News

New World screwworm concerns a thousand miles away

The executive director of the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association says the industry continues to monitor the northward movement of New World screwworm.

Kaitlyn Root tells Brownfield the pest has moved within 700 miles of the U.S. – Mexico border.

“And although we are in Minnesota and we feel very far from that Texas border, it is still a little bit nerve-racking for all producers in the U.S.”

She says USDA’s strategy to combat NWS sounds promising.

“Improving surveillance and detection in Mexico, and strengthening our ability to disperse and eventually produce sterile flies in the U.S. They’re really working on enhancing the treatment tools available to producers in the event of an outbreak.”

And Root says the association is very supportive of USDA’s plan to build a New World Screwworm sterile fly facility in South Texas.