SPRINGDALE, Ark. (AP)--A temporary suspension of operations at some Tyson Foods Inc. beef plants, including two in Nebraska, will continue through Feb. 12 and may last longer, the company announced Feb. 3.

Included in the shutdowns for a fifth week are plants in West Point and Norfolk in Nebraska and others in Boise, Idaho, and Dennison, Iowa. Production at another plant in Pasco, Wash., was reduced.

Company officials said tight cattle supplies, low demand and a reduction in the number of overseas markets, prompted them to temporarily suspend the operations on Jan. 10.

Tyson, which is based in Arkansas, said it will pay qualified workers for another week off the job. Workers were being paid the equivalent of a 32-hour work week during the suspension. Other benefits, including health insurance, have continued. About 2,100 workers are affected.

Tyson initially expected the temporary suspension to last three to five weeks, however, based on daily evaluations of market conditions, the company expects the suspension to last at least five full weeks and possibly longer.

The decision whether the suspension will be extended will not be made until sometime in middle February.

Tyson is the world's largest supplier of chicken, beef and pork.

Date: 2/24/05

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