Latest news with #TexasDepartmentofAgriculture
Axios
11-08-2025
- Health
- Axios
Scientists scramble to stop savage, flesh-eating flies from invading U.S.
Packs of flesh-eating New World screwworms may soon swarm the United States, but Texas has a plan to stop them. The big picture: The life-threatening maggots that prey on the open wounds of mammals pose a massive risk to ranchers and farmers nationwide. The New World screwworm has been prevalent near the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. The parasites are poised for a U.S. invasion, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, but America has been working with Mexico to eradicate the bugs before they hit the country. Driving the news: The Texas Department of Agriculture announced last week it will deploy a synthetic bait called "Swormlure" to attract the flesh-eating flies with a scent similar to open wounds. The trap "will kill up to 90% of flies on contact," the state said. The Texas plan also includes a new feed additive for livestock and deer, as well as the development of a vaccine that can kill screwworm larvae. What they're saying: "When it comes to safeguarding Texas' $15 billion cattle industry, we need to focus on action rather than words," Texas Agriculture commissioner Sid Miller said in a statement. "Texas ranchers deserve better than outdated practices and bureaucratic complacency," he added. "We're taking real action with effective solutions to stop NWS in its tracks." What is a New World screwworm? Context: The New World screwworm can threaten cattle, livestock and, in rare cases, humans. How it works: The parasitic fly exploits open wounds to feed its spawn. Female flies can drop hundreds of eggs on wounds. The screw-shaped larvae will emerge, and then twist and dig into the victim before eating them alive and leaving a deadly lesion behind. What's next: Biologists and researchers reported in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases that the flies have been feasting on mountain tapirs, which were not previously known to be at risk. This might be a sign that the parasites' appetite is expanding, researchers said. U.S. plan to fight New World screwworm Flashback: The United States eradicated the flies decades ago. However, a recent surge in Panama signaled the flies might move north. The Trump administration announced plans to breed and sterilize billions of flies to airdrop over Mexico and southern Texas to weed out the maggot. The USDA has a five-point plan that will help detect, control and eliminate the pest. "The United States has defeated NWS before and we will do it again," Rollins said in a statement. "We do not take lightly the threat NWS poses to our livestock industry, our economy, and our food supply chain." Yes, but: Former officials have warned that the Trump administration's cuts to agricultural research could make it harder to eliminate the flies, according to the New York Times. "Screwworm's a pretty specialized thing, right?" Dr. Kevin Shea, a former administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, told the New York Times. "Not too many people know about it or ever worked in it, and if you lose people who have that expertise, that's a big problem." Can New World Screwworms attack humans? Humans are at risk of Myiasis, an infestation of maggots in the human tissue caused by the screwworm, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People who travel to South America and the Caribbean, where the parasites are typically located, are most at-risk. "You are at higher risk for NWS if you travel in these areas, are around livestock in rural areas where the flies are, and if you have an open wound," the CDC says. Symptoms of New World Screwworm infestation Zoom in: The CDC says that infestations are "very painful" where you see maggots around an open wound. " They could also be in your nose, eyes, or mouth," the CDC says. Other symptoms include skin lesions that don't heal, wounds that get worse over time, bleeding from open sources and feeling larvae move "within a skin wound or sore, nose, mouth, or eyes."
