NCBA urges New World screwworm preparedness

New World screwworm preparedness is being discussed in the nation’s capital.

“The screwworm keeps advancing north,” said Sigrid Johannes, executive director of government affairs with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Johannes says the latest case was found approximately 60 miles from the Texas border. She tells Brownfield that U.S. producers should take action to get ahead of any potential detections.

“One thing that’s really simple is registering your place with a premise ID,” she said. “That’s something that will be required. If you end up in an infested zone, you’re going to need that premise ID to move cattle out of the infested zone.”

Johannes says NWS is a reportable disease.

“Do not be afraid of reporting it,” she said. “People are not going to come shut down your operation. We’ve worked really hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

New World screwworm has not been detected in the U.S. and southern ports remain closed to live cattle imports from Mexico.

Johannes spoke to Brownfield at the NAFB’s 2026 Washington Watch.

Sigrid Johannes: