The approach of the New World Screwworm has seemingly taken on a steady ominous drum beat.
Last week, Matagorda County Economic Development Corporation board members George Harrison and Matt Ashcraft warned their fellow board members about the New World screwworm fly’s danger.
One of my first assignments as a beginning reporter at the Kerrville Daily Times in 1973 was the USDA insects laboratory for cattle located atop a hill just outside of town.
The lab had gained worldwide fame for developing management techniques for pests such as cattle fever ticks and screwworm flies.
That success had come in the 1960s after a team of researchers tirelessly worked to combat a pest that has killed countless head of cattle and devastated ranches throughout the United States, particularly in Texas.
One of the lead scientists was Dr. Jack Palmer, the father of a Tivy High School football teammate and my Sunday School teacher.
Dr. Palmer led me through the
labs where research remained apace when I wrote the article.
On a wall, a cow’s hide was spread out.
On it were hundreds and hundreds of holes that screwworm larvae had burrowed into the animal and fed on its tissue.
That wasn’t shocking to ranch friends whom I told about my story on the livestock insects lab.
But it sure made an impression on me of the destruction the screwworms caused.
Back in the 1960s, even if you weren’t raised on a ranch or worked on one you certainly knew about the screwworm.
Here we are 52 years after I wrote that story about the local lab, where local people worked to address a huge agriculture problem.
But George Harrison is quoted in the MCEDC story that the problem now also could include deer.
The USDA is moving quickly to get a handle on this since the fly has been located about 70 miles from the Texas border.
Be sure and read Jessica Shepard’s article on that MCEDC meeting.
The Sentinel will work to keep the latest developments in our paper.
In addition to Jessica’s MCEDC story, today’s pages have plenty to see and read about.
In sports, Tidehaven is ranked No. 1 in football and is undefeated.
Bay City has one loss, but I think the Blackcats will be ready for the playoffs after winning district.
The high school football season is half over.
