Southeast Colorado Impacted by the Screwworm Border Shutdown
- Anne Boswell Taylor
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
A screwworm infestation that caused the US Southern border to close again to livestock trade is likely to impact Southeast Colorado.
On July 9th, US Secretary of Agriculture, Brook Rollins ordered the closure after it was discovered a new case of New World Screwworm was present north of where they release flies to control the worm.
According to a news release from Secretary Rollin's office they found the New World Screwworm in Oaxaca and Veracruz. While still 700 miles from the United States border, the ports closed to Mexican cattle, bison and horses. They happened in May.
This new closure is expected to affect the cattle markets in Southeast Colorado.
La Junta Livestock President and General Manager Jace Honey explained it.
"Well, what it does for our market it's just there's gonna be roughly around 7 15, 000 to 1, 000,000 less cattle being an imported out of Mexico into our industry so it helps that just the national market by having you know less it's just the numbers game."
The precaution to close happened this week but Honey said he's already hearing there are places opening back up.
"Well, so that's what I'm hearing is there they're opening the border already in places where some of the Central American cattle doesn't come yet so like they're coming in out of like Arizona they started crossing. I guess a couple days ago that's the rumor I heard but in New Mexico around El Paso at Santa Teresa I still don't know if they're crossing anything."
Honey obtains rodeo cattle out of Mexico and keeps up on what is going on with disease and disease management.
"We do a couple hundred rodeos a year and I think the biggest problem is is when they started when they found out this has been going on for years and years, but the US and the Mexican government has been turning out these flies that eat them that keep control of them well the last year and a half. I guess they haven't been to Mexico hasn't been doing it so that's how come it closed."
Getting to the wildlife might be a more serious concern because Honey said most cattle ranchers could treat with medicines.
US Agriculture Secretary Rollins commented that they are trying to stay ahead of the screwworm making it into the United States. Rollins made that comment in a news release this week
“The United States has promised to be vigilant — and after detecting this new NWS case, we are pausing the planned port reopening’s to further quarantine and target this deadly pest in Mexico. We must see additional progress combatting NWS in Veracruz and other nearby Mexican states in order to reopen livestock ports along the Southern border thanks to the aggressive monitoring by USDA staff in the U.S. and in Mexico, we have been able to take quick and decisive action to respond to the spread of this deadly pest.”
More information released is a plan which Rollins launched in June. It included the USDA's construction of a sterile fly dispersal facility in South Texas. This facility will provide a critical contingency capability to disperse sterile flies should a NWS detection be made in the southern United States.
Here's the rundown of what an infestation of the screwworm could impact us.
Increased beef prices
Market uncertainty
Potential for broader economic impact on related industries
If you're wondering how the screwworm got its name, it comes from its behavior, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the USDA.
The name screwworm refers to the maggots' feeding behavior as they burrow (screw) into the wound, feeding as they go like a screw being driven into wood. Maggots cause extensive damage by tearing at the hosts’ tissue with sharp mouth hooks. (USDA)
Check this link for what to look for in your animals.
More information on the historical Economic Impacts of the Screwworm.
~Anne Boswell, anneboswell@coloradonewsyourway.com
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