The Cargill plant in Albert Lea laid off about 15 workers on Wednesday, according to the plant manager.

Cargill’s Albert Lea Complex Manager Maria Wedel said, “There is never a good time to lay off people — especially valued employees.”

She added, “We were hoping business conditions would improve more quickly than they have, affording us the option to avoid this action.”

No additional layoffs are planned at the Albert Lea facility at this time.

Cargill says it “remains committed to the Albert Lea facility and will continue to support the community.”

The Cargill plant in Albert Lea produces beef products under the Schweigert name. The privately owned company bought the Schweigert plant in April 2008.

Cargill on Dec. 2 announced in a press release it would reduce its workforce over six months by up to 2,000 out of its 138,000 employees around the world. Affected employees, it said, would receive severance and support.

The company said these actions are in response to the continued weak global economy and are part of an overall effort to reduce expenses and simplify work processes.

“As economic conditions change, so must we,” said Mike Fernandez, corporate vice president of Cargill Corporate Affairs. “Regrettably, this impacts talented people who have made important contributions to our company. These are difficult decisions but are necessary to better position the company for continued growth.”

The reductions, the press release states, are based on recommendations from Cargill’s business units and functions as to how to best allocate resources, based on their specific situations. They are not the outcome of any companywide percentage mandate or uniform across-the-board cut. Rather, the goal is to ensure the company is focusing its resources on those activities that add the most value for its customers, the release states.