SOUTH TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — Concern is growing in South Texas after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that larvae found on a horse in Florida tested positive for the New World screwworm. The equine originated from Argentina, and the discovery has captured the attention of Texas leaders and the agricultural community.
At England Cattle Co. in Mercedes, Texas, crews are closely monitoring the New World screwworm, which is believed to be south of the Texas border in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. RFD NEWS correspondent Frank McCaffrey spoke with South Texas cattlemen Benton England about the threat posed by the flesh-eating pest.
“It seems like they’ve reassessed the situation and kind of putting up the sterile flies in different locations here along the northern portion of the border where it’s at,” England said.
Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX), who sits on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, spoke exclusively with RFD NEWS about what Congress is doing to address screwworm concerns, including funding for a sterile fly production facility in Mexico.
“Well, first of all, we’ve appropriated $106 million and another $5 million in this current appropriation bill,” said Rep. Cuellar (TX-28). “So the money’s there to do that facility. They got to move a little faster. Money’s there to help Mexico and Panama. So the more we stop the screwworm from coming into the U.S., the better it is.”
Cuellar says continued coordination is key.
“We got to make sure that our USDA is coordinating, which I think they are, with the Mexicans so they can stop the screw worm from coming in,” he said.
Another Texas leader raising alarms is U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who says agriculture and livestock are core parts of the Texas economy that feed both America and the world. In a statement to RFD NEWS, Cruz said he is working daily with Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins, Texas authorities, and colleagues in Congress to safeguard Texas from threats, including the New World screwworm, and to push Mexico to implement its eradication commitments.
Cruz added that he has introduced legislation called the Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms, or “STOP Screwworms Act,” which he says will advance those efforts.
Back on the ground, Benton England believes the screwworm could cause widespread damage if it spreads.
“The bigger ranches that don’t see their cattle every day or can’t monitor those cattle are going to have losses just because they just can’t manage that like we can as a smaller operator,” said England. “And then I think the deer population in Texas is going to take a massive, massive hit.”
He also outlined the steps his operation, England Cattle Co., is taking now to protect its herd.
“We’ve already gotten some things that we will need to kind of address and fight the situation,” England said. “We brought in some different tools they didn’t have back before, some new sprays, some different things that we can utilize, new types of armors that will be able to protect our cattle.”
For now, the South Texas agricultural community says it will continue preparing and closely watching developments.
Frank McCaffrey reporting for RFD-TV.
