Justin Rahn

I’ve been seeing a post going around from R-Calf saying that people need to join because they want to keep the border to Mexico closed until screwworm is completely eradicated… Let me ask these questions… Where where they when years ago the head veterinarian for NCBA sounded the screwworm alarm? Where were they in drumming the DC hills for funding for a sterile screworm facility? Where were they in the meeting rooms with USDA? Where were they when pushing Trump to push sanctions on Mexico for not allowing sterile flies to be transported across Mexico? I’ve sat in meetings with CNOG (the Mexican cattlemen) and where were they in having those discussions-I’ve never seen them at the table. Where were they when having the discussions with Cattleman’s group, trade associations, wildlife groups??Where have they been??? But now they are drumming for membership because they want to keep the border closed to the 1.1 million cattle that cross into the US and are part of the business plan for hundreds of small (and large) producers across the US. Why are they trying to put these producers out of business in an all time shortage of cattle in the US? Livelihood for many families depend on the live cattle imports. I will say this so there is no confusion…I DO NOT care what cattle association you belong to. But be cautious of gaslighting, and even though I have no affiliation with NCBA except for being a member, this gaslighting is harmful, and that mentality is harming a lot of producers in alot of different states. Will screwworm occur again in the US? All signs are pointing to yes, but don’t forget it can be transferred by more than bovines, and until other livestock, wildlife, birds, and even humans fall under the same restrictions of not being able to cross the Rio Grande, do not push producers out of business.

Sheridan, MT The StockMan is living up to its name.