Hinson, Grassley talk about Pure Prairie Poultry closure’s impact on Charles City

CHARLES CITY — North-central Iowa’s congressional delegation is weighing in on the impact of the closure of Pure Prairie Poultry’s processing plant in Charles City. The closure has impacted poultry farmers in multiple states as the company stopped paying for feed for the birds.

North-central Iowa congresswoman Ashley Hinson says her biggest concern about the closure is the impact it will have on the supply chain.  “This has been a very challenging year on our poultry producers, not to mention all the challenges because of Biden’s economy and ag economy, what we’re seeing there. We’ve seen layoffs and shutdowns here in Iowa, and I think that’s a direct result of economic conditions, and I think that’s a terrible place to be. We need to get the economy back open and working again for everyone and I think this is the latest example of that.”

Hinson says she wants to try to find ways to get plants reopened.   “I look forward to having conversations to continue to help support Iowa jobs and get those plants opening, because as you know, when you talk about the food supply chain,  just because a plant closes doesn’t mean a farmer stops their supply chain and how they’re raising their animals.  I do worry about that and I think that is a valid concern.”

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says despite Pure Prairie Poultry receiving significant federal funding over the years, there’s not much that Congress might be able to do to help producers impacted by the shutdown.   “There’s not a lot of precedent for things that were going to go into bankruptcy, and the bankruptcy court did not allow that to proceed. All I can tell you is that my staff and I are following it closely, and we’ve been in touch with USDA and the Iowa Department of Agriculture. It’s obvious that a lot of jobs and a lot of birds to take care of, and Iowa’s taken over some of that responsibility.”

Grassley says he feels bad for all of those impacted by the plant’s closure. “It’s a hardship for Charles City, it’s a hardship for the jobs involved, and there’s a lot of live birds that have to be taken care of.”

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals earlier this week asked for a criminal investigation into the deaths of thousands of chickens at the plant, as they allege former employees have stated that thousands of chickens were left on transport trailers without food or water for five days outside the company’s plant in September.