Smithfield Foods will build a packing plant soon in the Southern Plains, with a second plant on the drawing board. The first plant will cost $150 million, with 50% being owned by a partner. The pork powerhouse moved into beef processing a couple of years ago and, more recently, into cattle feeding.

Meanwhile, Tyson permanently closed its beef kill plant in West Point, NE, and beef processing plant in Norfolk, NE. Production will shift to Tyson's new beef processing addition in Dakota City, which actually will increase Tyson's capacity in Nebraska.