Minnesota, Iowa officials scramble to manage over 1 million chickens

Pure Prairie Poultry unable to feed, process broilers due to financial situation.

Krissa Welshans, Livestock Editor

October 9, 2024

2 Min Read
Getty Images

State agriculture officials have been scrambling after growers of over 1 million broiler chickens in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin were left in dire straits when a poultry processor ran out of funds to purchase feed.

Minnesota-based Pure Prairie Poultry filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sept. 20, but the filing was withdrawn last week after it was blocked by a federal judge. The company also recently shuttered processing operations, leaving the growers in the lurch even more.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship (IDALS) was granted an emergency court order last week to take immediate care, custody and control of approximately 1.3 million birds after the poultry processor notified the department that, due to their financial position, they were unable to purchase feed for the chickens located at 14 Iowa farms.

Upon notification, IDALS 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 sought an emergency court order to take care, custody and control of the birds.

Following the issuance of the emergency court order, IDALS has been coordinating with the growers to feed and care for the birds. The department said it will seek reimbursement of the taxpayers’ costs from responsible parties, including through possible legal remedies.

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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture also announced it has been actively involved in the situation, trying to help growers in the state find solutions. In an Oct. 8 statement, the department said many of the broilers in Minnesota were not able to enter the food supply as intended.

“Since the company announced they were closing its Iowa-based processing plant last week and would be unable to process the chickens, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), along with state and federal partners, worked to ensure the chickens were fed and sought a processing solution for the animals. The MDA, farmers, and partners were able process some birds, and that work continues.”

Unfortunately, the department said it will be utilizing emergency resources to ensure the remaining chickens are humanely depopulated.

Some growers even resorted to offering free chickens on Facebook to avoid having to euthanize them. One grower in Minnesota offered 39,000 free chickens on Facebook, and within hours, all the chickens were claimed.

About the Author

Krissa Welshans

Livestock Editor

Krissa Welshans grew up on a crop farm and cow-calf operation in Marlette, Michigan. Welshans earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Michigan State University and master’s degree in public policy from New England College. She and her husband Brock run a show cattle operation in Henrietta, Texas, where they reside with their son, Wynn.

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