Concerns continue to grow across the cattle industry as the threat of New World Screwworm inches closer to the U.S. border, raising both economic and biosecurity alarms. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Executive Director of Government Affairs Sigrid Johannes says the industry has been closely monitoring the situation for more than a year. “We’re definitely feeling the impacts of it before it even gets here, we’re really missing that one and a quarter-ish million head of cattle that would normally be coming in.” Johannes says while federal agencies have ramped up response efforts, the risk remains significant as cases continue moving north. “The closest case today sits about 62 miles south of the border,” she said. “At this point, we’re in a position of hope for the best, plan for the worst, we want to be prepared to hit it hard and eradicate it if we get it.”
