Tornado

Jan 21 (Reuters) - Pilgrim’s Pride Corp said on Friday it would raise starting wages for workers at its Mayfield, Kentucky, production facility by $2 to $16.50 per hour.

A series of tornado outbreaks across the South and Midwest in mid-December was devastating for states like Kentucky and Tennessee. Individual agricultural companies, as well as groups, continue to pull together to help.

Residents in eight states are still picking up following what’s now been deemed the deadliest December tornado in history. Farmers in Tennessee are humbled by help from friends and strangers.

The devastation created by a rare mid-December tornado is still being assessed. Thousands of structures were demolished in the storms. University of Kentucky’s research station in Princeton was destroyed.

During a rare mid-December tornado outbreak, Mayfield Grain Company in Mayfield, Ky. took a direct hit as portions of the facility were shredded by the powerful storm. Papers from the facility were found 98 miles away.

Tornadoes and high winds swept through Indiana on Wednesday, damaging buildings and crops.