1. Texas Establishes Massive Quarantine Zone as Screwworm Detections Rise
KSSTradio.com
July 13, 2026
July 13, 2026 - State and federal agricultural officials are operating under high emergency status across South and West Texas following the reemergence of the devastating New World screwworm (NWS). First confirmed in a three-week-old beef calf in Zavala County, the flesh-eating parasite has since triggered a rapid response from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and the USDA.
As prime summer fly-breeding weather takes hold, the TAHC has officially designated a multi-county New World Screwworm Infested Zone implementing strict animal movement controls. The restrictions span a massive swath of the state, including parts of Bandera, Brewster, Coke, Crockett, Edwards, Gillespie, Jim Hogg, Dimmit, Frio, Medina, Pecos, Schleicher, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Uvalde, Val Verde, La Salle, and Webb counties.
To prevent the parasite from becoming permanently established and devastating the state's multi-billion dollar livestock industry, a unified Incident Command Team is executing a four-pronged containment strategy:
Enforce Strict Movement Restrictions:Immediate Mandatory Compliance.
Deploy Millions of Sterile Flies:Continuous Aerial & Ground Release
Conduct Mandatory Inspections & Treatment:On-Ranch Protocols
Report and Collect Larvae Samples:24-Hour Reporting Window
2. USDA releases nearly 400 million sterile flies in Texas in fight against New World Screwworm
Officials urge vigilance for livestock injuries amid outbreak
KSAT.com
July 13, 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released nearly 400 million sterile flies in Texas since the start of the year in an effort to eradicate the New World Screwworm (NWS) outbreak.
The majority of the sterile flies have been released along the Texas-Mexican border and in counties where there have been confirmed cases of NWS.
Rear Admiral Michael Schmoyer with the USDA says using sterile flies is the most effective way to disrupt the spread of NWS by disrupting their mating cycle.
The normal lifecycle of an average fly is about 21 days, and they don't travel very far on their own, only far enough to find their source of food.
The sterile flies are left in areas where there's a confirmed case of NWS; the larvae are covered in a green dye. Schmoyer says most people won't be able to tell the difference between any flies.
3. Heat Stress Can Be Taxing: Nutritional Strategies for Dairy Herds
At Phoenix Feeds, nutritionists work with producers to evaluate each herd's needs
MorningAgClips.com
July 13, 2026
NEW HAVEN, Vt. - The summer heat comes around every year, whether we like it or not, and it requires preparation and action to help our animals cope.
We all know about heat stress, but what is it exactly? Heat stress occurs when the total heat gain (combined effects of environmental and metabolic heat factors) exceeds the animal's heat loss capabilities, leading to increased body temperatures, disrupted behaviors, and impaired physiological functions. The THI (Temperature-Humidity Index) chart notes that heat stress can occur before we think about it, especially if the humidity is quite high.
The thermal neutral zone of cattle has generally been accepted to be between 40 and 70 degrees F. This means that between these temperatures, there is no extra requirement of nutrients needed for maintenance. Several researchers, including those at the University of Arizona, have been talking about the fact that heat stress begins below 70 F. Their new THI shows that heat stress can begin in the 60s for high-producing cows.
Humidity is probably the biggest complicating factor, simply because one of the most basic ways that a cow has to cool herself is the passage of air for evaporative cooling. When the air already contains a lot of moisture (humidity), the ability to evaporate moisture is reduced. Without the full effect of this cooling, heat stress can occur based on our definition of heat stress, where the total heat gain exceeds the animal's heat loss capability.
Full text: https://www.morningagclips.com/heat-stress-can-be-taxing-nutritional-strategies-for-dairy-herds/
4. Swine health takes center stage at Indiana event
National Junior Summer Spectacular and Summer Type Conference was the largest in its 30-year history, with 684 exhibitors from 27 states.
Purdue University
National Hog Farmer
July 13, 2026
Swine health was the focus of a significant event recently at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis as swine industry partners and swine producers gathered for the National Junior Summer Spectacular (and Summer Type Conference. The event was held at the end of June in the Fall Creek Pavilion and included a swine health briefing that featured swine industry and veterinary medicine leaders including Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Bret Marsh, who also had an opportunity to provide an update on the College of Veterinary Medicine.
"Attending the National Summer Type Conference Swine Briefing was an outstanding opportunity to connect with leaders across the swine industry and reinforce Purdue Veterinary Medicine's commitment to advancing animal health and supporting food animal agriculture," Marsh said. "Representing the college in this setting highlights the important role veterinarians play in collaborating with producers, industry partners and researchers to address today's challenges while preparing for tomorrow's opportunities. These conversations strengthen relationships and ensure Purdue remains a trusted partner in serving Indiana and the livestock industry."
The NJSS and STC are premier national swine shows and educational events hosted by the National Swine Registry and the National Junior Swine Association. An excerpt of Dean Marsh's comments during the panel discussion about swine and animal health issues is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlyL6QfolWE
5. New Strains Emerge in July Swine Disease Report [PRRS]
The emergence of L1C.2.45 and L1A.13.49 is continuing to challenge swine health and driving regional outbreaks, particularly in North Carolina and the Midwest.
By Jennifer Shike
Pork Business
July 10, 2026
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) case detection had a moderate decrease in June, but overall case positivity continues to be relatively high, especially in grow-finish populations, according to the July Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report.
"Unfortunately, diseases, like PRRS, are quite active right now," says Lisa Becton, DVM and associate director of the Swine Health Information Center.
The July report details splits of the L1C.2 PRRS variant into a different variant - L1C.2.45, Becton explains. This is now the most detected variant in North Carolina.
"This highlights the variability and mutability of that virus," she says. "Why does that matter? Some of these variants are quite virulent and they may or may not correlate with current vaccine strategies. A lot of times they don't cross-protect against each other. So, if you had exposure to one strain, you may not have protection against another new strain."
Full text: https://www.porkbusiness.com/news/new-strains-emerge-july-swine-disease-report
6. USDA slashes beef export sales report by 90% after major data error
RuralRadio.com
July 13, 2026
A major correction to U.S. beef export data is raising new questions about the reliability of government market reports at a time when cattle supplies are historically tight and prices remain elevated.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday cut its reported late-June beef export sales by about 90% after determining incorrect data had been submitted and published in an earlier report.
The original report showed U.S. beef exporters sold more than 126,000 metric tons of beef during the week ending June 25 - a nearly 500% increase from the previous week. The revised figure puts sales at just over 12,000 metric tons.
The correction followed concerns from traders and market analysts who questioned whether the unusually large purchases were realistic, particularly sales originally reported to countries including Chile and Italy. USDA later revised those figures from tens of thousands of metric tons to only a few hundred tons each.
Full text: https://ruralradio.com/krvn/news/usda-slashes-beef-export-sales-report-by-90-after-major-data-error/