Cattle Market Plunges Amid Tyson Closures and Corn Price Hike

The U.S. cattle market experienced sharp losses in live and feeder cattle futures in August 2026, driven by Tyson Foods' planned beef facility closures, changing USDA supply forecasts, and rising corn costs.

Tyson's decision to close its Joslin, Illinois, and Eagle Mountain, Utah, facilities added uncertainty to the market. Market analysts point to several pressures converging at once, including questions about beef processing capacity, seasonal weakness in demand, and deteriorating feedlot economics.

The decline interrupted a three-week rally in feeder cattle and extended losses in live cattle for a second consecutive week.