The company is shifting the plant's production focus from whole chickens to cut-up chickens as it deals with high costs and an increasingly competitive marketplace, plant manager Danny Sutton is quoted as saying.

"It's not easy to discontinue someone's job," he said in a statement. "However, we believe the change in our operation is needed to ensure our long-term success in Harrisonburg."

The plant's remaining 375 workers will work at reduced hours in 2009, the statement said.

Meanwhile, Tyson is helping affected employees file for unemployment benefits and making available continued health care coverage.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.