USDA approves funds to battle screwworm, could resume Mexico cattle imports this yr

By Tom Polansek

CHICAGO (Reuters) – The Biden administration authorized a second spherical of emergency funding to dam New World screwworm from getting into the U.S. on Friday, a U.S. Division of Agriculture undersecretary instructed Reuters, after Washington suspended cattle imports from Mexico over the pest.

Some imports could resume as quickly as this month, as soon as Mexico implements new commerce protocols, mentioned Jenny Lester Moffitt, undersecretary for advertising and regulatory packages.

The company is tapping $165 million from the Commodity Credit score Company to bolster the battle in opposition to flesh-eating screwworm in Mexico and Central America, she mentioned. It authorized $109.8 million final yr.

The U.S. is working to dam the pest that has unfold by way of Central America as a result of it could infest livestock, wildlife and in uncommon instances, folks. Maggots from screwworm flies burrow into the pores and skin of residing animals, inflicting severe and infrequently deadly harm.

Mexico recognized screwworm in a cow in a southern state close to the Guatemalan border in November, prompting Washington to halt imports.

Lifting the suspension would take away a barrier for the U.S. agricultural sector, as farmers and shoppers put together for rising costs and supply-chain disruptions if President-elect Donald Trump follows by way of on plans to slap tariffs on items from Mexico and Canada.

To renew shipments, Mexico should arrange USDA-approved holding pens the place inspectors will test and deal with Mexican cattle for screwworm earlier than they cross the border, Moffitt mentioned. USDA will begin inspecting Mexico’s pens quickly, she added.

“We might have some (imports) actually earlier than the vacations,” Moffitt mentioned, and extra in January.

U.S. meat corporations and cattle feeders are longing for buying and selling to restart after drought slashed the nation’s herd to its smallest measurement in a long time.

“They’re simply holding their breath proper now,” mentioned Ron Gill, a Texas A&M College livestock specialist.

USDA’s funds will assist the manufacturing and dispersal of sterile screwworm flies in Central America, Moffitt mentioned. A Panama-based facility elevated manufacturing to about 95 million sterile flies every week from 20 million over the previous yr, she mentioned.

Sterile male flies are bred to mate with fertile feminine flies, so the screwworm inhabitants decreases till it will definitely dies out. USDA mentioned it eradicated screwworm from the U.S. in 1966 utilizing this method.