The cost is racking up to eradicate and prevent New World Screwworm from entering the U.S.

The fight against New World Screwworm is getting expensive. NCBA says full eradication is costly, which is why prevention is a top priority.

“The dominoes in Central America fell fast, and we saw it from November of last year up and through the winter into the spring, we saw this disease move quickly through Central America into Mexico, and that is why such an urgent concern for the United States now because it is right at our southern neighbor, and we’ve got to make sure we keep it out of the U.S. cattle herd. It is an extremely expensive disease to eradicate once you have it, so prevention is worth everything here,” said Sigrid Johannes of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

One facility producing sterile flies is up and running in Panama. Mexico is currently working on another, with one planned in Texas later this year.

Related Stories
Ranchers have a lot going on at the moment, but some ‘friendly’ news could be coming with this month’s Cattle-on-Feed Report from the USDA.
F-10 Wound Spray can now be used for livestock and other animals as officials monitor the ongoing New World Screwworm outbreak in Mexico.
Jake Charleston of Specialty Risk Insurance offers his perspective on current cattle market conditions and shares advice for producers seeking to stay protected in an uncertain market.
Partnership with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Ensures Engineering Excellence and Operational Effectiveness
Mexican livestock officials are emphasizing surveillance and inspection systems to preserve access to the U.S. cattle export market. Texas’ Bovina Feeders explains the rising stakes as the border stays closed.
Texas lawmakers secure funding for sterile fly production as officials work to stop the New World screwworm from spreading into the U.S. cattle herd.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Kevin Charleston with Specialty Risk Insurance joined us Tuesday to share his perspective on farm safety and risk management during fall harvest.
Theresa Long and Theresa Pittman joined us on behalf of the AgriSafe Network to discuss the health and social issues impacting families in agriculture.
UNL Animal Science Ph.D candidate Anna Kobza joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report to share her agriculture story and tips for other producers hoping to share their ag stories online or with the media.
Herd rebuilding looks slow, keeping cattle prices supported; beef-on-dairy crosses help fill feedlots, while imports temper—but don’t erase—tightness.
China is making strategic moves by purchasing more soybeans from Argentina and may soon follow the EU and reopen its market to Brazilian chicken exports.