JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The state of Missouri and the Missouri Department of Agriculture is officially investigating the recent false report of New World screwworm, which not only sparked industry concern but also caused a downturn in cattle futures markets, with losses of millions of dollars reported.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Rural Crimes Investigative Unit, (RCIU) the Livestock and Farm Protection Task Force and the Missouri Attorney General are investigating false statements made in May regarding New World Screwworm in Missouri. The case is considered an open and active investigation. No further details are available at this time.
RCIU focuses solely on the investigation of crime unique to the agricultural industry and farming communities within the state of Missouri. Formed in 2009 with the award of a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (U.S. Department of Justice), RCIU was designed after successful undercover efforts that served to address increasing incidents of specific agriculture-related crimes.
U.S. agriculture officials and ranchers are on high alert for screwworm as it has moved north in Mexico from Central America, and continues to move north towards the Texas border.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture indefinitely halted U.S. cattle imports from Mexico last month in a bid to keep out the parasite, which eats livestock and other wild animals alive. Female screwworm flies are drawn to fresh wounds on animals, including those caused by dehorning, branding, or even tick bites. Screwworm infestations can kill cattle if left untreated and make them susceptible to secondary infections if they survive.
The investigation is the result of a May 28 request from Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn to discover the culprit and determine if this was an act with malicious intent to cause panic in agricultural markets.
On May 27 a false press release was sent to a northwest Missouri radio station. The information was quickly discovered to be false, however not before setting off a frenzy of animal health concerns, market scare and detriment to consumer trust.
There were reported financial losses in the market of up to half a million dollars allegedly due to the claim that the screwworm had been detected in Missouri cattle.
U.S. cattle producers’ group R-CALF USA has also asked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates futures markets, to investigate.
