More Tyson fallout: Flint Hills Feed lot closing
By Bobbi Mlynar
Originally published 12:40 p.m., March 13, 2008
Updated 12:40 p.m., March 13, 2008
Tyson Foods’ closing of some of its Emporia operations in January has prompted a planned closing of the Flint Hills Feed Lot northeast of Emporia.
P.J. Jones, wife of the company’s owner, Jack Jones, said that Flint Hills has not accepted cattle to feed since Tyson ceased some of its operations.
“We’re 10,000 capacity,” P.J. Jones said of the lot, “so that’s how many we had when that happened. It takes a while to feed them out. It’s not one of these things that happens overnight.”
Some employee attrition has occurred as cattle numbers dwindled on the Flint Hills lots.
Jack Jones has operated the feedlot since 1968. In recent years, it has been the only large-scale commercial feeder in Lyon County.
Other smaller feedlots have not announced business plans.
“There’s still some small (companies) trying to battle it,” P.J. Jones said.
She said she expects that her husband will continue to run cattle on his grassland.