Screwworm Flies Add to Cattle Ranchers Woes

The discovery of the New World screwworm fly in the United States this week is threatening to further disrupt an already strained cattle business at a moment when many ranchers are also contending with a severe drought.The United States herd is at its smallest level in 75 years, even as consumer demand for beef continues to grow.That has driven live cattle prices — and beef prices — higher, which normally would encourage ranchers to begin rebuilding their herds or prompt new ranchers to enter the business.

Drought conditions across several states have led to a shortage of grass for grazing, forcing ranchers to sell some of their animals sooner.“We have a lot of things happening all at once,” said David Anderson, a livestock market economist at Texas A&M University.The average price for a pound of ground beef is $6.90, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a 32 percent increase from two years ago.Last month, the Agriculture Department forecast beef prices would rise 12.1 percent in 2026.But successive crises and volatility over the last year have largely prevented ranchers from rebuilding their herds, meaning low cattle supplies and high beef prices are likely to stick around....