USDA confirms reports of New World Screwworm in the U.S. are false

beef cattle.jpg

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.

SPLITT AND SCREWWORM.mp4

“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.

Related Stories
Recent USDA export sales data show China has been active in the U.S. market, but analysts tell RFD-TV News that the timing is a key clue.
Tight feeder supplies and lower placements indicate continued support for the cattle market, with regional impacts heightened in Texas by reduced feeder imports.
Farm Journal Foundation Senior Policy Adviser Dr. Stephanie Mercier outlines new research on the top sixteen biosecurity threats in agriculture/
Cattle imports from Mexico remain stalled amid the New World screwworm outbreak. At the same time, Tyson closures add pressure on Nebraska producers and markets ahead of the USDA’s upcoming Cattle on Feed Report.
Texas livestock producers face a heightened biosecurity threat as New World screwworm detections in northern Mexico coincide with FDA approval of the first topical treatment.
Cargill’s commitment to keep plants open helps preserve competition as Tyson removes capacity amid historically tight cattle supplies.
Screwworm.gov has targeted resources for a wide range of stakeholders, including livestock producers, veterinarians, animal health officials, wildlife professionals, healthcare providers, pet owners, researchers, drug manufacturers, and the general public.
Expanded aerial capacity strengthens the U.S.–Mexico buffer against screwworm, providing cattle producers with stronger protection heading into winter and reducing risk to herds along the southern tier.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Lewis Williamson of HTS Commodities joined us with an update on the historic winter storm impacts and his outlook on today’s ag markets.
Marilyn Schlake with the UNL Department of Agricultural Economics joined us for a closer look at the evolving role of livestock sale barns.
RFD NEWS correspondent Frank McCaffrey recently spoke with Dr. Mike Vickers, a South Texas rancher, who says illegal border crossings have dramatically declined in the last year.
Auction manager and West Texas A&M University student Presley Graves joined us to discuss the growth of StockShowAuctions.com and its impact on youth in agriculture.
Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening joined us with the latest update on storm conditions and impacts across the state.
Mike Knotts with the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association joined us with the latest on storm impacts, power restoration, and safety considerations following the ice storm.
Agriculture Shows
The goal of “Where the Food Comes From” is as simple as its name implies — host Chip Carter takes you along on the journey of where our food comes from — and we don’t just mean to the supermarket (though that’s part of the big picture!). But beyond where it comes from, how it gets there, and all the links in the chain that make that happen.
Join markets specialist Scott Shellady, better known as the Cow Guy, as he covers the market-close, breaking down headlines that drive the commodities and equities markets with commentary from respected industry heavyweights.
Crop yield champions David Hula from Virginia and Randy Dowdy from Georgia are back for another season with the aim of schooling more growers across the country in their winning ways.
“Texas Agriculture Matters” is a fun, informative look at the role of agriculture in our daily lives. The show utilizes the trademark wit and wisdom of its host Commissioner Sid Miller — an 8th-generation farmer-rancher and 12-time World Champion rodeo cowboy — to explore a new Texas ag-related topic each week.