EXCLUSIVE: Top Rancher Warns Flesh-Eating Fly Threatens U.S. Herds as Mexico Battles Pest Crisis

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The country's leading figure in the cattle industry warned on Tuesday about an alarming outbreak of a flesh-eating fly infestation. advancing through Mexico continues to pose a significant danger to American cattle farmers, despite the Trump administration declaring a major success in attempts to combat it.

Buck Wehrbein, who serves as the president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and is also a cattle feeder, eastern Nebraska , commended Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins for implementing strong measures to combat the New World screwworm outbreak, a parasite whose larva can tunnel into animals' tissue, frequently leading to severe injuries or death in livestock.

However, Wehrbein cautioned that with only one day remaining until a U.S. deadline passes, "the crisis is not yet resolved," and American cattle herds still face danger.

“If this screwworm enters the U.S., it could wreak havoc on our industry,” Wehrbein said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital.

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These pests essentially consume livestock while they're still alive. We eliminated them from the U.S. back in the 1960s, and we have no intention of letting them establish themselves here once more.

Wehrbein pointed out that the U.S. government invested millions of dollars years ago to eradicate the New World screwworm—only for the pest to resurface in Central America and start advancing northwards towards Texas.

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The screwworm was initially discovered in southern Mexico towards the end of last year, leading U.S. authorities to mobilize their resources for containment efforts. Following a reported case of screwworms in Chiapas, the USDA suspended imports of Mexican cattle from late November through February, highlighting the severity with which they perceive this risk to the nation’s food security.

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Currently, U.S. agricultural officials are working urgently to erect one last defense against the invasive flesh-eating fly before it crosses the border. Over many years, both the United States and Mexico have depended on an advanced Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) program, which involves deploying airplanes to disperse millions of sterilized male flies to control screwworm numbers. However, this approach has been disrupted due to administrative complications initiated by Mexican authorities. According to U.S. officials, these issues led to blockages and delays in crucial fly-release operations precisely when the infestation worsened.

As stated by the USDA and cattle industry representatives, Mexico did not fulfill its part in the joint program aimed at eradicating pests by denying permission for landings, imposing tariffs on equipment funded by the U.S., and restricting aerial spraying activities to only six days per week. These constraints reportedly contributed to an increased spread of the infestation.

Wehrbein made no effort to conceal his irritation.

He exclaimed, 'We were tearing our hair out.' The scientific solutions exist to combat this pest, yet all efforts can be halted due to bureaucratic red tape keeping aircraft grounded. Each passing day allows the screwworm to gain more ground.

In a letter dated April 26, which was acquired by Fox News Digital, Secretary Rollins set Mexico a deadline of April 30 to address the concerns; otherwise, imports of live cattle, bison, and horses would be suspended. This action could significantly impact Mexico’s livestock sector and further strain U.S. supply chains that are currently facing challenges.

Wehrbein observed, 'It definitely grabbed their notice.' He continued, ‘Nobody aims to halt commerce. It’s a final option that would harm farmers and producers from both countries. However, Secretary Rollins and President Trump were very explicit that safeguarding America’s livestock takes precedence.’

Wehrbein mentioned that the NCBA had a meeting with high-ranking officials at the Mexican embassy. officials in Washington a week ago to underscore the importance.

We ranchers in both Mexico and the U.S. are aligned on this issue. It’s crucial that we put an end to this pest problem," stated Wehrbein. "Effective collaboration should not depend on severe warnings but rather on practical joint efforts.

On Tuesday, Rollins announced on X that Mexico has consented to permit U.S. sterilized fly planes to touch down, referring to it as "a MAJOR victory for our American cattle farmers!"

Fox News Digital has contacted Secretary Rollins' office seeking additional information and verification but hasn’t gotten a reply as of now.

Wehrbein greeted the announcement, stating it represented a pivotal moment, though not the conclusion of the danger.

It's crucial to get those aircraft airborne again. It’s reassuring to witness Mexico taking the appropriate action," he stated. "Honestly, it shouldn’t have taken so much time. However, at least now we stand a good chance of containing the outbreak before it crosses into our territory.

Although flight permissions seem to be reinstated, it’s uncertain if Mexico will eliminate the import tariffs or permit seven-day operations, as these were conditions set by the USDA. Rollins has additionally requested the appointment of a high-level liaison from the Mexican government To facilitate quicker collaboration going ahead.

In the long run, Wehrbein stated that the U.S. should reassess its heavy dependence on external allies for biodefense measures.

He stated, “This scenario highlights the importance of having our own local source of sterilized flies. If we operated such a facility domestically, we would not have to rely on another nation’s assistance.”

“We have a deep affection for this sector,” Wehrbein stated. “We take pride in nourishing both our nation and the globe.” However, he warned, “It requires constant watchfulness, collaboration, and strong guidance to safeguard it. The threat of screwworms serves as a stark reminder that we could face catastrophic consequences with just one epidemic, so we must remain vigilant and proactive.”

Bill MelUGIN contributed to this report for Fox News Digital.

Original article source: EXCLUSIVE: Top cattle official sounds alarm over flesh-eating flies threatening U.S. herds as Mexico steps up efforts against the pests