Tyson to sell five farms, reduce hog herd by 30%.(AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS)

Tyson Foods Inc. announced Wednesday it will sell five hog farms and reduce its hog herd by about 30 percent due to high feed costs and slowing pork sales.

The company said it will send about 20,000 sows to slaughter over the next eight to 10 weeks, reducing its herd from 70,000 to 50,000 over the next 10 weeks.

It will sell five farms located in Benton and Washington counties and in McDonald County, Missouri. The buyer of the farms has not been disclosed.

The reduction will eliminate 76 jobs in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

Tyson said employees have been notified and are being encouraged to apply for other job openings within the company.

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