Why It Matters
A major employer in eastern Idaho abruptly ceased operations last week, putting 150 workers out of jobs with no advance warning. The facility had been a significant player in the region’s agricultural processing sector since opening four years ago.
The sudden shutdown highlights ongoing challenges in Idaho’s livestock processing industry and raises questions about worker protections when companies fail to provide required closure notice.
What Happened
American Farmers Network terminated operations at its Idaho Falls beef and bison processing plant on Friday, April 4. Workers were summoned to a meeting that morning and informed the 66,000-square-foot facility on East Iona Road would close immediately.
According to a federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with the Idaho Department of Labor, all 150 employees lost their jobs. Federal law typically requires employers to give 60 days advance notice before mass layoffs or plant closures.
A laid-off worker told local media that management cited difficulties obtaining and processing cattle as the reason for closure. The facility had reportedly scaled back to processing livestock just one day per week in recent months, down from its initial capacity.
By The Numbers
• 150 employees laid off
• 66,000 square feet of processing space now idle
• Plant originally designed to handle up to 500 head of livestock daily
• Operations scaled back to one processing day per week before closure
• Zero days of advance notice provided to workers
Background
The facility opened in 2022 under the name Intermountain Packing. In 2024, local authorities charged the company with public nuisance after residents complained about offensive odors from the plant interfering with their quality of life.
Federal regulators filed a separate complaint in December 2024 alleging violations of the Packers and Stockyard Act. The U.S. Department of Agriculture accused the company and its former CEO of failing to pay for nearly 2,900 head of livestock worth more than $3.8 million between September and December 2023.
A Washington-based grass-fed beef supplier purchased the operation in May 2025 and brought in new leadership, but the facility continued to struggle with cattle supply.
What’s Next
The property remained locked and vacant as of Tuesday. Federal agriculture officials have not responded to inquiries about whether active investigations into the company played any role in the closure or whether the new ownership faces regulatory scrutiny.
The 150 displaced workers can access state retraining programs through the Idaho Department of Labor. Whether they will receive the 60 days of pay or notice typically required under federal law remains unclear.
About the Author
