It could be a long time before Hurricane Helene’s impact on the poultry and greater agriculture industry in the southeastern United States will be fully known, but Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said its damages will very likely be more severe than the ones left by Hurricane Michael in 2018.
“We know that we’ve had 107 poultry facilities damaged or totally destroyed, 15 dairies that have been affected, and dozens and dozens of other facilities … affected,” Kemp said during a weekend news conference. “Literally every commodity in the state has been damaged by the storm.”
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper wrote to members of Georgia’s congressional delegation, seeking immediate federal aid. “Right now, the future of hundreds of agricultural operations across Georgia is uncertain, and without immediate assistance, some will not make it to the next growing season,” Harper wrote.
WATT Global Media reached out to numerous poultry companies with operations in the southeastern states. Here is what we know so far:
House of Raeford Farms
A House of Raeford Farms spokesman said the company’s plant in Greenville, South Carolina, was still not operating on September 30 because of a lack of power. Operations were halted at its facility in West Columbia, South Carolina, but they are expected to resume for the night shift, on September 30 and the day shift on October 1. Its newest plant in Vienna, Georgia, was also offline because of a lack of power, but production is also expected to resume on September 30.
“We were very fortunate compared to other areas, especially the Asheville (North Carolina) area just north of Greenville,” he said.
Wayne-Sanderson Farms
Wayne-Sanderson Farms posted on its Facebook page that its plant in Moultrie, Georgia, was not operating on September 30 and to check back to see schedules for upcoming days.
A spokesperson for the company told WATT Global Media that the impacts of Helene to Wayne-Sanderson Farms have primarily been related to the Moultrie operations and area farm partners.
"Some wind and flood damage to area farms has occurred and our live production teams are working with local farm partners to ensure fuel is available for generators and provide any other assistance as needed. Loss of electrical power from downed transmission lines prompted us to close the Moultrie processing facility until local Georgia Power crews can restore power. Georgia Power has restored service to the Moultrie feed mill, which will deliver to area farms as needed based on local road conditions," he said.
Wayne-Sanderson's operations in Pendergrass, Georgia, and Dobson, North Carolina, have been impacted with minor local flooding and road impacts, along with minor damage to poultry houses, but they have been able to continue operations. Other Wayne-Sanderson Farms locations across the southeast were only slightly impacted by localized weather and were not forced to cease or limit operations.
"Wayne-Sanderson Farms is working with local authorities across the company's southeastern U.S. operating area as storm damage repair and assessment continue. There have been no reported employee injuries or fatalities as a result of the storm," he said.
Pilgrim’s Pride
Pilgrim’s Pride reported that it was still evaluating the damage experienced by its growers, adding the company knows "many birds have been lost in some areas and the damage to some farms has been severe."
Two of the company's plants, as of September 30, are in regions where there was no power, "but we expect normal operations when the power resumes," a spokesperson for the company said.
Claxton Poultry
Claxton Poultry in Claxton, Georgia, announced on its Facebook page that plant operations were halted on September 27-28, but advised that power was restored to the plant on September 29, with operations resuming on the following day.
Aviagen
Aviagen’s parent stock hatchery in Quitman, Georgia, was in Helene’s path, and experienced a loss of electricity.
However, a company spokeswoman said that operations have continued because generators and “enough employees “have made it to keep everything going.”
She reported that no employees were injured.
Butterball
North Carolina-based Butterball did not appear to have any facilities or team members directly impacted, a company spokeswoman said. However, the company is well aware of the trauma it has caused others in the state.
Butterball is coordinating efforts with Operation BBQ Relief to get food to the devastated areas and will be doing an American Red Cross drive at its headquarters in Garner this week.
