New World Screwworm Facility Announced As Asian Longhorned Tick Reaches Iowa

It’s the Ranch It Up Radio Show Herd It Here Weekly Report!  A 3-minute look at cattle markets, reports, news info, or anything that has to do with those of us who live at the end of dirt roads.  Join Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt, the Boss Lady Rebecca Wanner aka 'BEC' by subscribing on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel. Ranch It Up Herd It Here: Episode 87 USDA to Build $8.5 Million Facility Announced to Boost U.S. Pest Control On June 18, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a new sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Airfield Base in South Texas. The $8.5 million investment aims to strengthen the USDA’s ability to detect, control, and eliminate the New World screwworm (NWS). Border Closures Spark Action On May 11, the U.S. suspended imports of live cattle, bison, and horses from Mexico after NWS was found 700 miles from the U.S. border. This followed an earlier closure in November 2024, which lasted until February 1, 2025. Current Fly Production is Not Enough The U.S. now relies on a joint facility in Panama producing 100 million sterile flies per week. But future eradication may require 400–500 million weekly, driving the need for domestic capacity. What is the New World Screwworm? NWS is a parasitic fly that lays eggs in wounds of warm-blooded animals. Larvae feed on live tissue, causing severe harm or death. The pest was eradicated in the U.S. by 1982, but recent cases near the border are raising alarms.   REFERENCES:  https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/livestock/article/2025/06/23/usda-invests-8-5-million-texas-fly https://www.morningagclips.com/new-usda-plan-to-combat-new-world-screwworm-northward-spread/ https://texasfarmbureau.org/usda-to-combat-screwworm-with-texas-sterile-insect-facility/ Asian Longhorned Tick Finds Its Way To Iowa The Asian Long Horned Tick has been confirmed for the first time in Van Buren County, located in southeast Iowa. The Asian Long Horned Tick carries a protozoan parasite that infects red and white blood cells and causes bovine infectious anemia.   There are no approved treatments in the United States. The best way to protect livestock is through tick control methods and proper biosecurity to prevent blood-borne spread between livestock.   Reference: https://www.cattlebusinessweekly.com/articles/asian-longhorned-tick-finds-its-way-to-iowa/ Upcoming Feeder Calf, Steer & Heifer Sales On RanchChannel.Com Lots of feeder steers and heifer sales coming up on the RanchChannel.Com sale calendar.  Check out the full line up HERE. SPONSORS American Gelbvieh Association https://gelbvieh.org/ @AmericanGelbvieh   Axiota Animal Health https://axiota.com/ @MultiminUSA   Jorgensen Land & Cattle https://jorgensenfarms.com/ @JorLandCat   Ranch Channel https://ranchchannel.com/ @RanchChannel   Superior Livestock Auctions https://superiorlivestock.com/ @SuperiorLivestockAuctions   Wulf Cattle https://www.wulfcattle.com/ @WulfCattle Questions & Concerns From The Field? Call or Text your questions, or comments to 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420 Or email [email protected] FOLLOW Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow SUBSCRIBE to the Ranch It Up YouTube Channel: @ranchitup Website: RanchItUpShow.com https://ranchitupshow.com/   The Ranch It Up Podcast is available on ALL podcasting apps. https://ranchitup.podbean.com/ Rural America is center-stage on this outfit. (Paragraph) AND how is that? Because of Tigger & BEC... Live This Western Lifestyle. Tigger & BEC represent the Working Ranch world by providing the cowboys, cowgirls, beef cattle producers & successful farmers the knowledge and education needed to bring high-quality beef & meat to your table for dinner. Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner aka BEC here: TiggerandBEC.com https://tiggerandbec.com/