Trimming turkeys.

• Position: Eastern

Though Tar Heel turkey production isn't going cold, closing House of Raeford Farms Inc.'s processing plant in Raeford and hatchery in Rose Hill will hurt one of the state's most valuable agricultural commodities. Only Minnesota produced more turkeys in 2011 than North Carolina, which had cash receipts of nearly $772.6 million. "We could drop to three [behind] Arkansas," says Jesse Grimes, an N.C. State University poultry-science professor and turkey specialist. Two plants will remain in the state, Garner-based Butterball LLC's in Mount Olive and St. Pauls-based Prestage Foods Inc.'s in its hometown. But the decision, announced in March, will have significant impact in and around Raeford--the 950 jobs lost equal 4.2% of Hoke County's workforce. Across the region, 140 turkey farmers will lose contracts.

House of Raeford will still employ 400 workers at a different plant in Raeford and about 2,300 total in North Carolina. Several companies are looking to move into the county's industrial park; most of the proposed projects would be good fits for the soon-to-be displaced workers, says Don Porter, executive director for the Raeford-Hoke Economic Development Commission. House of Raeford, the nation's ninth-largest turkey producer in 2011, according to Watt Poultry USA magazine, cited rising corn prices and flat consumption for its decision. It will focus on expanding its chicken production as well as its cooked chicken and turkey products. "Those higher feed prices are definitely having an effect," Grimes...