Despite efforts to find a buyer for some 1.3 million broiler chickens left behind by the closure of Pure Prairie Poultry (PPP) in Charles City, state officials were forced to “depopulate” the birds.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture Land Stewardship says the process to kill off the chickens from 13 Iowa PPP-contracted farms began October 17th and concluded on Friday (10.25). Officials say humane methods and guidelines approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) were utilized and were overseen by licensed veterinarians.
Each farm is now utilizing composting as the means to dispose of the birds.
On September 30th, PPP notified the state that, due to their financial position, they were unable to purchase feed for approximately 1.3 million broiler chickens. October 2nd, an emergency order allowed the Ag Department to take over care, custody and control of the birds within Iowa.
That same day, Pure Prairie also ceased operations at the Charles City processing plant and laid off its workers. With no processor readily available for the birds, the AG Department pursued numerous other processors and markets, and solicited offers for the purchase of the birds.
The Ag Department secured an initial offer to purchase the birds and a tentative agreement for all birds to be processed as they reached market weight, pending court approval. However, citing costs surrounding potential litigation due to the lien claims the buyer backed away from their offer.
During an October 8th hearing, the state was allowed more time to find a resolution. However, exhaustive efforts resulted in no credible offers or proposals. Thus, when the Court reconvened the hearing on October 11th, the Ag Department was authorized to begin euthanizing the birds.
Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig said, “This is an incredibly unfortunate situation and raises serious questions about USDA’s oversight of taxpayer dollars. Congress should exercise its authority to ensure something like this does not happen again and that those responsible are held accountable.”
The Ag Department says they will pursue all available avenues to recoup taxpayer costs from the responsible parties.
*You can read the complete press releases below:
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Provides Update on the Circumstances Involving Pure Prairie Poultry, Inc.
DES MOINES, Iowa (Oct. 25, 2024) – On September 30, Pure Prairie Poultry, Inc. notified the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship that, due to their financial position, they were unable to purchase feed for approximately 1.3 million broiler chickens located at 13 Iowa farms.
Upon notification, the Department coordinated with state and federal agencies, as well as industry partners, to seek a possible solution. With no immediately available solution and citing significant potential animal welfare concerns, 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. Pursuant to Iowa Code, a hearing was then scheduled for October 8 in order for the Court to approve a plan for the final disposition of the birds.
On that same day, October 2, 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 Department was able to secure an initial offer to purchase all 1.3 million birds and had a tentative agreement in place for all birds to be processed as they reached market weight, pending court approval. The Department provided notice to the interested parties of the potential agreement. On October 7, the day before the scheduled hearing, attorneys for some of the other interested parties notified the Department that they would assert their lien rights and security interests in the chickens, including against the buyer’s proceeds from the sale of the post-processed meat. Citing costs surrounding potential litigation due to the lien claims, the buyer backed away from their offer.
During the hearing on October 8, the parties agreed to allow additional time to find a resolution for the birds, with the Court continuing the hearing to October 11.
In the interim, the Department 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. The court required the Department to begin the depopulation process with the largest and least marketable birds in the unlikely event that a credible last-minute market solution could be found for some of the younger broilers. Though the Department believes depopulation should always be a last resort, it provides finality to this unfortunate circumstance, limits the ever-increasing costs to the taxpayers of Iowa and prevents any potential animal welfare issues.
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.
The Department will pursue all available avenues to recoup taxpayer costs from responsible parties, including through possible future legal remedies.
Secretary Naig Issues Statement on the Pure Prairie Poultry Situation
DES MOINES, Iowa (Oct. 25, 2024) – 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.”
