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USDA Reports Sharp Increase in New World Screwworm Infestations Across Southwest States

USDA Reports Sharp Increase in New World Screwworm Infestations Across Southwest States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reported a significant surge in confirmed New World screwworm infestations across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, with cases climbing to 128 since June. Federal agricultural data indicates a tenfold increase in detections during October alone, with 33 domestic cases reported in October and an additional 42 cases in the first 11 days of November. The majority of these 128 cases involve domestic livestock and pets, with two wild elk also affected in West Texas. The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, causing severe damage and potentially death if untreated. In response, state and federal officials have implemented movement restrictions, inspection checkpoints, and quarantine protocols in affected zones, which now include 21 Texas counties and portions of New Mexico and Arizona.
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Veterinarian Warns of New World Screwworm Resurgence, Emphasizes Preparedness for Kentucky

Veterinarian Warns of New World Screwworm Resurgence, Emphasizes Preparedness for Kentucky

MJ Wixsom, a veterinarian with a master's degree in veterinary parasitology, is raising awareness about the resurgence of the New World screwworm, a parasitic fly that lays eggs in open wounds of warm-blooded animals. The larvae, unlike common maggots, feed on living tissue, causing severe pain and potentially death within days if untreated. The fly was eradicated from the United States by the 1960s through the sterile insect technique, which involved releasing radiation-sterilized male flies. However, the barrier maintained in Panama has been breached, and the fly has reappeared in Central America and Mexico. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed the first animal case in the current outbreak in Texas on June 3, followed by dozens of confirmed cases in the past month across Texas and New Mexico, including a calf and a dog. Wixsom, who recently completed a course to become a certified inspector for the disease, emphasizes the need for veterinarians in states like Kentucky to be prepared, even ...
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USDA Adopts AI to Enhance Accuracy of Agricultural Production Reports and Address Food System Challenges

USDA Adopts AI to Enhance Accuracy of Agricultural Production Reports and Address Food System Challenges

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve the accuracy of its agricultural production reports. This technological adoption aims to detect crop data errors, thereby enhancing the reliability of crucial agricultural information. This development is part of a broader trend in the food and agriculture sector, which is seeing increased innovation to address emerging challenges. Other initiatives include farmers using drones for efficient cover crop seeding to support sustainable practices and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launching its first Global Pollinator Conference to strengthen international efforts for pollinator protection and global food security. These efforts collectively aim to build resilience within food systems, which are currently facing systemic risks and potential disruptions from supply chain issues and climate change.
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States Implement Bans and Labeling Requirements for Lab-Grown Meat Amid USDA Approval

States Implement Bans and Labeling Requirements for Lab-Grown Meat Amid USDA Approval

Several U.S. states, including Florida and Texas, have moved to ban the sale of lab-grown meat, while others are debating strict labeling requirements for these products. Tennessee, for instance, passed legislation in 2025 to prevent lab-grown products from being marketed as 'meat' but stopped short of a complete ban. This legislative action comes despite the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) having approved lab-grown meat for sale, leading to its availability in select restaurants. The debate centers on transparency and consumer choice, with advocates for traditional food pushing for clear distinctions between conventional and cultivated products. Lab-grown meat, also referred to as 'cultivated' or 'cell-based' meat by its producers, involves growing animal cells in a bioreactor using a nutrient broth. This process aims to create biological animal protein without traditional livestock farming. However, concerns have been raised regarding its nutritional content, texture, and the lack of long-term stud...
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New Framework Established to Verify Microbial Metabolite Causality in Agriculture

New Framework Established to Verify Microbial Metabolite Causality in Agriculture

Researchers from United Arab Emirates University have introduced a rigorous six-domain evaluation profile to distinguish true microbial metabolite causality from mere association in agricultural crop protection. Published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, this framework addresses the widespread ambiguity in scientific literature regarding how microbial secretions genuinely improve plant physiological responses to stress. The review highlights that many beneficial phenotypes attributed to specific chemical compounds often stem from other ecological mechanisms like competitive root colonization or enzymatic activities, rather than a single targeted molecule. The new framework aims to provide a clear scientific standard by assessing biosynthetic potential, chemically verified production, in situ niche exposure, dose-realistic bioactivity, genetic pathway perturbation with rescue, and field-level crop performance. This initiative seeks to overcome the limitations of current research, where laboratory c...
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Bird Flu Detected at Commercial Poultry Farm in Worcester County, Maryland

