The government shutdown doesn’t affect essential or emergency work, such as the efforts to combat the New World Screwworm. Erin Spaur, executive vice president of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, says concerns remain, especially when it comes to the progress of building the sterile fly facility along the border with Mexico.

Spaur also says ensuring Mexico maintains its NWS monitoring efforts remains critical as the pest moves closer to the U.S. border.

“A lot of what Mexico is doing right now is passive surveillance, and what they need to be doing is active surveillance. So, we continue to push from CCA, NCBA, and then from the USDA, and higher levels from there. And so, you know, this is an immediate threat to those border states like Texas and others. But just like the cattle industry, and we all know the cattle industry, this can have wide effect. And hopefully, cross our fingers as the winter months come, and colder weather comes, we’ll see that slowdown of it spreading further north. But I think the beef industry is, for sure, taking this serious.”