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Chinn: NWS investment is good, more info needed from USDA

The Missouri Ag Director says USDA’s investment in a domestic sterile fly production facility in Texas is good news in the fight against New World screwworm.

Chris Chinn tells Brownfield “they’re going to produce three million flies each week there. We welcome that news. I know cattle men and women were relieved to hear that news.”

Chinn says more details are needed from the USDA on when and how fast the facility will be built, which will complement a dispersal facility expected to come online later this year.

While the pest hasn’t been confirmed in the United States yet, Chinn says it would be great to get an update on the spread of NWS from USDA.

“Secretary Rollins has her hands full right now and she’s still waiting to get her leadership team in place. The under secretaries aren’t there yet and everything is falling on her shoulders. Her deputy secretary is there and he can help, but he hasn’t been there long,” she says. “They have a lot of issues they’re having to deal with.”

The most recent report, released last month, said New World screwworm was within 370 miles of the Texas border. Southern ports remain closed to the import of live cattle from Mexico.

Chinn says New World screwworm education is important.

“I think it’s important to know the warning signs and what to do if you’re concerned. The first course of action is reaching out to your herd veterinarian. Make sure we’re aware at the Department of Agriculture. There are tools that are going to be out there and we’ll need labels approved to treat this if it comes to the United States.”

The Missouri Ag Department is encouraging livestock producers to sign up for a Premise ID to be alerted if there is a disease confirmed in livestock.

Chinn also tells Brownfield a federal investigation continues looking at the false information shared about New World screwworm in Missouri, which moved the cattle markets lower earlier this year. She says federal authorities are aware there’s been false information on the pest coming from Oklahoma and Texas, as well. 

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