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Lawmakers in border states introduce bill to combat screwworm outbreak

U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) today introduced the Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms (STOP Screwworms) Act, which would authorize funds for and direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to begin construction on a new sterile fly production facility to combat the growing New World screwworm outbreak that threatens to wreak havoc on the American cattle industry:

“Combatting the destructive New World screwworm is vital to protecting our cattle, Texas producers, and the American livestock industry as a whole,” Cornyn said. “I am proud to lead this legislation to create a new facility dedicated to pushing these pests away from our border and will continue to work with Secretary Rollins and agriculture leaders across the state to ensure our farmers, ranchers, and producers have the resources they need.”

“Texas agriculture and livestock are a core part of the Texas economy, and they feed America and the world,” Cruz said. “I’m working daily with Secretary Rollins, Texas authorities, and my colleagues in Congress to safeguard Texas from threats including the New World screwworm, and pushing Mexico to implement their commitments to eradication. This bill will advance those efforts, and Congress should pass it.”

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Gearhart Ranch in Texas’ Davis Mountains

“Given the current screwworm outbreak, Congress must take immediate action to help protect New Mexico’s cattle and livestock from this growing threat,” Luján said. “This bipartisan legislation will fund a new sterile fly facility to help stop the spread of the destructive New World screwworm and protect New Mexico’s 1.4 million cattle and calves. This is a critical investment that supports over 10,000 cattle farms and ranches in New Mexico, saves the U.S. livestock industry nearly $1 billion each year, and helps prevent an outbreak in the U.S.”

“Ag producers across America are sounding the alarm — the New World Screwworm is making a comeback, and our livestock industry is in real danger. We need to fully eradicate this pest before it’s too late,” Gonzales said. “The STOP Screwworms Act provides dedicated resources to do just that. By authorizing the construction of a new sterile fly facility in the United States, we reduce our dependence on Latin American partners for eradication efforts and take matters into our own hands.”

Additional cosponsors of this legislation include Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.).

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President Carl Ray Polk Jr. released a statement in support, saying, “The STOP Screwworms Act is a vital step in protecting the U.S. cattle herd from the growing threat of the New World screwworm. This legislation provides USDA the support needed to construct or retrofit domestic sterile fly production infrastructure which Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association believes is essential in preventing a widespread outbreak. We are grateful to both Sen. Cornyn and Rep. Gonzales who understand the importance of acting quickly to support cattle raisers and ensuring the threat of the New World screwworm is taken seriously at the highest levels in Washington.”

The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on livestock, wildlife, and in rare cases, humans, and populations are moving toward the United States at an alarming rate. They can cause serious damage to their host, including death. This week, the USDA announced the suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through the southern border in response to the growing spread of the NWS and recent outbreaks in Mexico.

Cobalt 60 Flies
Cobalt 60 source employed in irradiating pupae of the screwworm fly (Special Collections, USDA National Agricultural Library)

This new facility would produce sterile male screwworm flies that would be released into infested areas to help combat the growth of the screwworm population. The sterile fly technique was instrumental in eradicating NWS from the United States in the 1960s and from Mexico in the ’90s, as sterile male flies can outcompete local populations and effectively wipe out an entire generation of screwworms in a given area.

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‘Map the Meal Gap’ reveals rural child hunger disparities

Nearly 20 percent of children across the country are experiencing food insecurity and in some rural counties, child food insecurity rates are estimated to be as high as 50 percent, according to Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap study.

While most children in the U.S. live in urban metropolitan areas, over 80 percent of U.S. counties with the highest estimated rates of child food insecurity (in the top 10 percent of all counties) are rural.

Map the Meal Gap, now in its 15th year, is the only study that provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district. The study builds upon the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent report of national and state data, which showed 47 million people, including 14 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2023, the highest level in nearly a decade. Map the Meal Gap shows just how many people in our communities are struggling to put food on the table — and reminds us that everyone can play a part in ending hunger.

Feeding America Map
Image by Feeding America

“In just 15 years, Map the Meal Gap has grown into a powerful resource that informs conversations with community leaders and policymakers across the country about how the public can join together in the mission to end hunger,” said Melanie Hall, chief research and innovation officer for Feeding America. “This year’s study shows we still have work to do in creating a future where every child has access to the meals they need to learn, grow, play and thrive. For children, access to enough nutritious food is a necessity, as hunger can limit their potential and well-being. As school summer breaks approach, we can all play a role in creating a summer where every child is nourished, whether it is volunteering or donating to your local food bank or advocating for policies that will support our nation’s families.”

