JBS USA Breaks Ground on $150 Million Expansion at Cactus Beef Production Facility
In February, JBS USA officially broke ground today on a $150 million expansion project at its beef production facility in Cactus, Texas. The project includes construction of a new, state-of-theart fabrication floor and an expanded ground beef room. This major investment is designed to increase operational efficiency, enhance production capacity, and create new opportunities for cattle producers, customers, team members, and the surrounding rural communities. Construction is underway, with expectation of being completed by early 2027.
“This groundbreaking marks an exciting moment for JBS USA, our team in Cactus, and cattle producers,” said Wesley Batista Filho, CEO of JBS USA. “The investment reflects our long-term commitment to the US beef industry and the rural communities where we live and work. By modernizing and expanding our Cactus facility, we are ensuring that our business, and the thousands of families who depend on it, remain positioned for success now and in the future.”
The Cactus facility, located in the Texas Panhandle, currently employs more than 3,600 team members, and partners with local cattle producers, purchasing approximately $3.3 billion in livestock annually. Elected officials say the reinvestment marks a major step forward for the region, highlighting its economic significance and benefits for Texas producers:
“I commend JBS for their investment right here in Cactus,” said state Representative Caroline Fairly. “This transformational project sends a clear message that they believe in the Texas Panhandle, in our workforce, and in the long-term future of this area. We are proud to see JBS continue investing in our community and in American agriculture.”
JBS Workers Strike in Colorado
Workers at JBS’s Greeley, Colorado, facility, recently walked out on strike. Workers are asking for wages that are in line with the current cost of living and inflation, and also claim that JBS uses a portion of their income to pay for masks and other personal protective equipment required for the job.
The Greeley plant is responsible for around 7% of the total beef processing capacity in the US, and has been running a partial shift during the strike. As of the first week of April, JBS plans to resume negotiations with the union. The union says since late 2021, workers have had to increase their healthcare contributions by as much as 37%. Meanwhile, wages increased just 7% over the same period.
“Workers remain united and will continue to fight until JBS fully ends its unfair labor practices and gives workers a contract offer that protects them, shows workers the respect they deserve, and pays them a livable wage,” UFCW Local 7 President Kim Cordova said in a statement. .
