New World screwworm arrives in the U.S. (Reuters): Early this morning, U.S. health officials confirmed the nation’s first human case of screwworm in decades, traced to travel in Central America. While the public health risk is considered low and no U.S. livestock have been infected, cattle producers are watching closely. Screwworms are flesh-eating parasites that attack warm-blooded animals and, if they re-establish in the U.S., could cause billions in losses.
To stay ahead of the threat, USDA is building a sterile fly production facility in Texas—reviving the program that once eradicated the pest from the U.S.—while Mexico is investing $51 million in its own facility. The FDA has also cleared the way for emergency use of animal treatments. Officials warn that an outbreak in Texas alone could cost ranchers an estimated $1.8 billion.
EPA clears waiver backlog for small refineries, pressuring biofuel demand (Reuters): The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has cleared nearly all of its long-standing backlog of biofuel waiver requests from small refineries, granting 63 exemptions, partially approving 77, and denying 28 cases dating back as far as 2016. These waivers let small refiners avoid blending requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard if they can prove financial hardship. In total, the approvals covered 5.34 billion compliance credits (RINs), though only 1.39 billion remain valid because most have expired, meaning much of the relief is largely symbolic.
The move has sparked concern among biofuel producers and farmers who supply feedstocks such as corn and soybeans, since reducing refinery blending obligations could weaken demand for ethanol and biodiesel. To offset potential losses, EPA plans to propose a supplemental rule as early as next week that could require larger refiners to make up for the waived volumes in 2026 and 2027. Until then, uncertainty around how much demand will actually be lost is adding volatility to the RIN market and raising questions about future prices for crop-based fuels.
Faster processing, reduced oversight spark safety concerns at pork and poultry plants (Civil Eats): Under new directives issued by USDA this spring, company employees—not federal inspectors—now handle much of the carcass sorting, while USDA inspectors mainly observe from the end of the line. Poultry plants can process up to 175 birds a minute, and swine plants face no speed limits.
Industry leaders say the change boosts efficiency, but critics warn it increases risks for food safety, animal welfare, and worker health. With federal data collection on worker injuries discontinued, concerns remain about repetitive strain and humane handling at higher speeds. For farmers, the shift could influence consumer trust, market perception, and calls for stronger accountability across the supply chain.