Key facts
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed two infestations of New World screwworm in Texas, the first cases since the 1970s.
- Mexican beef producers are experiencing a boom due to a border closure implemented to prevent the spread of screwworm.
- Texas feedlots are facing challenges due to a lack of Mexican cattle supply, which previously formed a significant portion of their business.
- Ranchers express distrust in the USDA's response, citing concerns about its speed and transparency.
- The last screwworm outbreak in the U.S. took 30 years for the cattle industry to recover.
- Some ranchers are considering privately funded solutions, such as building their own sterile fly production plants.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed two cases of New World screwworm in South Texas, marking the pest's return to the United States for the first time since the 1970s. This development has created a significant economic divide: Mexican beef producers are experiencing a boom due to a border closure aimed at preventing the screwworm's spread, while Texas feedlots face gloom and potential closure due to a scarcity of Mexican cattle.
Ranchers in South Texas, many of whom have childhood memories of screwworm outbreaks, are expressing a deep-seated distrust in the USDA's response. They cite concerns about the agency's preparedness, transparency, and the pace of its containment efforts, including the deployment of sterile flies. Some ranchers are exploring private funding for sterile fly production facilities, estimating a startup cost of approximately $4 million, as current production is deemed insufficient.
Screwworms are parasitic flies that lay eggs in wounds on warm-blooded animals. The larvae consume living flesh, and if untreated, can be fatal. While they pose no threat to food safety and rarely affect humans, their re-establishment in the U.S. could lead to substantial economic damage, estimated at $1.8 billion for Texas alone, and devastate wildlife. The last eradication effort took 30 years for the cattle industry to recover.
USDA officials maintain they have been working diligently with state and local partners, and ranchers on the ground, refuting claims of a lack of transparency. However, ranchers like Susan Storey and John Paul Schuster feel the federal response is too slow and impractical for large-scale operations, especially given labor shortages. They are concerned about the financial implications for their livelihoods and the future of the ranching industry, with Schuster stating that if not controlled within two years and eradicated in five, his county could be devastated.
Despite the widespread concern, some ranchers, like Monty Martin, urge against politicizing the issue and express admiration for the frontline workers. The USDA and Texas Animal Health Commission have established quarantine zones and checkpoints, but the responsibility for spotting new infestations largely falls on ranchers themselves, who are increasing their vigilance in monitoring their herds.