Rollins Addresses NWS At FFA Convention

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins was one of the speakers at this year’s 98th annual National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN, last week.  During her appearance at the Convention, she discussed New World Screwworm and ongoing talks with Mexico on how best to eliminate it.

NWS Devastated American Livestock In The 50s, 60s

“So, I think it's no surprise to everyone in the audience that we are facing a potential crisis with our animal livestock industry, with the screw worm," Rollins told the FFA crowd.  "However, the screw worm, after devastating the American livestock industry in the 1950s and 1960s, took more than a decade to get back out in front of it. We thought it had been eradicated. It had moved all the way back down into South America and has slowly been creeping up.”

The parasite, Rollins noted, continues to get closer to the Texas border, which she said will stay closed to Mexican cattle imports.

I'm Not Convinced This Is Under Control

“Just a few weeks ago, we had one that was identified 70 miles from the Texas border, so we, obviously, take this incredibly seriously," Rollins said.  "We released a five-point plan. I've been down to the border now, announcing a new sterile fly facility. So, we will continue the conversations. We are not there yet. Obviously, in Mexico, there are about 250,000 head of cattle waiting to move over, but I am not convinced yet that we have this under control.”

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