NCBA is urging Congress to pass the Stop Screwworms Act, warning the devastating pest could make its return to U.S. soils as soon as late summer.
The organization’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs breaks down what the legislation really means.
According to Ethan Lane, “The Stop Screwworms Act is a critical piece of legislation just introduced on Capitol Hill by Tony Gonzalez, Congressman from West Texas, and a host of his delegation— members from the state of Texas, including both Senators, as well as Senators from New Mexico and elsewhere. Really standing up for cattle producers around the country and those that are in the path of this incursion from Mexico by the new world screwworm. This bill allocates $300 million to construct a facility here in the United States to allow us to manufacture the hundreds of millions of sterile, male screwworm flies needed weekly to combat this incursion and push it back down into Mexico, where it’s been since the 1960s.”
Lane says that the legislation is a move in the right direction for this issue.
“This is exactly what we needed in this conversation in Washington, particularly with everything going on right now with reconciliation and all of these different big, beautiful bills happening in Washington,” he adds. “This is an important single piece of legislation that really highlights exactly what’s needed from Congress to combat this threat.”
New world screwworm has been eradicated from the United States for nearly 30 years. It is considered endemic in countries like Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
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
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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
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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
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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.
January 16, 2026 01:28 PM
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January 16, 2026 09:57 AM
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Agronomy experts explain why standing crop residue protects soil and reduces costs for crop growers, while shredding often yields little benefit at higher costs.
January 14, 2026 08:00 AM
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Dr. Rosslyn Biggs with the Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Veterinary Medicine shares insight into biosecurity, preparedness, and animal health concerns facing livestock producers as New World screwworm outbreaks continue in Mexico.
January 07, 2026 12:57 PM
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Roger McEowen with the Washburn University School of Law joined us to provide legal insight and context on these issues facing agriculture. Today, he discusses pesticide litigation.
January 06, 2026 01:39 PM
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New World Screwworm cases in Mexico, including one within 200 miles of the U.S. border, are adding pressure to livestock markets and trade decisions.
January 06, 2026 12:09 PM
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