After the sudden closure of Pure Prairie Poultry left many farmers stuck with birds they couldn’t feed, Iowa has now culled approximately 1.3 million chickens after being unable to find a market for the birds. Iowa’s Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship said it euthanized birds between October 17 and October 25 due to the unavailability of buyers, a lack of processing capacity, and the costs to feed and care for the birds.
The state had taken custody of the birds when the Minnesota-based company shut its doors and closed its Iowa processing plant, laying off 138 workers. Iowa had an offer from Tyson Foods to buy the birds for processing when they reached market weight. However, that offer was pulled back at the last minute after creditors threatened to sue for part of Tyson’s profits. State officials received court permission to euthanize the birds on October 11.
Read a full statement from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and more coverage of the Pure Prairie Poultry situation below:
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig Issues Statement on the Pure Prairie Poultry Situation
Van Orden Demands Accountability from USDA Following Pure Prairie Poultry Bankruptcy