Screwworms Take a Bite Out of Texas’ Beef Industry || June 10, 2026
The return of the New World screwworm is threatening the U.S. cattle industry, especially in Texas. Typically, this would have been detected early on by agricultural monitoring and disease-detection programs, but those are now gone due to cuts made by the Trump Administration.
The screwworm is a parasitic blowfly whose larvae burrow into living animals. It can rapidly spread through livestock herds and requires a costly, large-scale treatment once detected in an area.
Livestock producers will incur higher costs and lose portions of their herds, meaning beef prices will continue to rise. If you're looking for a silver lining, while this will be economically straining, it's not inherently a food safety issue.
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Comments (66)
Hallelujah! Animals should be free. People don't need to kill things for a snack!
Thank tRump for another destructive improvement.
No. We detected the screwworm migration well over a year ago and closed our southern border to Mexican cattle in July of 2025. The problem stems from illegal and uninspected cattle migrations coming into Mexico from Central America. Unless you want us sending troops into Mexico to stop cattle smuggling, all we can do is react at this point. It’s not that we didn’t know it was coming due to DOGE cuts. Even liberal Snopes is walking away from that claim.
Cow stonks,.. fucking hell guys, can’t we do anything right
It is Ivermectin!
similar thing happened in Siberia/Russia this winter, they slaughtered all their cattle, all kept secret, only people talk about in chats. no official or formal reportings
right wing karma, but on the flip side, DOW is over 55k!
Has someone done the math? The rough savings from DOGE cutting the program vs the cost (to farmers, government and consumers) of this infestation?
Invermectin. The irony
I don't understand Texas and people's willingness to move there. Their electrical grid is problematic. Increasing environmental impacts. They've essentially totally outlawed abortion trampling on womens rights. Guessing it's not great being Hispanic in texas these days. I'm sure there are any number of other issues with the place that I can't even think of right now. And now they have issues with bugs and cows not getting along after having the problem eradicated decades ago. Are job opportunities and cost of living beneficial enough that folks are willing to look past all the shortcomings?
Thanks again, Donald J Trump, and Elon Musk. maggots from MAGA. Ignorance triumphs again.
There are medically prescribed uses for Ivermectin in humans. Wouldn’t be surprised if it included worms. The key is that the prescription comes from a doctor and is picked up at a pharmacy, not a Tractor Supply.
Elon, thanks for being such a good American...
It is too bad that PZ's intense hatred for T colors his thought process. Remember that he called the last mmajor election wrong. He gave detailed reasons for a Harris win. He then predicted a major recession that never occurred. Now he blames trump for this fly infestation????? In the past administration he never criticized the Dems for anything. I may as well watch MSNOW because PZ is the same. Too Bad. NOTE: ALL EMAILS ARE DELETED UPON ENTRY!!!
recession never occurred? just cos orange man's administration hides it, doesn't mean people don't see it
Another example of the Trump administration playing checkers instead of chess.
So the money that DOGE will be spent x times more now. By the people instead.
it's fine, cos these are the people who wanted this the most
Ivermectin is not recommended for screw worm prevention or treatment. Its effect time period is only about 21 days. doramectin is recommended bc longer effective time period
Another factor. 2024 screw worm was working its way up into Mexico. Biden stopped cows coming in from Mexico. 2025 price of beef was high. Trump opened the borders for cows from Mexico hoping to reduce beef prices. Late in 2025 screw worm made it to northern Mexico and Trump stopped cows from Mexico. This problem is due to Trump’s “ open borders for Mexican…. Cattle.” He claims Mexicans are poisoning our blood, but it’s actually Mexican cattle, not people. Lol
it's fine, cos trump is the king and has legal protection from anything he does
Thank Donald Trump and his brilliant DOGE just what you folks in Texas voted for. Isn't it great to get what you wanted?
Schadenfreude!
Elon hating PZ triggered a lot of Elon haters with his simplification over what caused the screwworm crisis (mainly a highly aggressive biological outbreak that has been systematically overwhelming traditional containment walls across Central America for the past three years - well before DOGE, illegal cattle trafficking pipeline, etc).
yet, it came to America after a few trump's actions, but we must not blame orange man for that, blame kamala🤡. right wing karma, but on the flip side, DOW is over 55k!🤣🤣🤣
Definitely going out for a steak dinner tonight!
So...Peter, do you sit around and find something everyday to blame on Trump? Where were the Mexicans on this issue? Is everything in the world our responsibility to solve? You are saying this would not have happened if Kamala was elected?
right wing karma, but on the flip side, DOW is over 55k!
Although I understand and agree with what Mr. Zeihan has said, there is yet another animal crop that generates a 9 billion dollar impact in the state of Texas that wasn't mentioned. I'm referring to deer hunting . The problem is that its not practical to try to capture and treat wild animals. About the only way to confront this issue is to release the sterile flies to reduce the risk to all animals.
Hi! I'm Micah. I work in meat distribution in Hawaii with a supply chain that includes 40+ local ranches, two livestock cooperatives, five USDA processors and whole lot of markets/food hubs. This isn't just a food supply concern. ANY WARM & MOIST WOUND is viable breeding ground. That includes not just feed lot cattle, but also your pets, wildlife and you. Which means many endangered species are at risk plus Fluffy. Does your county or State have animal quarantine procedures? Know where to report cases? Have your Departments of Agriculture/Natural Resources/Conservation/Etc. made contact with the USDA or any of the facilities to understand their procedures for requesting flies for deployment? Contractors set for the flyovers? Vets, Vet Techs, Medical Professionals, Livestock Producers provided a local bulletin to know what to look for? I understand everyone wants vent and complain about DOGE. Yah, I think they're dicks too. But I don't want to wait for the next hit. If you want to be constructive, check in with your local representatives/senators/leaders to see if they have a plan.
