(RALEIGH) -- The towns of Mocksville and Siler City are bracing for job losses after the announcement from Townsend chicken that it will close processing plants in those cities. Ken Decker of the state Agriculture Department said many of the farmers are already in debt from building new chicken houses, which could lead to many farmers being in the poor house.

"The nature of any business is in order to stay on top of things investment is required from time to time.  Many of the farmers, even if they weren't building new houses over the years technology improves and in order to be efficient as far as raising the birds and maintaining profitability they are required to do upgrades," said Decker.

A WARN Notice released Friday said 680 workers in Siler City would be laid off between Sept. 27 and Oct. 4. Mocksville town manager Christine Bralley said the closures there will affect 476 employees.