CHARLES CITY, Iowa — On Friday the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced that 1.3 million chickens had been depopulated due to the owner of the birds, Pure Prairie Poultry, struggling with financial issues. The company revealed to the State that they didn’t have enough funds to buy feed for the birds being raised on northeast Iowa farms.  

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship(IDALS) stepped in with the courts to take control of the birds and feed them to market maturity. The details leading up to Friday’s announcement were spelled out in a news release which said in part:

In the interim, IDALS  pursued other potential buyers and processors, and even explored whether the broilers could be processed and donated to help Iowans facing food insecurity. However, because of the continuing lien and claim risks combined with the timeliness, logistics and scale required, the Department was unable to find a processor available. After exhaustive efforts, no credible offers or proposals materialized.

The Court reconvened the hearing on October 11 and the Department detailed all the efforts made to secure an offer for the birds. The other parties to the matter were also unable to provide the Court with any offers for the birds. Given the unavailability of buyers and lack of processing capacity combined with the ever-increasing feed and yardage costs, as well as the taxing of Department staff resources managing broilers with no end-market, the Court granted the Department authorization to begin depopulation. 

In accordance with the court order, depopulation commenced on Thursday, October 17, utilizing humane methods and guidelines approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The depopulation was overseen by licensed veterinarians employed by the Department. Depopulation of all Pure Prairie Poultry, Inc. birds located at Iowa farms concluded on Friday, October 25. Each farm is now utilizing composting as the means to dispose of the birds.

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Pure Prairie Poultry recently underwent an expansion project, which was funded with $45.6 million from the USDA. Iowa Ag Secretary released the following statement about the funding on Friday.

“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.”

The Department said it will pursue all avenues, including through legal avenues, to recoup taxpayer costs.

Charles City residents were still talking about the plant closure on Monday.  Some said they suspected something would happen when Pure Prairie Poultry was not paying bills. Residents also noted how the City closed Main Street and a park to make room for the expansion. The plant closed before the road improvement was finished.

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