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Rodeo Hall of Famer Roy Cooper dies in tragic house fire at 69 sending shockwaves through roping world
Rodeo legend Roy Cooper has reportedly died in a house fire at the age of 69. Cooper - affectionally nicknamed Super Looper - established himself as one of the most iconic figures in calf roping and professional rodeo, having been a trailblazing force in the sport. The news of his tragic death in Texas sent shockwaves through the rodeo world as tributes poured in from the mourning community. The ProRodeo Hall of Famer was found dead Tuesday night after his property in Decatur, Texas burnt down, according to reports from local media. Cooper is believed to have been the only body discovered at the scene. Emergency services reportedly responded to reports of the blaze shortly after 7pm ET with the large one-story home said to be engulfed in flames when the fire department crews arrived on the scene. Members of the rodeo community began paying tribute to the legend Wednesday morning. 'The rodeo community mourns a tremendous loss today with the passing of rodeo legend and Super Looper, Roy Cooper. Commissioner Sid Miller and his wife, Debra, are lifting the Cooper family up in prayer as they navigate this heartbreaking time,' the Texas Department of Agriculture wrote. 'Heartbroken to hear that Roy Cooper has passed, the Michael Jordan of calf roping, a true icon in and out of the arena,' one fan account shared. 'I grew up seeing him around town, always in awe. I'll never forget when he and George Strait stopped by the DQ where I worked, Texas legends in real life. Lifting prayers for comfort and peace to his family and loved ones. His legacy rides on.' 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cooper family after the tragic accident that took place tonight,' an Oklahoma rodeo group said. 'The rodeo world will forever mourn the loss of Roy.' 'Heartbroken to hear of the passing of Roy Cooper, an eight-time world champion calf roper and a true legend in the arena,' Andra Estes Beatty, a 2020 Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee, said. 'He inspired generations of cowboys and his legacy lives on. Praying for comfort and peace for his family during this time.' The New Mexico native qualified for his first National Finals Rodeo as a Rookie where he went on to be the World Champion in 1976. He went on to add seven more world titles to his collection throughout his illustrious career. The revolutionary roper was the PRCA Tie-Down World Champion in 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984. He was also the All-Around World Champion in 1983. Making it a triple crown that year, he was named the 1983 Steer Roping World Champion. Cooper, the son of champion roper Dale 'Tuffy' Cooper, started his career in the junior ranks of rodeo, earning several American Junior Rodeo Association championships including six All-Around cowboy titles. He then moved on to college rodeo for Southeastern Oklahoma State College where he was the 1975 NIRA Calf Roping Champion. Cooper leaves behind three sons, Tuf, Clif and Clint.
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Rodeo Hall of Famer Roy Cooper dies in tragic house fire at 69 sending shockwaves through roping world
Rodeo legend Roy Cooper has reportedly died in a house fire at the age of 69. Cooper - affectionally nicknamed Super Looper - established himself as one of the most iconic figures in calf roping and professional rodeo, having been a trailblazing force in the sport. The news of his tragic death in Texas sent shockwaves through the rodeo world as tributes poured in from the mourning community. The ProRodeo Hall of Famer was found dead Tuesday night after his property in Decatur, Texas burnt down, according to reports from local media. Cooper is believed to have been the only body discovered at the scene. Emergency services reportedly responded to reports of the blaze shortly after 7pm ET with the large one-story home said to be engulfed in flames when the fire department crews arrived on the scene. Members of the rodeo community began paying tribute to the legend Wednesday morning. 'The rodeo community mourns a tremendous loss today with the passing of rodeo legend and Super Looper, Roy Cooper. Commissioner Sid Miller and his wife, Debra, are lifting the Cooper family up in prayer as they navigate this heartbreaking time,' the Texas Department of Agriculture wrote. 'Heartbroken to hear that Roy Cooper has passed, the Michael Jordan of calf roping, a true icon in and out of the arena,' one fan account shared. 'I grew up seeing him around town, always in awe. I'll never forget when he and George Strait stopped by the DQ where I worked, Texas legends in real life. Lifting prayers for comfort and peace to his family and loved ones. His legacy rides on.' 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cooper family after the tragic accident that took place tonight,' an Oklahoma rodeo group said. 'The rodeo world will forever mourn the loss of Roy.' 'Heartbroken to hear of the passing of Roy Cooper, an eight-time world champion calf roper and a true legend in the arena,' Andra Estes Beatty, a 2020 Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee, said. 