By P.J. Huffstutter
CHICAGO, Aug 13 (Reuters) – Tyson Foods said on Thursday it will close or sell three of its beef plant and packaging operation sites, further shrinking its beef footprint as a historic U.S. cattle shortage deepens losses for the largest U.S. meatpacker.
The company will end operations at its beef facility in Joslin, Illinois, and its case-ready beef facility in Eagle Mountain, Utah, and pursue the sale of its beef plant in Pasco, Washington. Tyson said it will move the processing capacity from these locations to other sites, and anchor its beef business around its plants in Dakota City, Nebraska; Holcomb, Kansas; and Amarillo, Texas…