The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced $35 million available in response to the growing threat that feral swine have on American agriculture landscapes and human and livestock health. According to a press release by the USDA, quote, this partnership opportunity is part of a broader $105 million investment for the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, where USDA’s …
USDA’s Approach to NWS Eradication
The battle against the new world screwworm isn’t being fought with insecticides or fences. Instead, USDA is deploying an unusual weapon, millions of sterile flies. It sounds like science fiction, but it’s a proven strategy called the sterile insect technique or SIT. The idea is simple. Scientists raise screwworm flies in specialized facilities and expose them to gamma radiation, making …
NCBA President Shares Thoughts on Upcoming Meeting and NWS
At the recent Florida Cattlemen’s Association Convention, Southeast AgNet was able to catch up with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President, Gene Copenhaver. Copenhaver commented on the upcoming NCBA meeting. Here is what Copenhaver had to say. “Our summer business meeting is July 12th through the 14th and at that meeting it’s not as quite as big as our cattle …
Current Status on New World Screwworm
This week the USDA’s official NWS X account, New World Screwworm Rapid Response, made a post describing the progress in eradicating NWS. The post includes several bullet points detailing strategies being taken to combat NWS. The post reads, “ Audio Reporting by Elizabeth Sanders for Southeast AgNet. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding …
Hassey Brooks Comments on ADA Response to NWS in US
At the recent Alabama Agribusiness Council annual meeting, Southeast AgNet had the opportunity to sit down with Hassey Brooks, Alabama Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner. Brooks discussed how Alabama is responding to the Texas New World screwworm detection saying, “Well we’re in a great position with our leadership at the department with Commissioner Payton and also to Dr. Tony Frazier.” …
Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm Overview
With the detection of New World Screwworm now in the United States, we sat down with Dr. Edwin Burgess, Assistant Professor of Veterinarian Entomology at the University of Florida, a Florida Cattle Enhancement Board awarded researcher, to learn more about the New World Screwworm. “So New World Screwworm is a fly. It is a shiny green fly, very closely related …
Secretary Brooke Rollins Speaks at Texas Town Hall Meeting on NWS
In a recent post on X, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins reflected on a Gillespie County, Texas town hall meeting focused on protecting America’s livestock with an emphasis on NWS protection. Over 1,000 ranchers and key partners were in attendance. Rollins said on the post “We discussed our combined unprecedented response, our investments in surveillance and preparedness, and the historic …
USDA Announces Funding for 40 Break Through Projects to Combat NWS
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced funding for the 40 Breakthrough projects in an effort to defend against New World Screwworm. Through the program proposals will receive a combined total of $105 million. According to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website this funding will be used “to sharpen detection, accelerate control and eradication tools, and strengthen …
Secretary Rollins Provides Update on NWS Efforts From Infested Zone in Texas
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins was in one of the New World Screwworm infested zones last week and provided an update on the efforts so far to address this pest. “Continue to note that our food supply is completely safe. There’s no compromising of that. Our great American beef, this is an issue. It is a pest that we will continue …
Trump Appoints Senior Advisor for New World Screwworm Preparedness
President Donald Trump has appointed a new Senior Advisor for New World Screwworm Preparedness. John Bellinger has been appointed in this role and according to USDA, “will integrate into USDA’s team to help further drive its robust effort to explore all available technologies to combat the New World Screwworm.” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said, “I want to thank …








