Iowa Ag Department To Take Care, Custody, Control Over 1.3 Million Pure Prairie Poultry Chickens
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has been granted an emergency court order to take immediate care, custody and control of approximately 1.3 million broiler chickens owned by Pure Prairie Poultry.
Information forwarded to KCHA/KCZE by District 58 State Representative Charles Thomson, reads that, on Monday (09.30), Pure Prairie Poultry notified the state ag officials that, due to the company’s financial position, they were unable to purchase feed for the chickens on 14 Iowa farms the Charles City chicken processing plant contracts with to grow broilers.
Upon notification, the Ag Department 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, under its authority in Iowa Code Chapter 717, was granted an emergency court order to take care, custody, and control of the birds and they are coordinating with farmers.
Thomson says the Ag Department has a fund for such emergency operations, but they will seek reimbursement of the taxpayers’ costs from responsible parties, including through possible legal remedies.
The Ag Department has also notified relevant local law enforcement of the situation.
