WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is pushing back on reports that New World screwworm has been found within a mile of the U.S. border.
During a call with reporters this week, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said misinformation surrounding the situation creates unnecessary concern and emphasized the department’s commitment to providing accurate information.
“When that false information gets out, it causes significant panic, rightly so, especially if it’s coming from elected officials, from media,” Rollins said. “So, in an effort to get information out, to be as transparent as possible, to make sure that everyone who’s tracking this and who wants to track it has access to every single thing that we know.”
Rollins said the New World screwworm was recently found in a goat within 25 miles of the U.S. border.
She also announced that the USDA will hold weekly media calls to provide updates and ensure the latest information is being shared.
Later today, Rollins is expected to meet with producers in Virginia alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy and USDA Nutrition Advisor Dr. Ben Carson. The group will participate in a roundtable discussion focused on ways the USDA is working to support smaller farming operations.
Meanwhile, lawmakers continue emphasizing the need to pass a new Farm Bill.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley told reporters this week that Congress must move the legislation forward, whether through a Senate proposal or by working from the House version.
“All I can tell you is it’s very necessary to get done. The Chairman of the Committee wants to get it done. I want to get it done. I don’t know anybody on the Ag Committee that doesn’t want to get it done. We just got to get a bill put together and get it out of the Ag Committee, or we got the option of working on the House Bill. I think Boozman would like to have his own bill. I don’t argue with him on that point of view. I might disagree with him on what he wants to include or not include, but I compliment him on wanting to move a separate Senate bill because that’s traditionally the way it’s done.”
RFD News recently spoke with Senator Jerry Moran, who said he expects bipartisan support for the legislation and believes a farm bill could reach the president’s desk later this year.
For more information about New World Screwworm and biosecurity protocol from the USDA, visit: www.screwworm.gov