Other key findings of Map the Meal Gap include:

Food insecurity by geography and demographics:

  • Food insecurity impacts communities in every county, parish and congressional district in the U.S. People from all backgrounds and demographics experience food insecurity, but disparities exist.
  • Food insecurity is often linked to one or multiple factors, which can be related to household income, expenses, access to affordable health care, the surrounding social and physical environment, and barriers to opportunity.
    85 percent of counties with the highest food insecurity are rural.
  • Nearly 9 out of 10 high food insecurity counties are in the South, indicating regional disparities.
  • An estimated 7.4 million seniors (60 and older) and 5.2 million older adults (50-59) experienced food insecurity in 2023.
  • While the majority of people experiencing food insecurity nationally are non-Hispanic white, it found that Black and Latino individuals experience food insecurity at disproportionately higher rates — estimated to be as high as 60 percent in some counties for which there are adequate public data.
Feeding America Map
Image by Feeding America

Income and spending:

  • More than 2 out of 5 people facing hunger may not be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) since their incomes exceed the income eligibility threshold for these critical benefits. Not all who are eligible for the program participate in SNAP.
  • The national food budget shortfall, which reflects the extra money that people who are food insecure report needing to cover their food needs, is $32 billion. This translates to $22.37 a week per person, on average, and represents an increase for the third straight year.
  • Individuals who were food secure in 2023 reported spending an average of $3.58 per meal. Meal costs vary significantly by county throughout the nation, ranging from $2.60 to $6.09, showcasing the diverse economic challenges faced by communities.
  • The Map the Meal Gap study is supported by Conagra Brands Foundation , NielsenIQ/NIQ and Enterprise Mobility Foundation.

Map the Meal Gap “provides valuable insights to help us all better understand the issue of food insecurity and how it impacts children, adults and seniors living in communities in every county across our nation. We hope that these findings inspire action and creative solutions that increase food access,” said Robert J. Rizzo, senior director, community investment, Conagra Brands and Conagra Brands Foundation, a partner on the project.

Diversity in Agriculture
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USDA to restore deleted climate pages after environmental groups’ lawsuit

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reversed course and agreed to restore content related to climate, conservation, and farm support tools that had previously been removed from its public websites. Many argued that this purge of information had hurt communities across the country by depriving farmers and researchers of the resources they need to make time-sensitive decisions and participate in highly consequential debates about USDA funding and policies related to climate change.

The reversal comes after a lawsuit filed by advocacy organizations Earthjustice and the Knight First Amendment Institute, in which they alleged the USDA unlawfully took down materials that helped farmers access conservation programs, prepare for changing weather patterns, and navigate federal support options. Many of the resources were tied to long-standing programs under the Natural Resources Conservation Service and U.S. Forest Service, including interactive tools and planning guides.

The removal effort came soon after President Donald Trump took office in January, when internal emails obtained by ABC News showed that USDA web managers were instructed to categorize and unpublish pages referencing climate change. Sites were sorted by how prominently they discussed the topic, with “Tier 1” pages — those fully focused on climate — targeted most aggressively by the administration. Other pages were marked Tier 2 and Tier 3.

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Image of www.usda.gov/climate-solutions/climate-smart-commodities on Monday, February 3, 2025

It wasn’t long before entire sections were erased from both the NRCS and USFS websites, along with tools like the Climate Risk Viewer — an interactive portal with over 140 data layers designed to help users assess environmental risks and trends.

The USDA made its decision Monday evening, just days before an injunction motion was set to be heard in federal court. Groups involved in the lawsuit, including the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Environmental Working Group were quick to claim victory.

“The restoration of these webpages and tools marks a significant victory for the climate, the environment and farmers,” said Anne Schechinger, Midwest director for the Environmental Working Group. “The Trump administration’s reversal in response to this legal challenge highlights the critical importance of public interest advocates standing up in the name of transparency and government accountability.”

While agriculture accounts for roughly 10 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions — making it the smallest contributor among the Environmental Protection Agency’s five main sectors — rural producers have increasingly found themselves at the center of climate policy debates. With rising weather volatility, from floods and wildfires to prolonged drought, farmers across the political spectrum are calling for science-based support, not political theater.

The USDA filed notice in federal court that it would comply with federal transparency laws in the future. The agency expects the restoration process to be largely complete within two weeks.

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