Some poultry producers across the upper Midwest are facing a new challenge in the last couple of days. Producers in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, which are partnered with Pure Prairie Poultry, Inc., are facing issues with getting feed for their animals. This is just the more glaring symptom of the bigger problem.
Fairfax, Minnesota-based Pure Prairie Poultry has filed for bankruptcy and is unable to get any debt security that would allow them to provide feed to producers. The company operates a processing facility in Charles Center and contracts with several area producers. The debt has prevented them from paying for the feed from local feed mills, and therefore they couldn’t provide any more feed.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) said in a statement:
“On Monday, September 30, Pure Prairie Poultry, Inc. notified the Department that, due to their financial position, they were unable to purchase feed for these chickens located at 14 Iowa farms.
“Upon notification, the 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, sought an emergency court order to take care, custody, and control of the birds.
“Following the issuance of the emergency court order, the Department is now coordinating with the farmers to provide feed and care for the birds.
“The Department will seek reimbursement of the taxpayers’ costs from responsible parties, including possible legal remedies. The Department has also notified relevant local law enforcement of the situation.”
While Minnesota and Iowa are taking steps for the welfare of the animals, Wisconsin farmers are in a bad spot. Many producers are also waiting to get paid. Wisconsin producer Terry Filla says that his 85,000 birds have been without feed for nine days, and he doesn’t know where to turn.
Filla says that after the company promised to get feed and collect the birds, nothing happened. Filla believes this is because they notified the media and PETA.
Filla is trying to give away chickens. He also reached out to the Wisconsin state veterinarian about humanly euthanizing the birds to prevent any more suffering, and the state has refused. Filla said that the state didn’t start to give them any kind of attention until PETA started to pressure them. But, Filla adds that anything the state is doing to help in this situation is “too little too late.”
In Iowa’s situation, IDALS is using its authority to try and prevent a bad situation from getting worse. Because this is an ongoing legal matter, IDALS is not making any comment aside from their official statement.
Filla says he’s frustrated because he cannot find any help. He was even asked why he just didn’t buy the feed himself. This began to shine a light on the fact that Pure Prairie wasn’t paying their producers for the past several months. Filla says that the USDA should be able to step in and assist the producers at least to get feed.
This is an ongoing situation and is still developing. We will have more comments from producer Terry Filla on Weekend Ag Matters.
