January 12, 2004

US Mad Cow Costs 150 Jobs In Fort Morgan

Meatpacker Excel Corp., a subsidiary of food and agricultural products giant Cargill Inc, has laid off 150 workers at its Fort Morgan processing plant due to the US mad cow incident. 

Wichita-based Excel said the layoffs are part of company-wide job cuts affecting up to 750 positions at five plants.

Swift & Co., Colorado's other major beef processor, has begun laying off 40 employees from its Greeley processing plant in addition to about 230 job cuts at five plants outside Colorado.

"We feel bad about having to take this action," said Bill Rupp, executive vice president of Excel and president of the firm's beef operations.

"A number of countries have banned U.S. beef, and there are some products we will not now be processing for export," he said. "That has led to the layoffs."

The Fort Morgan plant employed 2,200 workers before the layoffs, making it one of northeastern Colorado's largest employers.

"I'm sure it will have an impact on our local economy, but now that it's after the holidays we hope the impact won't be too severe," said Fort Morgan city administrator Victoria Simonsen. "We're hopeful we can absorb most of those positions in other jobs."

In addition to Fort Morgan, Excel has meat plants in Plainview and Friona, Texas; Dodge City, Kan.; and Schuyler, Neb.