National Beef, one of Moultrie's largest employers, has confirmed plans to lay off employees at its Moultrie plant.

The company has not said how many people will be laid off, but a report in a trade publication of the meat-packing industry, cited by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, said it would be 283.

National Beef Packing Company, LLC, is based in Kansas City, Missouri has operations in Liberal, Dodge City, and Kansas City, Kansas; Brawley, California; Hummels Wharf, Pennsylvania; Moultrie, Georgia; and St. Joseph, Missouri. National Beef, with approximately 9,100 employees, processes and markets fresh beef, case-ready beef, beef by-products and wet-blue leather for domestic and international markets. In fiscal year 2011, National Beef generated sales of $6.8 billion.