Tyson Foods Cuts 1,500 Jobs in Kansas

Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat company, said Friday it would end beef slaughtering at its Emporia plant, cutting about 1,500 jobs, or more than half its work force at the facility.

The cuts were a response to overcapacity at slaughter houses and shifting of production to western Kansas from eastern, where the Emporia plant is located. The plant has been part of Tyson Foods since the company's purchase of IBP Inc. in 2001, said Dick Bond, president and CEO of Tyson Foods.

Beef slaughter operations at the Emporia plant, which has about 2,400 employees, will end within the next few weeks, the Springdale, Ark.-based company said. The company will …