Smithfield Foods' John Morrell and Co. unit has cut back on some of its hog kill and pork cut shifts at its Sioux Falls, S.D., plant, resulting in about 30 workers being laid off over the past couple of weeks, according to the Argus Leader.

The newspaper quoted Mark Reichelt, president of Local 304A of the United Food and Commercial Workers union, as saying about 25 workers were laid off last week in the hog kill area, and at least six more were let go in the pork cut divisions this week. Reichelt also said there had been no day or night hog kill shifts the past two Mondays and no pork cut and conversion shifts during the day or night the past two Tuesdays.

Reuters reported that Smithfield had closed both the Sioux Falls plant and its Sioux City, Iowa, plant for the day on Monday.

Smithfield declined to confirm or deny the cutbacks or the temporary plant closings.

In June, Smithfield reported its first full-year net loss since 1975 and pledged to cut its sow herd by 3 percent in addition to the 10 percent cut it made last year.

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