BROOKS, Texas (RFD News) — Concern remains high across South Texas as ranchers monitor the spread of New World screwworm, even as confirmed cases remain relatively limited. Some have questioned whether all cases are being reported, but Texas Farm Bureau leaders say producers understand the importance of notifying authorities.
Brian Jones, Texas Farm Bureau State Director for District 13, said reporting suspected cases is critical because it determines where sterile flies are released to combat the pest.
“I believe that as a whole people are reporting because if you go back and look at the testimony of the first guy that found it on his place and the way, you know, he explained that the whole process happened,” Jones said. “And because if it’s not reported on your ranch, then they’re not going to be putting the sterile flies over those ranches. And so that’s the only way to increase their or shift the polygon is to make sure that all the confirmed cases are reported, and that way we start the sterile fly drops over those ranches
While officials continue their response efforts, Jones said producers are especially concerned about the months ahead, when warm weather creates ideal conditions for the pest to spread.
“There’s no doubt that the fly has been moving north, and so through the warm months of July, August, September, that’s prime fly breeding weather,” he said. “So we really need to be vigilant here for the next three to four months, for sure.”
RFD News Correspondent Frank McCaffrey says New World screwworm has become one of the top concerns among agricultural producers in the Rio Grande Valley, largely because of a nearby confirmed case.
According to Jones, the southernmost confirmed case has been reported in neighboring Jim Hogg County, putting ranchers throughout the region on alert.
“I think everybody’s on guard. I think, really, especially all the large producers, we’re still trying to get the word out to a lot of the small producers, maybe the people that just have one or two cows in their backyard or a horse or something like that in their backyard. And they need to be just as vigilant as the large cattle producers do,” Jones said.
State and federal animal health officials continue urging livestock owners to monitor animals closely and report any suspected cases as efforts to contain the pest continue.
Frank McCaffrey reporting for RFD News.
