Earlier today, a local Missouri website briefly posted a report claiming a case of the New World Screwworm was found in the state’s livestock.
Frequent Market Day Report guest Brian Splitt told Markets Specialist Tony St. James about the news and how quickly the markets responded.
“He found on a local website in Missouri that it was posted that there was a screw worm that was found in Missouri, and the market sold off tremendously. We just saw that by the values on the board and how low they went. And then that site scrubbed it and took it off of the website. And then everything really started to recover right after that. So I don’t know if there’s validity to it.”
Moments later, USDA released a statement to RFD-TV confirming the reports are false.
Attributable to a USDA spokesperson:
Reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed the detection of New World screwworm (NWS) in the United States are not true. USDA is working with international partners to prevent NWS incursion into the United States. USDA has suspended imports of live cattle, horses, and bison through southern border ports of entry to prevent further spread of the parasite. Should USDA detect NWS in the United States, we will rapidly respond in coordination with state partners to eliminate it. We will also share information with all stakeholders. Please see USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website for the latest information.
