Cargill's Feed Mill Facility in Goodfield to Close and Its Workforce Released

06/10/06 Cargill today announced that its feed mill facility in Goodfield, Ill. – idle since a major fire Sept. 2 – will be closed and its workforce released. The mill had 17 current employees. Cargill Animal Nutrition General Manager Larry Whipple called the closing a painful but unavoidable decision, given the extent of the damage. The fire destroyed two warehouses and caused significant damage to adjacent structures, including the feed mill, extrusion, and packaging areas of the plant.

“We had been hopeful of re-opening the facility, and our employees had been helping in the cleanup over the past few weeks,” he said, “but in the end it was clear that the damage was too extensive to make a start-up feasible.”

“These decisions are always difficult,” Whipple continued, “and this one is particularly painful because our Goodfield workforce is highly qualified and very committed. The caliber of the employees and the quality of the product they manufacture here is first-rate. Unfortunately, that has not been enough to overcome the damages from this tragic fire.”

An investigation into the cause of the fire is still underway. Whipple indicated that Cargill Goodfield employees will be provided severance and, wherever possible, opportunities elsewhere in Cargill.