Perdue Farms to Cut Nearly 300 Jobs at Indiana Poultry Plant

Perdue Farms has confirmed plans to eliminate the second shift at its Washington, Indiana, turkey processing facility, a move that will result in the permanent layoff of 293 employees beginning October 10.

The company filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification with federal officials and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, formally notifying workers of their last work date and separation date. According to the filings, affected employees will continue to receive pay and benefits through November 2, provided they are not terminated for cause or leave voluntarily prior to that date.

While the WARN notice did not cite specific causes, Perdue has since pointed to multiple challenges shaping the decision. A company spokesperson told industry publication Meat+Poultry that “changes in consumer demand, decreasing turkey flocks, and how we produce and supply our products have impacted the Washington operations in recent years, making the change to one production shift necessary to achieve operational efficiencies.”

The spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting displaced workers, adding: “A decision like this, affecting our associates, is something we take very seriously. We value the many contributions of our Washington associates.”

The decision reflects broader pressures facing the poultry sector, including high feed costs, shifting global demand, tariffs, and export disruptions that continue to weigh heavily on profitability.

Perdue confirmed that the Washington plant produces turkey products, while stressing that “there would be no impact on the other company’s operations in Indiana, including the feed mill, grain receiving facility, hatchery and breeder operations, along with no closure of farms”

This is not the first major cutback for the company in 2025. Earlier this year, Perdue announced more than 400 layoffs at its Monterey, Tennessee, facility.

“A decision like this, affecting our associates, is something we take very seriously. We value the many contributions of our Washington associates, and we are committed to doing all we can to support impacted associates during this transition,” a Perdue spokesperson told WTHI-TV10.