The following is the official statement on behalf of Pips 'n Chicks regarding the recent broiler crisis in Wisconsin. Hopefully, this brings clarity to those who helped disperse all of the birds and makes some positive change.
Thank you everyone for your help, support, and work. Let's not end the process here or let it fade away. Whether it be through donating, contacting representatives, working with the WI Farm Bureau, or otherwise. Let's step up and do something to make sure this NEVER happens again.
All the best,
Breanna Patz,
Pips 'n Chicks
If you would like to help with immediate support that goes directly to one of the farmers affected, see their GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/filla-farms?attribution_id=sl:e60d0d1f-b281-453d-9aef-8f88b7b5d5b9
On September 26th, 2024, Pure Prairie Poultry filed for bankruptcy. On September 30th, the CEO contacted the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (WI-DATCP) regarding several of their grower farms in WI, which were no longer able to get feed supplied to an estimated 150,000 chickens within the state. On October 7th, WI DATCP acknowledged the circumstances and "very concerning" animal welfare conditions in some of the barns but stated that they and the USDA were unable to intervene due to a lack of statutory authority to seize the birds without any disease outbreak.
The public was made aware of this issue on October 10th, when growers took desperate measures and started giving away birds to local farmers and home butchers without any state or federal help. It is due to the ingenuity of the farmers, growers, and connection of small-town families that an estimated 150,000-170,000 of these birds were able to be distributed appropriately and processed humanely.
It is deeply troubling that both DATCP and the USDA were aware of these issues as early as September 30th, but couldn't do anything to ensure the welfare of these birds for over two weeks. The suffering of these animals, including reports of cannibalism and starvation in some of the flocks, could have been avoided. Minnesota and Iowa, when faced with the same challenge, saw their state agricultural departments step in to support the farmers and growers. Wisconsin, by contrast, had to stand by and allow the ethical and economic nightmare to unfold, without even an official statement or press release.
We need to hold Pure Prairie Poultry responsible for disregarding the growers and the welfare of their animals. Bankruptcy was filed when birds were halfway through their growth cycle. Had proper precautions been taken prior to filing, this growth cycle would have been terminated long before birds were hatched. Moreover, the USDA and Wisconsin DATCP must recognize this failure to take any action during a crisis, and work for reform. These growers and farmers were abandoned by the government tasked with protecting them and the well-being of their animals.
We need to create change in Wisconsin to ensure that when things like this happen, the government must do everything possible to help our farmers. Whether that be through feed supply in times of crisis, animal redistribution in situations like this, or even heading efforts to connect farmers with transporters and suppliers and keeping the public informed as to the situation - any action, in this case, would have been better than no action that happened. Please, contact every single one of your district and state representatives, as well as the federal congressmen and senators, to make immediate legislative reform that requires state and federal agencies like the USDA and WI DATCP to intervene in cases like this. We cannot allow extreme bureaucracy to stand in the way of basic farm support.
List of Appropriate People to Contact:
- Governor Tony Evers:
Phone: (608) 266-1212
- Senator Tammy Baldwin
Phone: (202) 224-5653
- Senator Ron Johnson
Phone: (202) 224-5323
- Representative Bryan Steil (WI-01)
Phone: (202) 225-3031
- Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02)
Phone: (202) 225-2906
- Representative Gwen Moore (WI-04)
Phone: (202) 225-4572
- Representative Tom Tiffany (WI-07)
Phone: (202) 225-3365
TEMPLATE LETTER:
Dear [Representative Name],
I’m writing about the recent poultry crisis in Wisconsin caused by Pure Prairie Poultry, where chicken farmers were left stranded. Despite knowing about the problem, neither the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) nor the USDA took action to help over 150,000 chickens. [If you picked up animals, talk about what you saw or did].
This situation has hurt both the animals and the farmers, and it could have been avoided. [You can talk about how you were able to help or what you thought here]. Other states, like Minnesota and Iowa, were able to step in and help their farmers, but Wisconsin did nothing because of legal limitations on DATCP.
I’m asking you to support or introduce laws that will make sure agencies like the DATCP and USDA can act when situations like this happen again. Farmers should not be left on their own in a crisis like this, and there needs to be more protection for these animals and the growers, as well as repercussions for the poultry companies leaving them in these situations.
Please let me know what you plan to do to help make sure this never happens again in Wisconsin.
Sincerely,
[Your Name and Contact Info]
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