Midwest chicken farmers in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are facing significant challenges after the abrupt closure of Pure Prairie Poultry, which recently filed for bankruptcy. This company, which received a $39 million federal loan to expand its operations, shut down its plant in Charles City, Iowa, halting the supply of chicks and feed critical to farmers. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin expressed urgency regarding the situation, emphasizing the risk of animal welfare crises and the potential spread of bird flu as farmers attempt to give away large numbers of chickens due to a lack of resources. In response, the Iowa Department of Agriculture has taken control of approximately 1.3 million chickens to provide care under a court order while the USDA considers financial assistance for affected farmers.
