According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, rising beef prices are due to a disease called screwworm brought in by immigrants, necessitating a halt to Mexican beef imports. Experts disagree with the claim, however, with risks stemming from the livestock trade rather than individual migrants. While the screwworm has caused some supply issues, the primary factors driving up beef prices include shrinking cattle herds and increased demand, as noted by Omaha Steaks President and CEO Nate Rempe. President Donald Trump has acknowledged the issue and has taken steps to import more beef and investigate meatpacking companies to address the rising costs.
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Exclusive: U.S. confirms nation’s first travel-associated human screwworm case connected to Central American outbreak.
So, here’s the deal: the U.S. has confirmed its first human case of screwworm, a nasty little parasite that’s been making its way north from Central America. This isn’t just any case; it’s linked to travel, specifically to an outbreak-affected country. The CDC confirmed the case, which involved a person who had recently returned from El Salvador.
Now, here’s where it gets a little interesting. While the government’s confirming this travel-related case, there seem to be some discrepancies in the details. Some industry sources reported earlier that the CDC had confirmed a case in someone who had traveled from Guatemala.… Continue reading
The United States is implementing a plan to combat flesh-eating screwworm maggots by breeding and releasing billions of sterilized male flies over Mexico and Texas. This strategy involves sterilizing male flies via radiation and allowing them to mate with female screwworms, preventing the production of viable offspring. The US Department of Agriculture aims to eradicate the pest, which was previously eliminated from the US in 1966 but has resurfaced, threatening the beef industry and impacting wildlife. A new fly factory in Mexico is planned, along with another in Texas, to significantly increase the production of sterile flies, costing approximately $30 million.
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To combat the resurgence of the New World screwworm, a devastating pest threatening livestock and potentially humans, the U.S. government announced an $8.5 million initiative. This includes constructing a new insect dispersal facility in Texas to breed millions of sterile male flies for release, mimicking a successful strategy used decades ago. A second facility near the Mexico-Guatemala border is also planned, supplementing the existing one in Panama. This multi-pronged approach aims to prevent the screwworm’s northward migration and protect the U.S. cattle industry from significant economic losses.
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A plane crash in southern Mexico near the Guatemalan border claimed the lives of two Guatemalan pilots and a Mexican engineer. The aircraft was carrying sterile flies as part of a Mexican government initiative to combat the screwworm parasite affecting cattle. This initiative was launched in response to a U.S. suspension of Mexican cattle imports due to screwworm concerns. The cause of the crash remains undetermined.
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The U.S. temporarily banned Mexican beef cattle imports due to the northward spread of the New World screwworm, a parasitic fly larva that poses a threat to livestock and even humans. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized the 15-day ban as unfair, expressing concerns about its economic impact on Mexico. The USDA Secretary cited food security and animal safety as reasons for the ban, emphasizing that it is not politically motivated. This action follows a previous, shorter ban lifted earlier this year and comes amidst heightened border security concerns. The ban’s continuation will depend on progress in Mexico’s containment efforts.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood