Feb 16, 2006 9:00 AM, from staff and wire reports

Tyson Foods Inc is consolidating beef operations in northeast Nebraska. It will permanently close its beef processing plant in Norfolk NE and beef slaughter plant in West Point NE. Production will be shifted primarily to the company’s beef complex in Dakota City NE, which is completing a new beef processing addition.

The new 84,500-square-foot structure at Dakota City is scheduled to begin production in March and will be capable of absorbing the work performed in Norfolk. The West Point closing will enable Tyson to make more efficient use of beef slaughter operations at Dakota City and other Tyson beef plants in the region. At current production levels, the plant closings will increase the company’s beef production capacity utilization by about 6%.

These plant closings affect approximately 365 employees at West Point and 1,300 at Norfolk.