Another sign of the times ... world's largest poultry processor shuts down.

[lpbk2713]

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=axGaGV2QF_BM&refer=home


Another victim of the BushCo economy, 1,100 jobs lost. Seems to me if the largest processor goes down then the rest will have trouble staying solvent. And the price of poultry will have to increase that much more just for them to stay afloat.



"Our company and industry are struggling to cope with unprecedented increases in feed-ingredient costs this year due largely to the U.S. government's ill-advised policy of providing generous federal subsidies to corn-based ethanol blenders," Chief Executive Officer J. Clint Rivers said in the statement.

"Based on current commodity futures markets, our company's total costs for corn and soybean meal to feed our flocks in fiscal 2008 would be more than $1.3 billion higher than what they were two years ago," Rivers said.

The company's "press release is a political statement more than anything," said Moskow, who rates Pilgrim Pride's shares "neutral". It puts the job losses "on the shoulders of misguided public policy on biofuels expansion. Other processors are likely to follow with temporary shutdowns of their own."

The company's plant in Siler City employs about 830 people. Pilgrim's Pride will shut distribution centers in Oskaloosa, Iowa; Plant City and Pompano Beach, Florida; Jackson, Mississippi; Nashville, Tennessee; and Cincinnati.


I don't think Pilgrim's Pride will be donating to any GOP campaign coffers
any time soon, and not just because they don't have any money.

[LostinVA]

1. While I recognize this is bad for the economy -- I can't feel too bad about a factory farm closing

[havocmom]

2. One wonders at the impact of increased scrutiny on waste disposal

and ground water contamination on the closings. Sure seems giant corporation just don't want to deal with REGULATIONS. They blame worker costs and materials costs, but they sure try to duck out of the costs of doing business in manners which are responsive and responsible to the rest of society.

[LostinVA]

3. These things are horrible for the environment

Horrible for the animals and very dangerous to the workers.

I eat meat, but I make sure to at least buy organic.

[havocmom]

4. Yep. They don't want to spend the $$ to do things well

Greed makes the world go 'round... and 'round and 'round until it reaches the sewer.

[Wcross]

9. The barns aren't too environmentally damaging- they "recycle" the waste.

Seriously. The waste is prized around here for fertilizer. Farmers routinely spread it on hayfield's.

On edit- Yes, when you have high concentrations of barns it is damaging. Around my area they are spread out fairly well & so far pollution isn't an issue. I live within a mile of some barns with no ill effects.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Yep. I share the same emotions. Cannot feel too bad about a factory farm shutting down.

The pollution that results and the cruelty that goes on in those places is beyond description.Perhpas this will give more of a chance to some local small farmers in the areas that are closing down.

How poultry producers are ravaging the rural South.
http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/02/21/parker/

A person driving through the South might notice the chicken houses dotting the hills and flatlands. He might marvel at the larger ones, as long as a football field. He might react to their gagging stench for a moment, and then forget as he travels on. But those who live near the structures -- stuffed with as many as 25,000 chickens each -- combat the odor and health hazards daily.


Not yer pappy's chicken coop.
Photo: USDA."There's a horrible odor, a stench, and I have flies and rodents digging in, trying to get into my house," says Bernadine Edwards, whose 39-acre farm near Owensboro, Ky., is surrounded by 108 chicken houses within a two-mile radius. "It is unbelievable."

The 65-year-old school bus driver, who recently bought a purifier to help her breathe easier in her home, says the value of her property has plummeted since the chicken houses arrived in the early 1990s. "I'm too old to start over," she says. "I can't afford to. My house is paid for."

<snip>

http://www.sierraclub.org/factoryfarms/

America's drinking water, rivers and lakes are at risk from giant, corporate-owned factory farms. Animal feeding operations, many of which confine thousands of animals in facilities, produce staggering amounts of animal waste -- 500 million tons per year. Too often, this waste leaks into our rivers and streams, fouling our air, contaminating our drinking water and spreading disease. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, hog, chicken and cattle waste has polluted 35,000 miles of rivers in 22 states and contaminated groundwater in 17 states.
<snip>

[iris5426]

8. Yes my reaction exactly nt

[NCarolinawoman]

13. I feel the same way.

Bad for the environment. Bad for the birds and animals involved.

This kind of thing might help the small farmers, who let their chickens eat off the land, to some extent. Also, small farmers quite often grow their own animal feed.

The price of chicken will go up, but then, maybe it should.

[dembotoz]

5. should not be a problem for the fast food industry.

after all, what really is in a Mc Nugget?

[Wcross]

6. I wonder how many of their contract farmers are now bankrupt?

The way the industry works they have contract farmers for their birds. Two barns around here with a tyson contract go for 2-3 hundred thousand dollars. Without the processor the barns are useless. This is bad news for those farmers.

[catnhatnh]

10. If you read the story.....

...they are closing only 1 plant that produces 1.5% of their product.That said, the closing will decimate the local economy....

[Wcross]

11. Now the poor will no longer be able to afford chicken.

Most poor folks can't afford "free range organic chickens". Now that beef is beyond their reach & chicken seems to be headed that way what are they to do for protein? Not a good thing for our working poor.

[BonnieJW]

16. Beans and rice.

There are so many things people can eat for protien that doesn't require meat. Just chicken wings and make soup. Just beef bones and make soup. Lots of vegetables. They'll probably be much healthier.

[RebelOne]

17. Beans have plenty of protein and dried beans are cheap.

I am a vegetarian, and I do not lack protein in my food. Plus, I take a Vitamin B-12 supplement.

[LeftHander]

12. Chicken coop in the backyard still legal in many midwest cities....

You can keep to a dozen of so chickens for eggs and fresh meat.

They are not the difficult. Toss some feed, water, keep them penned in away from cats and rotten chicken eatin' dogs....

[LostinVA]

15. Our landlord keeps a chicken coop in our backyard

We live in the suburbs, but it's a 20 acre lot.

I have no clue what kind of chickens they are, but they're almost the size of turkeys.

[LeftinOH]

14. No problem- surely there are cheap poultry mills in China

:sarcasm:

[LondonReign2]

18. Actually, Bo Pilgrim

the founder of Pilgrim's Pride, is a *HUGE* Bush backer. I glad to see Bush's ability to turn EVERYTHING to shit has hit that fucker too.