Latest news with #AnimalandPlantHealthInspectionService
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Fruit plantation area in Maharashtra goes up; exports and govt schemes boost growth
Pune: The area under fruit plantations in Maharashtra increased by 68,541 hectares, from 13.32 lakh hectares in the 2023-24 financial year to 14 lakh hectares in 2024-25, agriculture department officials said. Mango, pomegranate, guava, lemon, custard apple, coconut and fig were among the fruits that significantly pushed the area under cultivation up, a senior official from the horticulture department said. "Domestic and international markets hold good prospects for these fruits, which offer farmers a promise of good returns. State govt implemented several schemes to promote these varities and encourage farmers to switch to fruit cultivation," he added. As per data, the highest plantations in 2024-25 were recorded in Nashik division at 5,141 hectares, followed by Amravati with 5,088 hectares and Pune with 4,287 hectares. "As many as 27,292 farmers across the state received financial assistance worth Rs9,891 lakh under the govt-sponsored Bhausaheb Fundkar Falbagh Lavgad Scheme in 2024-25," another official said. Sanjay Kachole, district agriculture officer, Pune, said many farmers had earned lakhs of rupees in profits in the last few years as they could export their produce, especially banana, pomegranate and grapes, to Gulf and European countries. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 선착순! 저금리 특별지원 '최대 1억' 비대면 당일승인 상담안내! 근로자채무통합센터 더 알아보기 Undo In April, about 14 tonnes of pomegranate from Ahilyanagar district were sent to New York for the first time through commercial sea shipment. The season, which traditionally saw air freight as the primary mode of transport, shifted gears in recent weeks to embrace the cost-effective and sustainable sea freight mode. After India was granted market access by the US for pomegranate in 2023, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, in collaboration with the United States department of agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO-India), and National Research Centre for Pomegranate, Solapur, successfully conducted the trial shipment of pomegranate to the US by sea, officials said. "These steps prove decisive for farmers as they are getting foreign markets to sell their fruits at higher rates. Therefore, the number of farmers switching to fruit plantations are rising in Maharashtra," an agriculture department official said. This year, several farmers from Solapur exported banana to Gulf countries. "Private agencies have ventured into the agriculture export business. They are tapping farmers across the state," another official said. State govt has also decided to develop dedicated agri export clusters in districts. "We have decided to set up five such clusters to promote the export of mango, grapes, pomegranate and orange," the official added. Meanwhile, farmers and activists said govt needs to pay attention to the crop insurance for fruits. "Our losses are in lakhs of rupees, but state pays in thousands because it treats fruits at par with crops such as bajara, jowar, etc. It has to be changed because the capital investment in fruit plantations is almost 10 times that of other crops and vegetables," said Jitendra Bidwai, president of Grapes Association Sangh of Junnar tehsil. Govt does not provide financial assistance immediately to those growers who lost their harvest due to natural disasters, said activist Shantaram Sarvade from Khed tehsil. "As a result, several grapes and pomegranate growers in Solapur and Sangli districts had to kill their plantations in the past. This factor also needs to be considered by the authorities concerned."
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What is the New World Screwworm? Flesh-eating parasite is impacting cattle imports
The United States is halting imports of livestock from Mexico to protect U.S. livestock from a flesh-eating parasite called the New World Screwworm. The New World Screwworm, or the NWS for short, is a parasitic fly that was eradicated in the U.S. in the 1960s. The fly gets its name for how its maggots feed on an animal by burrowing, or screwing, into an open wound, creating "extension damage by tearing at the hosts' tissue with sharp mouth hooks," the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service states. The import suspension was announced by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Sunday, May 11, following a detection of the flies in remote farms about 700 miles south of the Mexico-U.S. border. The suspension will be reevaluated on a "month-by-month basis," a USDA statement reads. Here's what to know about the New World Screwworm, including its past presence in the U.S. New World Screwworm: Parasite threat forces US to halt cattle imports from Mexico The New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly, about the size of a common housefly. They have orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body and three dark stripes along their backs, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The fly gets its name for the behavior of its maggots, which burrow, or screw, into an animal's open wound, feeding as they go. The New World Screwworm has sharp mouth hooks, allowing them to burrow deep into an animal's flesh. New World Screwworms can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, birds and in rare cases, people. New World Screwworms spend most of their time in forests and wooded areas but can seek animals in pastures and fields, if available. According to the USDA, flies are attracted to open wounds, even as small as a tick bite. A screwworm infestation begins when a female lays eggs near an open wound of a warm-blooded animal. Within a few hours, the eggs hatch into larvae (maggots) and burrow into the wound, eating the living flesh. After about seven days of feeding, the larvae drop to the ground, burrow into the soil and pupate, becoming an adult screwworm, according to the USDA. Flies emerge from the soil seven to 54 days later and then the cycle begins again. During a lifespan, female New World Screwworms can lay up to 3,000 eggs, the USDA states. Infected animals tend to show the following signs: Irritated behavior Head shaking Smell of decay Evidence of a fly strike Presence of fly maggots in wounds New World Screwworms can infest people, but this is rare, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People are more susceptible if they travel to areas where the flies are prevalent, including South America and the Caribbean. Though rare, symptoms of a screwworm infestation in humans includes: Unexplained skin wounds or sores that don't heal Skin wounds or sores that worsen over time Painful skin wounds or sores Bleeding from open sores Feeling larvae movement within a skin wound or sore, nose, mouth or eyes Seeing maggots around or in open sores A foul-smelling odor from the site of an infestation Secondary bacterial infections can occur and may cause fever or chills. The New World Screwworm first became a significant problem in the U.S. in 1933, after shipment of infested animals from the Southwest, according to the USDA. By the 1950s, the federal government established the Sterile Insect Technique, a method that utilized radiation to sterilize male flies. These mass-produced sterile males were released into target areas and mated with females, which resulted in unfertilized eggs, according to the USDA. By the early 1960s, Southeast producers had lost between $50-100 million because of the infestations. Fortunately, the Sterile Insect Technique was a success and New World Screwworms were officially eradicated by 1966, according to USDA. Ultimately, it cost the federal government $32 million to complete. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New World Screwworm: What is the flesh-eating parasite?