Bird Flu Detected at Commercial Poultry Farm in Worcester County, Maryland

Maryland officials have reported a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, at a commercial broiler farm in Worcester County. Preliminary state lab tests confirmed the positive result during routine surveillance, and federal testing is currently underway to confirm these findings. The affected farm has been placed under quarantine, and the entire flock is being depopulated to prevent further spread of the virus. Officials have assured the public that none of the birds from the affected flock will enter the food supply chain. The Maryland Department of Health states that the risk to the general public is low, and poultry meat and eggs remain safe for consumption. The Maryland Department of Agriculture is urging all commercial growers and backyard flock owners to enhance their biosecurity measures, closely monitor their birds for any signs of illness, and report suspected cases immediately.
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USDA Designates Baca and Lincoln Counties in Colorado as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought

USDA Designates Baca and Lincoln Counties in Colorado as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Baca and Lincoln counties in Colorado as primary natural disaster areas due to severe drought conditions. This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to provide emergency credit to agricultural producers recovering from the drought through emergency loans. These loans can be utilized for various recovery needs, including replacing essential items like equipment or livestock, reorganizing farming operations, or refinancing certain debts. The FSA will evaluate loan applications based on the extent of losses, available security, and repayment ability. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties experienced a drought intensity of D2 (Severe) for eight or more consecutive weeks, or D3 (Extreme) or D4 (Exceptional) during the growing season.
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Oregon Dairy Herd Confirms First Case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in State

Oregon Dairy Herd Confirms First Case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in State

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 clade 2.3.4.4b has been confirmed in a dairy cattle herd in Oregon, marking the state's first reported case in cattle. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the virus through PCR detection, with genetic sequencing results pending. This detection occurred during Oregon's routine surveillance for HPAI in dairy cattle, where the herd had previously tested negative under the National Milk Testing Strategy. Since March 2024, dairy cattle in 22 states have been infected, with APHIS noting new cases in previously unaffected states this year. APHIS is collaborating with the Oregon Department of Agriculture to conduct further on-farm investigations, diagnostic testing, and epidemiological data collection to understand the detection better and prevent further spread. The USDA's HPAI eradication strategy remains unchanged, emphasizing biosecurity measures for all dairy farms.
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Oregon Becomes 22nd State to Detect Bird Flu in Dairy Cattle, USDA Confirms

Oregon Becomes 22nd State to Detect Bird Flu in Dairy Cattle, USDA Confirms

U.S. and Oregon agriculture officials have confirmed the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, in dairy cattle in Oregon. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced the case on Tuesday, following routine testing by state agriculture officials. The virus was identified in a herd located in Morrow County. This detection makes Oregon the 22nd state to report HPAI in dairy cattle since the nationwide outbreak began in March 2024, which has now affected over 1,200 cattle across the country. Federal officials reiterate that the risk to pasteurized milk and dairy consumers remains low, and the general public faces a low risk, though precautions are advised for individuals working with birds or mammals.
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Milder Weather Fuels Screwworm Resurgence in the US

Milder Weather Fuels Screwworm Resurgence in the US

The New World screwworm, a deadly livestock parasite, has seen a resurgence in the US due to milder temperatures and increased humidity. Over 40 cases have been confirmed in November, marking the worst month since the pest first appeared in Texas earlier this year. The total number of cases has reached nearly 130, with over 60 currently active. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has implemented measures such as livestock movement controls, monitoring programmes, and sterile fly dispersal to curb the outbreak. However, the parasite thrives in temperatures between 80°F and 100°F with high humidity, conditions currently prevalent in the Southwest.
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FDA Approval of Cattle Drug Experior Raises Concerns Over Animal Welfare and Regulatory Influence

FDA Approval of Cattle Drug Experior Raises Concerns Over Animal Welfare and Regulatory Influence

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Elanco Animal Health's drug Experior in 2018, despite internal scientific concerns regarding its impact on cattle health. Experior, which contains an active ingredient from a class of growth-promoting pharmaceuticals, was approved not for growth but for its ability to moderately reduce ammonia emissions from cattle. However, studies submitted by Elanco showed increased lameness and bloat, a condition that can lead to suffocation and death, in cattle receiving the highest doses of Experior. Post-approval, sales of Experior boomed, generating over $200 million in 2025, with more than half of U.S. feedlot cattle now receiving the drug. Feedlot veterinarians are reporting similar health issues, including bloat-related deaths and lameness, mirroring the concerns raised during the initial review. The FDA has received 75 adverse event reports involving lubabegron, Experior's active ingredient, with 59 linked to death, including one report documenting 229 unexpe...
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PCR Technology Crucial for Safety and Purity in Cultivated Meat Production

PCR Technology Crucial for Safety and Purity in Cultivated Meat Production

PCR Technology Crucial for Safety and Purity in Cultivated Meat Production