The cattle markets are rattled after a human case of New World screwworm was confirmed in the United States.
U.S. health officials say it was found in a human returning from an infected area.
The CDC confirms to Reuters that the patient was returning to Maryland from El Salvador.
NCBA says they were made aware of the situation, and says that luckily, no livestock were involved, and they do not expect any risk to the industry at this time.
Less than two weeks ago, USDA announced plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a sterile fly facility at Moore Air Base, which is less than ten miles from the Mexican border. That facility is expected to produce 300 million sterile flies each week.
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Federal and state officials emphasize that surveillance, sterile fly releases, and cooperation with Mexico are vital to stop New World screwworm in the U.S.
Analysts question U.S. cattle herd expansion as a meatpacker class action advances, and the USDA moves forward with reopening Mexican cattle trade to balance biosecurity risks.
Industry leaders say the reopening will provide some relief, but cattle supplies will take time to normalize.
Farm Bureau economist Bern Nelson reviews the latest USDA cattle reports and market trends. Trent Stewart joins us from Superior Livestock’s Video Royale in Winnemucca, Nevada, with a live auction update.
