New World Screwworm Threat Extends Beyond Cattle, National Pork Board Warns

Dr. Patrick Webb, Assistant Chief Veterinarian with the National Pork Board, discusses New World Screwworm biosecurity outside of cattle production.

screwworm in us 1280.jpg

NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD News) — As the USDA continues its response to New World screwworm, livestock producers are being reminded to stay vigilant and understand the risks the pest poses to animal health.

Dr. Patrick Webb, Assistant Chief Veterinarian with the National Pork Board, joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report for a closer look at the current situation.

In his conversation with RFD News, Webb discussed the current status of New World screwworm and the potential threat it poses to the U.S. livestock industry.

The discussion also focused on why pork producers should remain alert alongside cattle producers and what steps farmers and ranchers should take following the recent confirmation.

Webb additionally addressed whether New World screwworm could impact livestock transportation and reviewed the procedures producers should follow if they suspect an animal has been exposed.

He also shared the first steps producers should take if they believe they have encountered New World screwworm.

Related Stories
Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins discusses the potential impact of data center growth on farmland, the Landowner Fairness Act, and key priorities for Missouri farmers heading into planting season.
Dr. David Anderson with Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension discusses how geopolitical tensions and the Middle East, along with export disruptions in the Chinese market, will shape cattle markets in the months ahead.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold provides insights on supporting aging populations in rural communities on this week’s Rural Health Matters segment.
OHFB President Bill Patterson shares an update from Washington on the group’s policy priorities and the issues shaping agriculture ahead of the 2026 planting season.

Knoxville native Neal Burnette-Irwin is a graduate from MTSU where he majored in Journalism and Entertainment Studies. He works as a digital content producer with RFD News and is represented by multiple talent agencies in Nashville and Chicago.


LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The dairy industry is encouraged by potential H-2A reforms while supporting renewal of the USMCA.
North Carolina FFA State Officers Rachel Noble and Josiah Saravia join to share more about preparations for the state’s upcoming convention.
University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension is helping ranchers navigate grazing and herd management strategies.
Hildebrandt Family Farms combines multi-generational farming with a hands-on approach to herd management.
Artisan Milling Company has spent nearly two decades producing stone-ground grits.
Many growers are monitoring water allocations as dry conditions continue.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.