Montana Farm Bureau comments on New World Screwworm in Texas

Bozeman, Montana-The news that the New World Screwworm (NWS) has been found in the United States, namely Texas, is concerning, but with work from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and awareness among area ranchers, surveillance and prompt treatment can make a positive difference.

"We've been watching this fly make its way north from southern Mexico for the past year and a half. First, we want people to know that this in no way affects the safety of our food supply. There are many steps in place to keep our meat safe," said MFBF Vice President Casey Mott, a cattle rancher from Miles City.

Mott said it is important to realize that the screwworm emergence happened in the 1950s before it was eradicated in 1966.

"My father grew up cowboying in west Texas in the 1950s, and one of the cowboy crew's duties was roping and doctoring cattle with screwworm," Mott shared. "Fortunately, there are more effective and safer products available now to treat animals with screwworms. Although we are fortunate enough in Montana not to have ever had this detrimental parasite, it is always wise for livestock owners to remain vigilant and regularly check their animals for any health concerns."

Mott pointed out that in the 1960s, the U.S. Department of Agriculture began breeding sterile flies that eradicated the screwworm. Currently, sterile flies are being bred at a facility in Panama that produces 100 million sterile flies each week. A facility in Mexico is currently under renovation to produce 60-100 million sterile flies per week, with a facility at the Moore Air Base in Texas to be online in November 2027, producing 300 million per week.

"This is something the Southwest faced before and handled, and they can certainly do it again, with help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the diligence of livestock owners," said Mott.

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall added, "We encourage farmers, ranchers and pet owners in the affected area and beyond to familiarize themselves with the signs of NWS and notify a veterinarian if infection is suspected."

Duvall reiterated that this re-emergence does not threaten the safety of the food supply. "We are fortunate to have one of the safest food supplies in the world, which includes multiple layers of protection," Duvall said.

"We knew the screwworm could one day migrate north, and we appreciate USDA and Secretary Rollins for the coordination and mitigation efforts that have already occurred. Farm Bureau is committed to working with USDA and the affected areas in any way to eliminate this pest once again from the U.S."