'He inspired generations of cowboys and his legacy lives on. Praying for comfort and peace for his family during this time.' The New Mexico native qualified for his first National Finals Rodeo as a Rookie where he went on to be the World Champion in 1976. He went on to add seven more world titles to his collection throughout his illustrious career. The revolutionary roper was the PRCA Tie-Down World Champion in 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984. He was also the All-Around World Champion in 1983. Making it a triple crown that year, he was named the 1983 Steer Roping World Champion. Cooper, the son of champion roper Dale 'Tuffy' Cooper, started his career in the junior ranks of rodeo, earning several American Junior Rodeo Association championships including six All-Around cowboy titles. He then moved on to college rodeo for Southeastern Oklahoma State College where he was the 1975 NIRA Calf Roping Champion. Cooper leaves behind three sons, Tuf, Clif and Clint.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas farmers could have greater access to low-interest loans under a bill the Senate is considering
LUFKIN — Texas farmers and ranchers may get a new lifeline from state lawmakers. The Texas House has approved a bill that expands one of the state's most successful loan programs for the agriculture industry. That legislation, House Bill 43, is now up for debate in the Senate. The relief can't come quickly enough, said state Rep. Stan Kitzman, a Pattison Republican and the bill's author. 'What House Bill 43 does is it makes funds available to help these producers hang on,' Kitzman said. 'It's not subsidies like the federal program. It takes an existing program that's already at the Texas Department of Agriculture — the Young Farmer program — and expands that.' If approved, the legislation expands options available through the Young Farmer Grant Program and Young Farmer Interest Rate Reduction Program. These programs were created to provide grants or low-interest loans to new farmers between the ages of 18 and 46. Changes to the interest rate reduction program would be to permit anyone in agriculture, of any age, to apply for loans up to $1 million at an interest rate of 2%. Currently, 18 to 46 year olds can only apply for $500,000 loans at a 5% interest rate. The age restrictions are also eliminated from the grant program. Under the bill, grantees could receive up to $500,000 while paying a 10% match. Currently, grantees can only receive $20,000 and have to match it 100%. Businesses essential to agriculture, like a cotton gin, would also now be eligible to apply. The state's agricultural industry has faced numerous hardships in recent years, and more uncertainty is on the horizon. Farmers and ranchers, among the largest economic drivers of the state, lost more than $14 billion to extreme weather events alone during the last three years, according to the Texas Farm Bureau. The federal government also has not upheld its end as far as support for agriculture as farmers have come to expect, Kitzman said. For instance, Congress has failed to update the nation's farming laws, which were set to expire last year. Only in a last-minute deal did they extend the status quo. Now there is worry about the lasting impact of President Donald Trump's trade war. In a state that took the reins on border security and water, Kitzman doesn't see why Texas can't do the same for farmers. 'If the feds can't take care of their business then maybe the state is going to have to show a little more initiative,' he said. While the bill expands the program to service more than just younger farmers, Kitzman doesn't want it to completely hedge them out, he said. An entire generation of farmers is preparing to retire without anyone to take their place and the Young Farmers program was originally designed to address that. But the problem is much larger than just succession planning. Between 2017 and 2022, nearly every state in the union lost farms, but Texas led the way with nearly 18,000 farm operations going under, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Dozens of East Texas counties, for example, watched as thousands of farms disappeared. Kitzman is worried about what will happen to the country if the U.S. has to import more of its food from other countries. 'Food security is national security. These people are protecting America by growing our food,' he said. 'When other people control your food supply, you're in a perilous place. History just shows that, over and over and over.' Rodney Schronk is a fifth-generation farmer whose son is getting ready to step up to the plate after graduating from Texas A&M University. Their family has grown cotton, corn, wheat, grain, sorghum and even the occasional sunflower on their land. But this has grown more and more difficult as time has passed and the agricultural environment changes. 'Agriculture in Texas is under direct attack,' Schronk said. 'Solar farms, commercial development and housing projects are destroying agriculture in Texas in a very large way.' Rather than helpful, he sees most moves by the Texas government as harmful to agriculture and worries about how that will impact his son as he prepares to take the helm. But HB 43 was refreshing to see, he said. The Young Farmers program was good to begin with, but Schronk sees nothing but good to come from expanding eligibility to include their partners in business. 'We need cotton gins,' Schronk said. 