GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Winter storm Fern hit the majority of the country with ice and snow over the weekend, leading to school closures and delayed flights. Before the storm hit, the USDA urged farmers, small businesses, and families to prepare for the winter weather and reminded them of the assistance that the department can provide.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service urged everyone to ensure animals have the proper shelter, dry bedding, and drinkable water.
Now as the work week begins, poultry plants are dealing with the lasting effects of the storm. Companies like Mountaire Farms and Wayne Sanderson Farms are taking extra precautions to keep workers safe in these icy conditions.
“Due to inclement weather, our Siler City (NC) processing plant will be closed on Monday, January 26th,” Mountaire Farms said in an announcement on Facebook. “Our Millsboro and Selbyville (DE) processing plants will open 3 hours late. Our Lumber Bridge (NC) processing plant will operate on normal schedule [today]. Thanks for your cooperation, and please drive safely!”
While Mountaire Farms only had a few plants that needed to have its hours adjusted, Wayne Sanderson has plants all over the country that were hit by the storm.
The Alabama facilities in Albertville and Decatur ceased all operations for Monday, Jan. 26, and are set to resume normal operations on Tuesday. The Bethlehem, Ga., processing facility will not operate on first and second shift on Monday, Jan. 26., but employees working on third shift should report to work at their normally scheduled start time on Monday night instead of Sunday night, Wayne Sanderson Farms said in an announcement on Facebook.
The Pendergrass, Ga., facility will also be closed due to the inclement weather on Monday. Both facilities will be open on Jan. 27. Wayne-Sanderson also has facilities in North Carolina, Mississippi and Texas that will be closed or opening later on Jan. 26.
“We are actively monitoring weather conditions and will post any updates to our page,” Wayne Sanderson Farms said. “For any questions, please contact your supervisor. Please stay safe and tuned to your local news stations for further weather-related updates.”
Despite the weather conditions, Wayne Sanderson facilities in Union Springs, Ala., Moultrie, Ga., Laurel, Miss., and more will open as normally scheduled on Jan. 26.
