Perdue Farms is set to lay off nearly 300 workers at its Indiana turkey plant due to production adjustments caused by bird flu and changing consumer preferences towards other meats. The elimination of the second shift at the Washington facility will occur on October 10. A company spokesperson indicated that this shift reduction is necessary for operational efficiency, as both consumer demand has declined and turkey production is expected to fall below 5 billion pounds by 2025. The broader industry has also seen plant closures to align supply with production needs.