Iowa Department of Agriculture kills 1.3 million chickens after processing plant closes

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa Department of Agriculture has spent the last nine days culling more than 1.3 million healthy chickens, a move it did in part to save taxpayer money.

The Agriculture Ministry said in a statement that depopulation was a last resort.

The fate of the chickens was in the state's hands after Pure Prairie Poultry, a chicken processor in Charles City, abruptly closed earlier this month.

When Pure Prairie Poultry closed, 13 farms with 1.3 million chickens suddenly had no chicken processor to send their chickens to.

The Department of Agriculture began caring for these chickens while also looking for a new processor to sell them to. In a news release, the department said it found a processor for the chickens, but the buyer ultimately backed out of the deal.

The ministry said it couldn't find other processors, so an emergency court granted it permission to kill the chickens to reduce the rising cost of raising animals.

The farms now use composting to dispose of the birds.

Farmers affected by Pure Prairie Poultry's closure say they face financial losses of more than $100,000.

The AG Department says it will work to recoup taxpayers' costs.

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