Sanderson Farms says flooding from hurricane Florence has resulted in the loss of about 1.7 million broiler chickens. In a statement, the company says about 30 farms housing more than 200,000 chickens each are isolated by floodwaters and cannot be reached by feed trucks. The company says 60 of the 880 broiler houses in the region have been flooded.
Tyson Foods, meanwhile, told meat industry publication Meatingplace there was “minimal impact” on its live poultry operations in North Carolina and Virginia. However, at least two Tyson farms were affected by the storm. Tyson says it is leveraging its regional supply chain to make sure there is no disruption to its business in addition to helping affected farmers and community members, which includes serving meals to victims, volunteers and first responders.
North Carolina is a top poultry and pork producing state.
The North Carolina Pork Council said earlier this week that at least a dozen hog farms experienced waste lagoon flooding from the hurricane.
Source: National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.