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.
Top issues facing the beef industry took center stage at CattleCon this year in Nashville.
February 06, 2026 04:58 PM
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.
February 06, 2026 12:07 PM
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HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy calls on cattle producers to retain breeding cows while Ivomec receives emergency authorization to prevent New World screwworm.
February 06, 2026 11:48 AM
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Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller discusses the state’s latest efforts to prevent the New World screwworm from reaching Texas.
February 02, 2026 12:22 PM
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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.
January 29, 2026 12:44 PM
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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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