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
What is the New World Screwworm? Flesh-eating parasite is impacting cattle imports
What is the New World Screwworm? Flesh-eating parasite is impacting cattle imports The New World Screwworm was eradicated from the U.S. in 1966. Show Caption Hide Caption U.S. suspends live animal imports due to flesh-eating parasite New World screwworms have caused the U.S. to suspend all live animal imports from Mexico indefinitely. The female flies lay eggs on open wounds of warm blooded animals and the eggs hatch in a matter of hours. Fox - 10 Phoenix The United States is halting imports of livestock from Mexico to protect U.S. livestock from a flesh-eating parasite called the New World Screwworm. The New World Screwworm, or the NWS for short, is a parasitic fly that was eradicated in the U.S. in the 1960s. The fly gets its name for how its maggots feed on an animal by burrowing, or screwing, into an open wound, creating "extension damage by tearing at the hosts' tissue with sharp mouth hooks," the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service states. The import suspension was announced by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Sunday, May 11, following a detection of the flies in remote farms about 700 miles south of the Mexico-U.S. border. The suspension will be reevaluated on a "month-by-month basis," a USDA statement reads. Here's what to know about the New World Screwworm, including its past presence in the U.S. New World Screwworm: Parasite threat forces US to halt cattle imports from Mexico What is the New World Screwworm? The New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly, about the size of a common housefly. They have orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body and three dark stripes along their backs, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The fly gets its name for the behavior of its maggots, which burrow, or screw, into an animal's open wound, feeding as they go. The New World Screwworm has sharp mouth hooks, allowing them to burrow deep into an animal's flesh. New World Screwworms can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, birds and in rare cases, people. How does a New World Screwworm infestation start? New World Screwworms spend most of their time in forests and wooded areas but can seek animals in pastures and fields, if available. According to the USDA, flies are attracted to open wounds, even as small as a tick bite. A screwworm infestation begins when a female lays eggs near an open wound of a warm-blooded animal. Within a few hours, the eggs hatch into larvae (maggots) and burrow into the wound, eating the living flesh. After about seven days of feeding, the larvae drop to the ground, burrow into the soil and pupate, becoming an adult screwworm, according to the USDA. Flies emerge from the soil seven to 54 days later and then the cycle begins again. During a lifespan, female New World Screwworms can lay up to 3,000 eggs, the USDA states. Infected animals tend to show the following signs: Irritated behavior Head shaking Smell of decay Evidence of a fly strike Presence of fly maggots in wounds Is the New World Screwworm a danger to humans? New World Screwworms can infest people, but this is rare, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People are more susceptible if they travel to areas where the flies are prevalent, including South America and the Caribbean. Though rare, symptoms of a screwworm infestation in humans includes: Unexplained skin wounds or sores that don't heal Skin wounds or sores that worsen over time Painful skin wounds or sores Bleeding from open sores Feeling larvae movement within a skin wound or sore, nose, mouth or eyes Seeing maggots around or in open sores A foul-smelling odor from the site of an infestation Secondary bacterial infections can occur and may cause fever or chills. When was the New World Screwworm eradicated from the US? The New World Screwworm first became a significant problem in the U.S. in 1933, after shipment of infested animals from the Southwest, according to the USDA. By the 1950s, the federal government established the Sterile Insect Technique, a method that utilized radiation to sterilize male flies. These mass-produced sterile males were released into target areas and mated with females, which resulted in unfertilized eggs, according to the USDA. By the early 1960s, Southeast producers had lost between $50-100 million because of the infestations. Fortunately, the Sterile Insect Technique was a success and New World Screwworms were officially eradicated by 1966, according to USDA. Ultimately, it cost the federal government $32 million to complete. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Screwworm threat forces US to halt cattle imports from Mexico
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said she is suspending imports of livestock through the Mexican border on a "month-by-month basis" to protect U.S. cattle from the threat of a dangerous, flesh-eating parasite infestation. The parasite is the New World Screwworm, or NWS, which is actually a fly and was eradicated in the U.S. almost 60 years ago. The Agriculture Department said in a statement May 11 that NWS was recently detected in remote Mexican farms within 700 miles of the U.S. border. The statement cited "unacceptable northward advancement of NWS" and said additional action must be taken. "Due to the threat of New World Screwworm I am announcing the suspension of live cattle, horse and bison imports through U.S. southern border ports of entry effective immediately," Rollins said in a social media post. "The last time this devastating pest invaded America, it took 30 years for our cattle industry to recover. This cannot happen again." Mexico's agricultural council chief, Luis Fernando Haro, said the ban is unnecessary and "does not the solve the problem." He said established protocols already ensure that cattle crossing into the U.S. are "guaranteed to be free of screwworms." Mexican Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegue said he disagreed with the ban but hoped the two countries would reach an agreement soon. Rollins called the protection of U.S. animals and the safety of the nation's food supply "a national security issue of the utmost importance." When increased surveillance and eradication efforts begin showing positive results, the border will reopen for livestock trade, she said. "This is not about politics or punishment of Mexico, rather it is about food and animal safety," Rollins said. The Agriculture Department eradicated the NWS parasite in 1966 by releasing sterile male flies and pupae to eventually lead to infertile screwworm flies, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. In November 2024, America halted imports of Mexican livestock after the country alerted the U.S. to a NWS detection in a cow at an inspection checkpoint close to the Mexico border with Guatemala. Subsequently, the USDA increased sterile fly deliveries and supported additional surveillance programs, which led to livestock imports restarting in February this year. Relations became strained last month, however, when Mexico authorities began curtailing seven-day flights of USDA planes dispersing sterile flies and imposing import duties on "critical aviation parts, dispersal equipment and sterile fly shipments," Rollins said in a letter to Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, Mexico's ambassador to the U.S. Mexico temporarily avoided the ban by reaching a deal to allow additional flights and waive custom duties. The parasite gets its name from how the larvae's resulting maggots, which as they feed on an animal will burrow, or screw, into a wound or opening, creating "extensive damage by tearing at the hosts' tissue with sharp mouth hooks," USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says. Adult screwworm flies are similar to – or slightly larger than – the common housefly, but they have orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body and three dark stripes along their backs. NWS does not regularly occur or spread in the United States but is typically found in South America and the Caribbean. People who travel to these areas, spend time among livestock animals, sleep outdoors and have an open wound are at greater risk of becoming infected with NWS. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Screwworm threat forces US to halt cattle imports from Mexico
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Flesh-eating parasite with 'sharp mouth hooks' prompts action from US
While the U.S. and Mexico may still be hashing out the tariff situation, the countries are again united on one common enemy: the New World Screwworm. A parasite, the New World Screwworm, is actually a fly. Female screwworm flies lay eggs in wounds or body openings of mammals, including cows, deer, birds, pets, and even humans, that can lead to a sometimes fatal infection. Here in the U.S., the Agriculture Department eradicated the NWS parasite in 1966 by releasing sterile male flies and pupae to eventually lead to fertile screwworm flies, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. But a risk of it returning remains because the parasite is found in both Central America and South America, and it could spread north into Mexico. In November 2024, America halted imports of Mexican livestock after the country alerted the U.S. to a NWS detection in a cow at a inspection checkpoint close to the Mexico border with Guatemala. Subsequently, the USDA increased sterile fly deliveries and supported additional surveillance programs, which led to livestock imports restarting in February 2025. Viral videos: 'I'm so hungry I could eat' trend takes the internet by storm But recently, relations became strained in April when Mexico authorities began curtailing 7-day flights of USDA planes dispersing sterile flies and imposing import duties on "critical aviation parts, dispersal equipment, and sterile fly shipments," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a letter to Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, Mexico's ambassador to the U.S. Ambassador, dated April 26, 2025. Mexico avoided another U.S. livestock ban last week by reaching a deal to allow additional flights and to waive custom duties, Rollins said April 30. 'I am happy to share Mexico has continued to partner in emergency efforts to eradicate the New World Screwworm," Rollins said in a press release. 'This pest is a devastating threat to both of our economies, and I am pleased to work together with Mexico in good faith to protect the livelihoods of our ranchers and producers who would have been hurt by this pest." Cattle for export to the United States at the Chihuahua Regional Livestock Union facility, outside Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on April 29, 2025. The U.S. had threatened a halt to imports to protect against the New World screwworm. What is the New World Screwworm? Adult screwworm flies are similar to – or slightly larger than – the common housefly, but they have orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body, and three dark stripes along their backs, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The parasite gets its name from how the larvae's resulting maggots, which as they feed on an animal will burrow, or screw, into the wound or opening, creating "extensive damage by tearing at the hosts' tissue with sharp mouth hooks," APHIS says. After Mexico reported an infected cow, APHIS warned states along the southern border to watch their livestock and pets for signs of an NWS parasite. APHIS and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department listed some warning signs in wildlife, birds and pets: Loss of appetite Irritated behavior Head shaking The smell of decay Isolation from other animals Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @ & @mikesnider & msnider@ What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US takes action against New World Screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite
