WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), along with Reps. Brad Finstad (MN-01) and Randy Feenstra (IA-04), penned a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack following Pure Prairie Poultry’s (PPP) bankruptcy that resulted in nearly 50 farmers and more than two million chickens throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa being left without feed or processing options. In the letter, the Members highlight the lack of oversight and accountability by USDA and request answers from the agency on their loan and grant processes, as well as their knowledge of Pure Prairie Poultry’s bankruptcy filing.
“Many of our poultry farmers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa were left in the lurch by the USDA’s absence of oversight and accountability of Pure Prairie Poultry,” said Rep. Van Orden. “The USDA will answer for the $45.6 million in loans and grants given to Pure Prairie Poultry, and PPP will answer for what they did with that money before they stiffed our farmers. I am so thankful for our farmers and how they put the welfare of their flocks first and am proud to advocate for them on the House Agriculture Committee.”
Joining Reps. Van Orden, Finstad, and Feenstra on the letter are: Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR), Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson (PA-15), Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02), and Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (R-MN).
To read the full letter, click here or scroll below.