(Stephen Ausmus/Agricultural Research Service, USDA)
Northwest Arkansas chicken growers are still cleaning up the mess left after the state euthanized a million chickens late last year.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture helped depopulate the birds at the request of Cooks Venture, a poultry company that abruptly closed in late November due to financial problems.
Three chicken growers told the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Friday that the months-long situation has been fraught with communication issues and broken promises.
Some farmers have yet to receive payment or have the rotting carcasses removed from their property. Cooks Venture had said in letters that it would compensate growers for services already rendered and be responsible for the disposal of the birds .
Cooks Venture did not respond to requests for comment Friday.
Cooks Venture had operations in Arkansas and Oklahoma and sold meat from pasture-raised heirloom chickens, as well as grass-fed beef and lamb, that was flash frozen and delivered in a customizable box to customers’ homes, according to its website .