AgriLife Extension Takes Screwworm Education Directly to Texas Communities

By Kay Ledbetter

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host multiple events across the state throughout June to provide New World screwworm education.

AgriLife Extension specialists are speaking at the meetings to help Texas producers, wildlife managers and animal owners understand inspection, reporting and treatment of the New World screwworm.

These new events are a continuation of the educational effort on New World screwworm. AgriLife Extension has already conducted 316 events over the past year in preparation for the pest’s arrival, reaching almost 23,000 Texans who attended. Also, county agents and specialists have logged more than 45,000 educational hours on the subject.

AgriLife Extension also offers a centralized resource hub with fact sheets, management guidance and the latest news to help Texans identify, prevent and respond to this serious livestock and wildlife pest at https://tx.ag/screwworm.

Meetings with New World screwworm-related talks in June

Below is a roundup of events that will have speakers addressing the topic of New World screwworm, with the date and location, as well as information on registration and cost:

• Wilbarger County New World Screwworm Update, June 16, noon, The Goodrum Building, 6598 U.S. Highway 287, Vernon. The event is free, but an RSVP is required by calling the AgriLife Extension office for Wilbarger County at 940-552-5474. Deadline to RSVP is June 15. Lunch will be provided. 
• Sutton County Ranch Equipment Maintenance Workshop, June 16, 8:30 a.m., Sutton County Civic Center, 1700 N. Crockett Ave., Sonora. The cost of the workshop at the door is $30 per person or $50 per couple, which covers program materials, refreshments and lunch. For more information, contact Pascual Hernandez, pascual.hernandez@ag.tamu.edu, or the AgriLife Extension office, Sutton County at 325-387-3101.
• Jim Wells County Beef Cattle Herd Health and New World Screwworm Update, June 17, noon to 4 p.m., Jim Wells County Fairground Merchants Building, 3001 Johnson St., Alice. The cost is $20 at the door, which includes lunch. Two Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units are available for licensed pesticide applicators. For more information, contact Rogelio Mercado at rogelio.mercado@ag.tamu.edu.
• Karnes and Wilson Counties New World Screwworm Update, June 18, 5:30-8 p.m., Panna Maria Hall, 13912 Farm-to-Market Road 81, Panna Maria. Admission is free, however there is a $20 fee for private applicator license holders who wish to receive continuing education units. Registration is available online. 
• Atascosa County New World Screwworm Educational Workshop, June 18, 11:30 a.m., Atascosa County Commissioners Court Room, 1 Courthouse Circle Drive, Jourdanton. The workshop is free and will provide education and updates on the New World screwworm. For more information, contact Dale Rankin at dale.rankin@ag.tamu.edu, or the AgriLife Extension office in Atascosa County at 830-569-0034.
• Burnet County Pasture Mealy Bug and New World Screwworm Situational Update, June 19, 2-4 p.m., AgriLife Extension office, Burnet County, 607 N. Vandeveer, Suite 100, Burnet. The program is free, but an RSVP is requested by calling the AgriLife Extension offices in Burnet County at 512-756-5463, in Lampasas County at 512-556-8271, or in Blanco County at 830-868-7167. Deadline to RSVP is June 18.
• Wichita County New World Screwworm Informational Seminar, June 22, 6 p.m., Midwestern State University Dillard College of Business, 3410 Taft Blvd., Wichita Falls. The event is free, but an RSVP is requested by calling the AgriLife Extension office in Wichita County at 940-716-8610 by June 19.
• Hays County New World Screwworm Update, June 22, 8 a.m., Hays County Elections Office, 120 Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos. For more information, contact Savannah Bushkuhl, savannah.bushkuhl@ag.tamu.edu.
• Kimble County New World Screwworm Awareness and Prevention, June 22, 3 p.m., Coke Stevenson Center, 440 N. U.S. Highway 83, Junction. The event is free, but an RSVP is requested by calling 325-241-9564 or emailing Kalea Simon and kalea.simon@ag.tamu.edu by June 20.