United States-600 lose jobs at pork factory.

UNITED STATES-600 LOSE JOBS AT PORK PLANT.

A pork processing plant here temporarily laid off its 600 workers as it faces a cash crunch.

A default on a contract left Meadowbrook Farms with $4 million to $5 million in losses, said Chairman of the Board Roger Walk, which crippled the cooperative’s ability to do business.

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"We cannot overcome that type of catastrophic cash flow crunch," Walk said.

But the cooperative, owned by about 100 farmers, is working with the United States Department of Agriculture, its private lenders and the village of Rantoul to try to get the plant up and running again within seven to 10 days.

Rantoul Mayor Neal Williams said that nobody from Meadowbrook Farms had contacted the village about this week’s layoffs, but he acknowledged that the village has been working with the company for ways to help.

"We have been in contact with Congressman Tim Johnson’s office about trying to work with the USDA to see if Meadowbrook Farms can qualify for financial assistance during this difficult time," Williams said.