The first blizzard of the season has dumped as much as 15 inches of snow in the southern Plains, disrupting beef production, and halting business in the cash cattle markets, Reuters reports. Tyson Foods canceled the first shifts at its beef plants in Amarillo, Texas, and Finney County, Kan. The second shifts are expected to run on schedule, says Tyson spokesman Gary Mikelson.

"We called off first-shift operations at two plants due to the snowfall, which made travel difficult. In some cases, roads were closed," Mickelson said. "There have been reports of up to a foot of snow in some parts of southwest Kansas."

Cargill's beef production at its plant in Dodge City, Kan., was slower than usual because trucks are finding it difficult to deliver cattle. The company's plants in Plainview and Friona, Texas, have not beef affected. Operations at the JBS USA plant in Dumas, Texas, was delayed by two hours.

Source: Reuters