Screw worm warning!

[Amos Keeto]

Screw worm Flys are getting near our southern border with Mexico.
They not only affect the livestock industry, they are devastating to wildlife, especially deer!

An old enemy of Texas ranchers is re-emerging — Here’s the plan to stop it

Texas cattle producers say a crisis is coming. Lawmakers say they’re ready to act.

www.khou.com

 

[Hnthrdr]

Just learned about this from my gramps, he ranches northern AZ a told me how his dad and uncle were part of the eradication efforts way back. I guess they used sterile male screw flies and if they found an infected animal they would drop a few hundred thousand of the sterile males in the area and they go to work. Hopefully they keep these things away, super nasty critter and sounds like an awful death…

 

[Phaseolus]

At one time Screwworms had been pushed back as far south as Costa Rica. The US funded the program and we benefited from it.

 

[colelivaditis]

Read about it on WSJ. Nasty creature.

 

[Amos Keeto]

The Mexican cartels along our southern border are charging something like $3500/flight for the helicopters to release the sterile flies in Mexico.
Back in the 50's and 60's, Mexico was tickled to allow those flights for free if it helped beat back the pest.

 

[Hnthrdr]

The Mexican cartels along our southern border are charging something like $3500/flight for the helicopters to release the sterile flies in Mexico.
Back in the 50's and 60's, Mexico was tickled to allow those flights for free if it helped beat back the pest.

They are idiots… but that was already evident

 

[Hopapa]

Good summary on YouTube of the situation for anyone interested:

 

[S-3 ranch]

We battled them when I was a child, all hands on deck during roundup of all the cattle and sheep, purple fly spray and boiling hot oil , twice a year
Dipping all the livestock, couldn’t do anything with the wildlife
Just seeing a few deer was a major event

We got to get those sterile fly factories cranking out soon
So airplanes and ranchers can distribute them,
The whole border will need to be a drop zone , border closed to beef imports
Killing all feral animals ( dogs , cats, horses, donkeys, goats)

 

[TaperPin]

In kindergarten we learned our actions have repercussions, intended and unintended.

Is anyone surprised that we treat Mexico like the enemy this year, wage economic war on them, and for some reason they aren’t thrilled to cooperate with us?

 

[S-3 ranch]

There is some truth to this,BUT Mexico has some major skin in the game
With this
It’s not a political issue but a agricultural problem, plus Mexico has a large multi billion dollar hunting industry to protect, I don’t see how they can refuse to try to eradicate the flys

 

[Trogon]

Meanwhile USDA research on livestock infectious disease is getting axe'd.

 

[S-3 ranch]

Meanwhile USDA research on livestock infectious disease is getting axe'd.

Not really
“”
the New World Screwworm eradication program is not being discontinued.
In fact, the United States and Mexico have recently agreed to resume and strengthen joint efforts to combat the spread of the New World screwworm.
Key Points:

• Renewed Partnership: In April 2025, the U.S. and Mexico reached an agreement to continue their partnership in emergency screwworm eradication efforts.
• Addressing Restrictions: Mexico has committed to lifting restrictions on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) aircraft involved in sterile fly releases and waiving customs duties on eradication equipment.
• Increased Funding: The USDA is investing in upgrading facilities to increase sterile fly production capacity, aiming to double the use of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT).
• Enhanced Surveillance: USDA and Mexican authorities are collaborating to improve surveillance and control measures to prevent further spread of the screwworm.
• Preventing Spread: The goal is to contain and push the screwworm population back into South America, safeguarding the U.S. livestock industry.

“”

 

[Hnthrdr]

In kindergarten we learned our actions have repercussions, intended and unintended.

Is anyone surprised that we treat Mexico like the enemy this year, wage economic war on them, and for some reason they aren’t thrilled to cooperate with us?

Haha if Mexico is too damned stupid to realize that it will starve their own damn people F-em man. They have done nothing but stir shit below us and poison our people with their narco cartel run state. It’s not like they are a great neighbor, they are awful and don’t deserve a fraction of the aid or attention that we give them. If they were some awesome ally I might agree with you but they are a trash neighbor

 

[Hnthrdr]

There is some truth to this,BUT Mexico has some major skin in the game
With this
It’s not a political issue but a agricultural problem, plus Mexico has a large multi billion dollar hunting industry to protect, I don’t see how they can refuse to try to eradicate the flys

Try a multi billion dollar cattle industry that those idiots will lose

 

[Sandhills]

Try a multi billion dollar cattle industry that those idiots will lose

Truth right there. Even if the cattle out of Mexico look like shit they still sell to the packer. Really need country of origin labling for all meat products

 

[Hnthrdr]

Truth right there. Even if the cattle out of Mexico look like shit they still sell to the packer. Really need country of origin labling for all meat products

U.S. has stopped import of Mexican beef. Prices of U.S. beef are up because of it, but i absolutely agree with you

 

[Hnthrdr]

@TaperPin this a picture of you?

 

[Sandhills]

U.S. has stopped import of Mexican beef. Prices of U.S. beef are up because of it, but i absolutely agree with you

Live imports. They'll still bring carcasses across with no way to tell really where they come from. Lots of beef from Paraguay and Uraguay get sold in Brazil and then hauled to Mexico. The US has had a ban on imports from both for years but the Packers still get around it.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Live imports. They'll still bring carcasses across with no way to tell really where they come from. Lots of beef from Paraguay and Uraguay get sold in Brazil and then hauled to Mexico. The US has had a ban on imports from both for years but the Packers still get around it.

No bueno, definitely need to put a stop to that we have the space and ability to provide the US with our own beef, just need to get a lot of the bureaucracy out of the way and ramp up production

 

[Sandhills]

Screw worm ain't the only issue. Bangs and hoof and mouth are gonna be brought back in this country if we aren't careful and that'll destroy the cattle industry.