Cargill confirms job cuts, hydro plant closure at Owensboro facility
Company cites broader strategic realignment but does not disclose exact numbers or employee packages.
USA – Cargill has confirmed it is reducing staff and closing its hydro plant at its Owensboro facility, but has not shared how many employees are affected.
The Owensboro Times sent questions to Cargill regarding the number of jobs impacted, whether severance or transition packages are offered, and the timing of any layoffs, but the company declined to provide answers.
Sara Ragaller, Director of Reputation Management for Ag & Trading at Cargill, said in a statement that the changes are part of a long-term strategy and evolving business requirements.
Ragaller added that the hydro plant closure and select workforce reductions reflect both a restructuring effort and adjustments in production to serve customers, and the company intends to treat affected employees with care.
She also emphasized that Owensboro will continue to be an operational hub for Cargill and that the company remains engaged with the local community.
Confidential sources informed Owensboro Times that roughly 18 positions were affected, but Cargill did not confirm this figure or provide details on severance or whether any terminations were immediate.
The recent local reductions follow a global restructuring announced in December 2024, when Cargill said it would cut about 5% of its workforce, approximately 8,000 positions worldwide.
When the company acquired Owensboro Grain in early 2023, integration leader Don Camden stated that the acquisition would preserve the company’s operations and culture while adding resources to expand its global reach.
Camden had described Owensboro Grain as a company with strong employees, loyal customers, and community partnerships and indicated that changes would be gradual to avoid disrupting its culture.
Owensboro Grain, established in 1906, developed into a regional center for soybean processing, producing meal and oil products for both human and animal use.
Cargill, founded in 1865 and based in Minnesota, operates in 70 countries with around 160,000 employees and remains a privately held, family-run company.
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