants in Wisconsin and Texas will be expanded to handle the work currently done there.
Cargill said Thursday the changes will cost roughly $111 million. About 80 of the 250 jobs in Columbus will be eliminated during the conversion.
The project will begin in December in Columbus. The plant is expected to begin producing cooked meat in the middle of next year and reach full production in 2017.
Cargill says workers who lose their jobs in December can apply at one of the company's other plants in the region and relocation help will be provided.
Cargill will spend $27 million to expand beef plants in Butler, Wisconsin, and Forth Worth, Texas.