With more nations now banned from sending cattle to the U.S., ag officials say changes are on the way.
During a lengthy hearing last week before the House Ag Committee, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said the Screwworm is a top priority for the Department. She testified that the last time it hit U.S. herds, it took three decades for the industry to recover, a move she says our nation’s cattle producers cannot afford.
USDA’s APHIS has added El Salvador and Belize to the list of regions affected by New World Screwworm after confirmed outbreaks in both countries. As a result, imports of horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs from these countries into the U.S. are restricted unless the animals are inspected and treated for Screwworm. Secretary Rollins says USDA will be taking more steps in the coming weeks, aimed at a more aggressive approach.
Early indications suggest the U.S. cattle industry may be nearing the end of its liquidation phase. Oklahoma State University livestock economist Dr. Derrell Peel says the industry could be at or near the cyclical low.
January 29, 2026 12:44 PM
·
Marilyn Schlake with the UNL Department of Agricultural Economics joined us for a closer look at the evolving role of livestock sale barns.
January 27, 2026 12:19 PM
·
Nearly everyone in the South Texas ag community appears extremely worried about the potential of a New World screwworm epidemic, according to a local veterinarian. RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports.
January 23, 2026 11:56 AM
·
Wayne Cockrell with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association joined us to discuss preparedness, producer awareness, and the industry’s response to New World screwworm concerns.
January 21, 2026 12:00 PM
·
