Source: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association news release
WASHINGTON – As the threat posed by the New World screwworm rises, NCBA today joined affiliate state associations in urging Congress to pass the STOP Screwworms Act to fund the opening of a new sterile fly facility in the United States. Introduced by Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), this bill would help protect both livestock and human health from the New World screwworm.
“When I was growing up, I heard the stories of how damaging the New World screwworm was to our cattle before it was eradicated in the 1960s. I never want to see that kind of devastation return to our country,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein, a Nebraska cattleman. “That is why the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is supporting the STOP Screwworms Act so we can construct a sterile fly facility in the United States that will help us prevent this pest from ever returning to our country.”
Due to the New World screwworm’s continued push north, the urgency to create a new sterile fly facility in the United States has increased. NCBA supported the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to close the southern border to shipments of cattle, horses, and bison to protect American agriculture, but the long-term strategy to eradicate the screwworm from North America requires the use of sterile insect technique.
Under sterile insect technique, millions of sterile flies are released into the environment where they breed with wild flies, ultimately creating no new offspring. The United States spent millions of dollars to successfully eradicate screwworms from North America back in the 1960s using this method, but once the threat was mitigated, most sterile fly production facilities shut down. Today, only one facility is still active in Panama, but it cannot produce enough sterile flies to fully prevent the New World screwworm from spreading through Mexico and eventually reaching America’s southern border.
“To protect American agriculture, NCBA strongly supports the creation of a new sterile fly facility within the United States,” said NCBA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “We also appreciate the hard work of NCBA state affiliates in ensuring that members of Congress closest to the southern border understand the severity of this threat.”
In addition to NCBA, this legislation is supported by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA). NCBA and TSCRA are also working with numerous lawmakers to secure additional financial resources to combat the New World screwworm.
“Texas will be among the first impacted by the New World screwworm, making domestic sterile fly infrastructure critical,” said TSCRA President Carl Ray Polk Jr. “We’re grateful to Sen. Cornyn and Rep. Gonzales for acting quickly and ensuring this threat is taken seriously in Washington.”
About NCBA
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has represented America’s cattle producers since 1898, preserving the heritage and strength of the industry through education and public policy. As the largest association of cattle producers, NCBA works to create new markets and increase demand for beef. Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 1-866-BEEF-USA or [email protected].
