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(Des Moines, IA) -- The state of Iowa has de-populated more than one million broiler chickens, located at 13 Iowa farms. The chickens had been owned by a Minnesota company (Pure Prairie Poultry) that failed. The state took over care of the chickens temporarily this month and tried to find a buyer, but those plans fell through.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig provided the following statement today regarding the situation involving Pure Prairie Poultry, Inc.:
"This is an incredibly unfortunate situation and raises serious questions about USDA's oversight of taxpayer dollars. Congress should exercise its oversight authority to ensure that something like this does not happen again and that those responsible are held accountable."
Pure Prairie Poultry, Inc notified the Iowa Department of Agriculture September 30th, that due to their financial position, they were unable to purchase feed for approximately 1.3 million broiler chickens located at 13 Iowa farms.
The Department, under its authority in Iowa Code Chapter 717, sought an emergency court order to take over the care, custody and control of the birds located within Iowa.
On October 2, the Department’s emergency petition was granted, which authorized the Department to immediately provide for the feed and care of the birds. A hearing was then scheduled for October 8 in order for the Court to approve a plan for the final disposition of the birds.
Pure Prairie Poultry, Inc. also ceased operations at its Charles City processing plant and laid off its workers. With no processor readily available for the birds, the Department actively pursued numerous other processors and markets, and solicited offers for the purchase of the birds. Due to the structure of the broiler industry, large-scale processors have limited ability to increase their processing capacity utilizing the open market.
The state considered processing the birds for food banks, but ran into issues with timeliness and logistics, so the birds were depopulated. The Iowa Ag Department will now seek to recoup taxpayer costs from the failed company, including thru possible legal remedies.