In the news related to dairy farming the second week of June 2026:
- More U.S. cases of New World screwworm confirmed, Canada restricts imports
- FARM Biosecurity celebrates updated Secure Milk Supply Plan and producer resources
- Three Midwest farms earn 2025 High Production Herd Award
- ADSA welcomes new board members
More U.S. cases of New World screwworm confirmed, Canada restricts imports
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed three additional cases of New World screwworm (NWS) in the U.S. – a calf in in Zavala County, Texas; another calf in La Salle County, Texas; and a dog in Lea County, New Mexico. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing for all cases.
NWS is a serious pest that threatens livestock, pets, wildlife and, in rare cases, people. The larvae burrow into the living tissue of animals, causing severe wounds, animal suffering and significant economic losses.
“Over the past week, USDA has identified and expeditiously confronted four confirmed detections of New World screwworm. While we address these instances that require immediate attention and continue to sample suspected cases, we are simultaneously working to eradicate the pest entirely,” said Dudley Hoskins, undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs. “We need the partnership of animal owners across the region – please stay vigilant, check your animals closely, and report anything that looks suspicious. Together, we can protect our livestock, our communities and the health of animals nationwide.”
The USDA urges everyone in the area to check animals for:
- Draining or enlarging wounds
- Maggots or egg masses
- Signs of discomfort
- Lesions in body openings (nose, ears, genitalia, umbilical area)
Anyone who suspects a screwworm infestation should immediately contact their veterinarian, state animal health official or the USDA. In Texas, report suspected cases in livestock directly to Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials by finding your closest area office here.
The USDA and the TAHC continue to lead an aggressive unified response, with a total of 75 people actively responding on the ground and hundreds of additional people around the country providing laboratory diagnostics, logistics, treatment distribution, air operations, outreach, operational planning and resource support for the response.
For each new case, the USDA and TAHC implement actions outlined in the NWS Response Playbook.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued emergency use authorizations for several NWS treatments for different species. Currently, there are treatments available to support cattle, horses, swine, goats, captive exotic animals and wildlife.
As part of the established NWS eradication strategy, the USDA began releasing sterile flies over the area on June 4. These missions will disperse 2 million sterile screwworms twice a week to disrupt the pest’s life cycle.
In addition to aerial releases, the USDA is shipping another 4 million sterile flies per week to Texas. These will be deployed using 24 ground release chambers, strategically placed in and around the detection zone to maximize impact.
Canada restricts imports
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced temporary import restrictions on livestock, including horses, that originate from or were present in the state of Texas within 21 days prior to border crossing.
CFIA notes that risk analyses have determined that the flies responsible for NWS could not survive Canadian winters. However, they can survive shorter periods of time in the summer months. Mexico has reported several cases of the disease, and Canada does not allow importation of many animal species as a result.
FARM Biosecurity celebrates updated Secure Milk Supply Plan and producer resources
The FARM Program celebrates the release of an updated Secure Milk Supply (SMS) Plan, website and resources, ensuring the health and well-being of dairy cattle while preserving the economic viability of dairy businesses.
“It was a great opportunity to collaborate with other farmers, processors, veterinarians, and state and federal officials to update the SMS Plan for our evolving dairy industry,” said Tom Walsh, a dairy farmer from Minnesota. “We put together many commonsense resources to protect our animals and consumers while still milking healthy cows and moving healthy animals.”
Updates include the expansion of the SMS Plan for Continuity of Business for use beyond foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) to include similar contagious diseases like H5N1, resources for producers, cooperatives and processors, as well as updated movement permit guidance that includes raw milk for animal feed and more.
The FARM Biosecurity – Enhanced Program aligns with the Secure Milk Supply Plan for Continuity of Business to provide dairy farmers with the tools needed to develop an enhanced biosecurity plan.
The dairy industry and animal disease threats have changed since the SMS Plan was first created in 2017. Dr. Craig McConnel, an extension veterinarian from Washington State University, shared, “This experience opened my eyes to the practical considerations needed to create applicable plans for a broad range of dairy enterprises. I respect all the thought and discussion to create a flexible yet thorough enhanced biosecurity template for FMD, H5N1 or future disease challenges.”
An SMS technical committee comprised of dairy producers like Walsh, cooperatives, processors, extension veterinarians like McConnel, academicians, state and federal animal health officials met monthly from February 2025 to January 2026 to review stakeholder input and guide the updates to the SMS Plan.
An updated draft plan was presented in a national stakeholder webinar, and FARM captured stakeholder feedback last November through a public comment period before the technical committee finalized the updated plan in February.
The new SMS website was reorganized based on stakeholder input, making it easier to find resources to prepare for an outbreak.
Three Midwest farms earn 2025 High Production Herd Award
The Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference has named Bomaz Farms in Hammond, Wisconsin; Shadycrest Holsteins in Utica/Altura, Minnesota; and Jagiello Dairy Farm in Lena, Wisconsin; as recipients of the 2025 High Production Herd Award for top combined fat and protein production.
The three operations averaged 8.25 pounds (Bomaz), 8.10 pounds (Shadycrest) and 7.91 pounds (Jagiello) of combined fat and protein shipped per cow in 2025, qualifying them for the elite 7-plus-pound club.
The winners shared an overview of their farms and the specific management practices that drove their success, followed by a conference Q&A discussion on their operations and practices.
- Bomaz Farms is a multigenerational Zwald/Schalla family operation milking about 1,700 registered Holsteins on more than 2,200 acres. It features a 40-stall rotary parlor, sand-bedded freestalls and elite quality home-raised forages in total mixed ration (TMR). The farm has been recognized for elite genetics (multiple Herd of Excellence awards and 2023 Elite Breeder honors).
- Shadycrest Holsteins is operated by Scott and Michelle Herber with their son Ross and key herdspeople milking around 700 Holsteins. Noted for exceptional cow longevity, they have 12 cows ranked in 2025 Minnesota DHIA top 200 lifetime production, including one at 342,548 pounds milk and 15,695 pounds fat lifetime. The farm places a strong focus on low somatic cell count (SCC), sand freestalls, older-cow grouping and precise pre-fresh nutrition.
- Jagiello Dairy Farm is a fifth-generation family farm (established 1907) milking about 800 cows on 3,500 acres. They recently finished a new sand-bedded barn, upgraded with advanced ventilation, sprinklers and comfort features, plus activity collars and precision feeding tools. The farm emphasizes family succession and efficiency.
“These operations show how focusing on an excellent nutrition program, cow comfort and elite management drive high-component yields and profitability,” said James Salfer, conference chair.
The 2026 Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference was held on June 3-4 in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
ADSA welcomes new board members
The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) announced the election of three new board members for the organization’s 2026-27 term.
Jayendra Amamcharla, a professor in the department of food science and nutrition at the University of Minnesota, was elected to the office of president-elect for a one-year term.
Haotian Zheng, an associate professor of food chemistry in the department of food, bioprocessing and nutrition sciences at North Carolina State University, was elected dairy foods division director for a three-year term.
Jillian Bohlen, an associate professor and state dairy extension specialist in the department of animal and dairy science at the University of Georgia, was elected dairy production division director for a three-year term.
