Sec. Rollins says New World Screwworm is a top priority for USDA

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.

Related Stories
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller discusses the state’s latest efforts to prevent the New World screwworm from reaching Texas.
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.
Marilyn Schlake with the UNL Department of Agricultural Economics joined us for a closer look at the evolving role of livestock sale barns.
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.
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.
Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller joined us to discuss data center expansion, farmland preservation, rural economic impacts, and imminent cattle biosecurity concerns affecting agriculture today.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Students say the program builds confidence, teamwork and a sense of purpose.
Roger McEowen breaks down the EPA’s updated dicamba regulations and shares what farmers need to do to remain compliant under the new rules this growing season.
Jarrod Hardke with the University of Arkansas break down extreme drought conditions, shifting planting decisions, and the impact of rising input costs on Arkansas agriculture this season.
Oklahoma livestock economist Dr. Derrell Peel helps us break down the April Cattle-on-Feed report and what it signals for herd rebuilding, supplies and prices moving forward.
Tariff refunds are underway, potentially returning billions to importers, as agriculture groups push for a larger role in trade policy and investigations.
Patrick De Haan with GasBuddy joined us to discuss diesel price volatility and what farmers can expect as geopolitical tensions continue to impact energy markets.