New World Screwworm
The New World Screwworm is a serious threat to Texas agriculture, livestock, wildlife, and even household pets. If not handled immediately with all available tools at our disposal, this will not only harm Texas ranchers but it will also cause further inflation at the grocery store.
The good news is that we’ve beaten the New World Screwworm before, and we’ll beat them again. But right now, the USDA is not allowing us to use every tool at our disposal. We're fighting the Screwworm with one arm tied behind our backs.
We need to deploy the Screwworm Adult Suppression System (SWASS). Such a system worked with past infestations, so it is the missing tool we will, in all likelihood, need to fight back against the Screwworm. We're years away from having anywhere near enough sterile flies. They alone are not the solution. As such, SWASS must be implemented to protect Texans.
The negative consequences of inaction far outweigh anything else for not just Texas ranchers, but for all those who eat food in Texas.
We need to do everything in our power, within reason, to combat the New World Screwworm, including using both sterile flies, Screwworm Adult Suppression System (SWASS), and any other proven method. Once under control, we need to maintain readiness to handle any future outbreaks.
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