Care, Depopulation of Pure Prairie Poultry Chickens in Iowa Cost State $2.3 Million
It cost the state of Iowa over $2.3 million to care for and, eventually, euthanize some 1.3 million chickens from the closure of Pure Prairie Poultry (PPP) in Charles City last fall.
That’s according to the final report filed Friday (01.17) in Sioux Center District Court by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS). IDALS says costs included over $1.1 million in feed, almost $200,000 in chicken care, and almost $400,000 to dispose of the birds after taking control of the chickens following PPP’s shutdown on October 2nd.
The company had filed for bankruptcy and then said they could not afford to feed the 1.3 million broiler chickens with its Iowa-contracted suppliers. The Ag Department was called in to care for the birds while also hoping to find a buyer for the chickens.
IDALS final report says they had reached an agreement with Tyson’s to purchase the chickens at 50-cents a bird. However, that offer was rescinded on October 7th after creditors objected that the state did not own the birds and, thus, had no right to sell them. IDALS counter those “creditors are wrong” in the face of the emergency response.
After not receiving a sales resolution by October 16th, IDALS began “depopulating” the chickens the following day. By October 25th, that process had concluded.
The IDALS report also notes their frustration in becoming involved with a situation that could have been avoided. Their argument includes claims that creditors’ objections to the original PPP Chapter 11 bankruptcy plans as playing a key role as well as the roadblocks to the sale of the chickens.
IDALS also states rescue of neglected livestock is a last resort and does not want what happened in this case to be repeated.
District Judge Jeffrey Neary has set a deadline of 5 pm, February 10th for parties to file any objections to the IDALS report.
