mou

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 …

rollins

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 …

mou

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 …

New World Screwworm

Additional Detections of New World Screwworm in Texas

Late last week, USDA APHIS announced a second detection of New World Screwworm in Zavala County approximately 5.6 miles from the first confirmed detection, and on Monday, APHIS announced two additional cases, a calf in La Salle County, Texas and a dog in Andrews County, Texas. Currently, epidemiological investigations are ongoing for both cases and according to APHIS, “early reports indicate the …

eradication

Cattle Markets Reacting To NWS Detections

It’s been interesting to watch live cattle and feeder cattle futures reaction to confirmation of a screwworm (NWS) case in Texas last week. A newborn calf in southern Texas, the first confirmed case in the U.S. since 1966. Now, on the surface, one would expect a very negative market reaction, but so far, Trader is looking at further tightening of cattle numbers, lower beef …

fda

Agriculture Leaders Release Statements on NWS

After the recent discovery of New World Screwworm in Texas last week, several agriculture leaders have released statements sharing how they are taking action to combat this livestock industry threat. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson said “We have been working in close coordination with federal, state and industry partners to prepare for the New world screwworm’s arrival in the …

New World Screwworm

USDA Takes Action Against New World Screwworm

A confirmed detection of New World Screwworm was found recently in Zavala County, Texas. In a post on X, Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, said “The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Texas Animal Health officials are taking immediate action to contain and eradicate NWS from the area.” Secretary Rollins also spoke on the measures currently being implemented to exterminate NWS, …

mou

Current Response Actions To Address New World Screwworm

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins provided an update on the New World Screwworm response on Tuesday where she discussed what would happen if a detection were to occur in the United States. “We are preparing to implement the very moment the fly makes it into our country. If we have a domestic detection USDA and relevant state animal health …

new world screwworm

New World Screwworm Detections Inching Closer to US-Mexico Border

New World Screwworm is inching closer to the U.S.-Mexico border with new reported detections over the past week. According to screwworm.gov, the latest detections of screwworm have been reported within 100 miles this past week, with the closest being approximately 31 miles from the border. Generally, the detections have been confirmed affecting cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, and dogs, with all …

Livestock

USDA Opens State-of-the-Art Livestock Insect Lab

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service has opened the Knippling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Kerrville, Texas. In a press release posted by the USDA, the goal of the facility is to “provide the U.S. cattle industry with innovative tools and advanced technologies to manage and eliminate the invasive fly and tick pests that threaten the …