'We need warehouses to store our cotton. We need exporters that will ship our cotton and get it overseas to the markets. If we don't keep those in business, I can't grow cotton.' Several agriculture-based organizations and lobbyists have signaled support for the legislation. The Texas Farm Bureau, for example, considers HB 43 as a way to significantly improve the Young Farmer programs, according to spokesperson Gary Joiner. However, a House Research Organization bill analysis listed some concerns with the bill. It said unnamed critics believe the bill could: * Compromise business competition in the state * Require the state to provide significant funds to farmers who haven't adjusted their business models * Potentially harm the young farmers the program was originally designed to help HB 43 passed the House 132-16 on April 23. It was sent to the Senate where it was referred to the Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs committee, chaired by Sen. Charles Perry, on April 24. The committee met on Monday, but did not discuss it. Disclosure: Texas A&M University and Texas Farm Bureau have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Get tickets before May 1 and save big! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
New York Times
31-03-2025
- General
- New York Times
3 States Issue Warnings About Unsolicited Packages of Seeds
People in Alabama, Texas and New Mexico have reported receiving seeds in packages apparently sent from China, prompting officials in those states to warn residents not to plant them because the seeds could sprout into invasive plants. Unsolicited seed packets also arrived in mailboxes in many states in 2020, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture received thousands of reports of Americans receiving seeds in packages with Chinese characters. Federal investigators said the evidence indicated the packages sent in 2020 were part of a 'brushing scam' in which sellers mail inexpensive items to unsuspecting recipients and then post bogus customer reviews to boost online ratings and sales. There was no evidence the seeds were intended to harm American agriculture, officials said at the time. In recent months, seed packages have arrived in Alabama, Texas and New Mexico, according to officials in those states. The Texas Department of Agriculture said this month that it had collected 311 unsolicited seed packages from 64 locations, including the first instance of a live plant being mailed unsolicited to a Texas resident. The packages appeared to have come from China, based on their postmarks and Chinese characters on the packaging, according to Sid Miller, the Texas agriculture commissioner. They contained seeds for vegetables, weeds, grasses and at least one invasive aquatic plant, he said. While it was unclear whether the seeds were part of another brushing scam, the circumstances appeared to be similar to 2020, the Texas Agriculture Department said in a statement. Residents who receive unsolicited seeds should keep them sealed in their original packaging and contact agricultural officials, Mr. Miller said. 'We must stay vigilant and not assume that every package contains harmless plant material,' Mr. Miller said in a statement. 'Although many of these seeds are not listed as noxious plants by the federal government, they still pose a significant national biosecurity threat that should not be overlooked.' The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries has received six reports of unsolicited seeds arriving in the mail, a spokeswoman said on Monday. Some of the packages also appeared to have come from China, including at least one that said 'Made in China' on the pouch that contained the seeds. The seeds were identified as tomato and onion seeds and tested negative for harmful compounds, the department said. 'We urge all residents to be on the lookout for similar packages,' Rick Pate, Alabama's commissioner of agriculture and industries, said in a statement. 'These seeds may be invasive to Alabama plants or be harmful to livestock.' A spokeswoman for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture said it had received one report of a resident receiving a packet of unsolicited seeds. 'These unauthorized seed shipments violate state and federal law and pose serious risks to our agriculture and environment,' Katie Laney, a New Mexico agricultural official, said in a statement. 'Unknown seeds could introduce invasive species or plant diseases that threaten New Mexico's ecosystems and farming communities.' In 2020, federal investigators said that at least 14 of the seed varieties that were mailed to unsuspecting residents had been identified as a 'mix of ornamental fruit and vegetable, herb and weed species.' Among the plant species botanists identified were cabbage, hibiscus, lavender, mint, morning glory, mustard, rose, rosemary and sage, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. 'It was nothing nefarious,' Osama El-Lissy, a former deputy administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, who was involved in tracking the seed packages in 2020, said in an interview on Monday. 'It was more of a business gimmick.' Still, Mr. El-Lissy said, the seeds posed a concern because they could have carried invasive pests — a point other experts also emphasized with the latest round of mysterious seeds. 'It's hard to know the real intent behind the seed packets, but in the past these have been tied to scams,' said David L. Ortega, an expert in agricultural economics and food policy at Michigan State University. People who receive the packages should be cautious but not alarmed, he said. 'The biggest thing is don't plant them — and contact your local or state-level agriculture office and let them be aware,' Dr. Ortega said.
