US Agriculture Secretary Warns of Flesh-Eating Parasite and China's Farmland Ownership

New World Screwworm Threat

• 🦠 A flesh-eating parasite, the New World Screwworm, has been confirmed in an 8-month-old cow in Mexico, less than 70 miles from the US border.
• 🥩 This parasite, which involves maggots burrowing into wounds, poses a significant threat to the American beef supply and can be deadly.
• ✈️ The US has taken preventative measures, including halting cattle imports from Mexico in May and deploying 80,000 sterile flies and nearly 200 personnel to Mexico.

Impact on US Beef Supply

• 📉 The US beef supply is already at its lowest point in 75 years, and the screwworm threat could further compromise affordability and availability for Americans.
• 📈 The cost of beef is high, with examples of two steaks costing $33 at the grocery store.
• ⏳ It takes two years from calf to slaughter for cattle, making the industry's recovery from such threats a long-term challenge.

National Security and Food Security Concerns

• 🌍 The US has increasingly offshored its food production, including beef cattle and citrus, leading to reliance on imports from countries like Mexico.
• ⚠️ The inability to feed oneself is framed as a national security issue that must be addressed.
• 🇨🇳 China's significant ownership of agricultural land (300,000 acres in 29 states) and major food processing plants, including Smithfield Foods, raises concerns about foreign control over the US food supply.

Policy and Future Vision

• 🇺🇸 The "America First" vision includes ensuring an uncompromised food supply by supporting small and midsize farmers and ranchers.
• ⚖️ There is a focus on ensuring that federal foreign investment processes are not overlooked and that farmland is not acquired through dubious means.
• 💰 A portion of the USDA's $400 million daily spending on nutrition programs could be redirected to incentivize locally grown produce and beef.
• 🛑 It is urged that foreign entities buying US agriculture and land must stop, with calls for Congressional involvement.