As New World screwworm continues to pose a threat to the U.S. cattle herd and farm economy, American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall sent a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins urging a continued science-based approach to addressing the threat. The letter urges USDA to keep the southern U.S. border closed to cattle imports until it’s clear Mexico is capable of controlling the pest.
The letter states, “Under your leadership, USDA is delivering on its promise to fight the New World screwworm by completing the sterile fly distribution facility in South Texas, leveraging USDA’s ability to connect entrepreneurs and industry leaders with federal dollars to enhance sterile fly production, and developing new and innovative traps, lures, treatments, therapeutics and tools to drive response and preparedness. By trusting the science, USDA can make decisions that ultimately protect the health and economic viability of the U.S. cattle herd.”
“To date, the northernmost active case of NWS is only 70 miles south of the U.S. border with Mexico. This is too close for comfort. USDA’s ability to drop sterile flies in affected areas is
greatly appreciated, as is Mexico’s willingness to participate in controlling this destructive pest. However, given reports that Mexico is dealing with over 600 active cases, Farm Bureau believes that Mexico is unable to effectively control NWS at this time. Given this reality, we respectfully request that USDA take all necessary actions to protect the health and economic viability of the
domestic herd, including keeping the border closed until Mexico can demonstrate that they are
capable of controlling NWS or controlling the movement of this pest to eliminate its threat to
U.S. agriculture.”
The letter acknowledges the economic hardship among those involved in the cattle trade along the southern border, but also the greater consequences that would result from a positive case of NWS in the U.S., which would threaten other livestock and wildlife, as well.
Read the full letter here.
