In another significant hit to turkey processing capacity, Cargill has announced the closure of its turkey processing plant in Springdale, Arkansas, effective August 1, 2025. Despite this decision, the company reaffirmed its commitment to the turkey business and plans to shift production to other facilities.
“This was not an easy decision to make given the impact on the approximately 1,100 people who work there and local producers,” Cargill stated. “However, it is the right move to make for the future of our turkey business.”
The company emphasized that it will honor all contractual obligations to its turkey growers. While the Springdale facility will shut down, production will be redistributed to Cargill’s existing turkey processing plants in Missouri and Virginia, with efforts to minimize supply disruptions for customers.
The closure comes amid broader industry challenges, as this marks the second major turkey processing capacity reduction announced this week. Foster Farms recently confirmed it will close facilities in Turlock, California, this May, affecting more than 500 employees. These closures follow the USDA’s downward revision of its 2025 turkey production outlook, citing declining hatchery trends and continued culling in response to avian influenza outbreaks.
Springdale, Arkansas, often referred to as the “Poultry Capital of the World,” has long been a hub for poultry production. The Cargill turkey plant, built in 1965, spans 360,000 square feet across production and distribution areas. Despite this closure, Cargill will continue operating more than 40 meat harvesting and processing facilities across multiple protein sectors.
Stay tuned to PoultryProducer.com for further updates on how these industry shifts impact producers, processors, and the broader poultry supply chain.
