Last week, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller joined federal, state and industry leaders in New Mexico for a New World Screwworm (NWS) Summit, where he demanded 'aggressive action” by all parties to help prevent the pest from further threatening America’s livestock industry.
The event was held at the New Mexico Border Authority facility in Santa Teresa, home to the most modern livestock processing facilities on the U.S./Mexico border, creating a critical link between the agricultural economies of both countries.
In attendance at the summit were officials from both Mexico and the United States, who discussed surveillance options, eradication strategies and cross-border coordination. There was also a general consensus of the urgency to use “every proven tool” to eliminate the NWS threat.
During the summit, Miller reiterated his request for the U.S. to fully utilize the Sterile Worm Adult Suppression System (SWASS), a USDAdeveloped program that had successfully eradicated NWS from the U.S. in the past.
By the end of the summit, participants had agreed to a new Charter agreement committing parties to increased collaborative efforts to combat NWS across North America.
“I am proud to have convened this critical meeting of leaders from two nations and multiple cities and states to agree to a new era of coordination, cooperation and communication,' said Miller. “Today’s summit was an essential step toward protecting North American agriculture and we are leaving this meeting with broad agreement to use every tool available to strike a decisive blow against the NWS threat.”
A press release from Miller’s office stated that containing the outbreak would require 'unprecedented cooperation between federal agencies, border states, Mexico and the livestock industry.”
“This isn’t a problem just for the U.S. or our partners in Mexico,” Miller added. “If we fail to stop this pest, every producer in this country will pay the price. We know what works because we’ve beaten screwworms before. Now it’s time to stop debating and start doing.”