Interesting problems. Screwworm has a known solution and clearly requires an international one. Governmental inefficiency, incompetence, and corruption is another and the solution for that is far more difficult.
Cows are 15-18 months. This is nothing more than American Ebola.
So, what we really know is that Ivermectin was ineffective in treating the orange blow fly the last time this country had an infestation. 🍺
Ending the beef industry, or at least forcing it to absorb the cost of more of its externalities, would be great news for climate change. Probably too much to hope for though.
Irradiated Male Screw Worms was the name of my punk band in middle school!
Your time has come around again.
The impact on the dairy industry needs to be mentioned. When drugs are given to a dairy cow, the milk must be discarded for a period of time determined by the FDA. The cows still must be fed and milked during the discard time, which is a huge economic loss to the farmer. There is insurance against this type of loss, but not all farmers carry the coverage. The same FDA rules apply on the bovine meat animal side., but if a festering maggot wound exists on a carcass, it will result in a rejection of that carcass at slaughter.
it used to be but DOGE/Musk decided that it was unreasonable spending and here we are
We have seen screw worm making its way north for years now. Trying to blame this on DOGE is just not accurate. We have been asleep at the wheel on this for a couple years
right wing karma, but on the flip side, DOW is over 55k!
Elon should be forced to pay for all this. He should have to pay for all of the monitoring, all of the people needed to deploy the sterile flies. And he should have to pay to subsidize the cost of beef back down to pre-outbreak levels. He should get 6 months in mandatory jail stay. Maybe a six month detox from his ketamine would make him a more sensible human being.
remember, elon was a politician for a while, and politicians face no consequences for their actions
They are already trying to blame Biden and immigration. Which means they are really scared about it as an issue.
This is an example of why you need regulations. They seem burdensome but sometimes prevent bigger problems.
Maybe the same folks who thought up Covid wanted pork prices to go up since they run so much pork production in the US. Hey, Peter, got much TDS?
This isn't a serious comment
Remember when DOGE/Trump gutted the USDA, the department in charge of monitoring screwworms are gone. This is the consequence. Expect to pay outrageous premiums for your steak dinner.
Just remember, this is what 80m Americans voted for and support! Republicans and MAGA gave us this!
you think this is the end? the point is that no matter the severity of the crisis, it will always be handled with the highest and most meticulous degree of incompetence
Musk should be personally sued for all the downstream damages DOGE has inflicted.
i am sure he will one day, but sadly this will not put the devil back into its bottle, damage is done
Oh well, don't worry, the next virus is waiting around the corner. Any Ebola with your spare ribs?
What did the Ivermectin eaters that we didn't and when did they know it? I smell a conspiracy.
Prices of beef are high because it’s artificially inflated like homes. Keep the stock low so you can charge high.
So you don't believe in Supply-Demand curves?
Appreciate DOGE, participation. Thank you for your attention the matter. Also Texas…. Keep reaping what you sow🙌🏽
Sorry, Peter, Doctor YOU ARE NOT: Yes, ivermectin is safe for humans when used as prescribed for its approved medical indications. Approved Uses in Humans Ivermectin is an FDA-approved anti-parasitic medication. Oral tablets (e.g., Stromectol) treat: - Intestinal strongyloidiasis (threadworm infection). - Onchocerciasis (river blindness). Topical forms treat: - Rosacea (cream, e.g., Soolantra). - Head lice (lotion). It has been used widely for decades in mass treatment programs for parasitic diseases, with billions of doses administered and a strong track record of safety at proper doses. Safety Profile At approved doses: Generally well-tolerated with minimal side effects for most people. Common mild effects can include dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, or itching. It does not easily cross the blood-brain barrier in humans at standard doses, contributing to its safety. Serious side effects are rare but can include neurological issues (confusion, seizures, balance problems) in cases of overdose or specific conditions (e.g., high parasite loads in certain infections like loiasis). Important caveats: - Not for self-medication — Always use under medical supervision. It can interact with other drugs (e.g., blood thinners). - Veterinary formulations are dangerous — These are highly concentrated and not formulated for humans; overdoses have caused severe toxicity, including hospitalization. - Not approved for COVID-19 — Major health authorities (FDA, CDC, WHO) state it is not authorized or proven safe/effective for preventing or treating COVID-19. Misuse for this purpose led to increased poison control calls and adverse events. Ivermectin has an excellent safety record for its intended parasitic uses when taken correctly as a prescription medication. However, like any drug, it carries risks if misused, overdosed, or used for unapproved purposes. Consult a doctor for personalized advice rather than relying on anecdotal reports or off-label experimentation.
so? he said nothing wrong.
My fiancee's father has a cattle ranch in Wyoming and they are seriously concerned with this and might be starting treatment without even a confirmed sighting anywhere nearby.
Wyoming is too far away, but Ag is notorious for prophlyactic inoculation. Whether its dumping antibiotics or antihelminths, or in the case of crops, doubling up on pesticides and fungicides.
hahaha mother nature always wins - after oil is screwed and gas prices are high, now we take away the meat - the US citisens will really love this administration
Gas prices aren’t high here in fact they are dropping everyday. Americans complain a lot and so complaining about gas prices is just another Tuesday even though it’s down .45 a gallon. Trump isn’t even talking about it anymore
Meanwhile Elon Musk will be dining on waigyu beef and filet minon every week for the next three years.
So?
Just feels so absolutely wrong to have the animals suffer because of the stupidity of man, guess that is the way of things. Truly hope you in the USA get your country back on it’s feet sooner rather than later
are you talking about the cattle industy? I bet those cows will suffer less not to be born at all