Palmyra, WI — A major egg supplier in Wisconsin has announced the temporary layoff of approximately 65 employees after an avian flu outbreak forced the company to halt operations at one of its facilities.
In a November 5 letter addressed to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), Daybreak Foods, Inc. confirmed that the layoffs will impact workers at the Cold Spring Farm facility located in Palmyra.
According to the reports, the layoffs are set to begin on or around November 7 and are expected to last between four to six months. The company stated that the reduction in workforce is a temporary measure due to the facility’s limited operations following the outbreak.
Cause: Avian Flu Outbreak Forces Depopulation
Daybreak Foods explained that the layoffs were prompted by a confirmed avian influenza outbreak at the Cold Spring Farm location. The outbreak required the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to order a depopulation of the company’s birds — a process in which all poultry are humanely culled to prevent further spread of the virus.
The company added that depopulation clean-up operations are nearly complete, but the timeline for receiving repopulation approval and fully restoring operations could take several months.
Because of this delay, there will be insufficient work available to support the full staff, leading to the temporary layoffs.
Hope for Recall and Reassignment
Despite the difficult decision, Daybreak Foods expressed optimism that employees will be recalled once the facility resumes normal operations. The company said that, once repopulation begins, it plans to bring back the affected workers as soon as possible.
Additionally, the company noted that it is exploring opportunities to relocate some employees to other Daybreak Foods facilities during the downtime, helping to minimize the impact on workers and their families.
Daybreak Foods’ Response
Daybreak Foods, Inc., which operates multiple egg production facilities across the Midwest, emphasized its commitment to the safety of its workers, animals, and food products.
The company has not released additional details regarding the specific timeline for repopulation or when full production is expected to resume.
Conclusion
The avian flu, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), has impacted numerous poultry farms across the Midwest this year. The virus spreads rapidly among bird populations, and federal guidelines require immediate depopulation when detected to contain the outbreak.
Wisconsin, one of the nation’s top egg-producing states, has seen several outbreaks in recent years, forcing companies to take extensive biosecurity and cleaning measures to prevent recurrence.
Until then, the company will continue monitoring biosecurity measures to ensure a safe restart.
How do you think Wisconsin’s egg industry can recover from repeated avian flu outbreaks? Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below.
