Davids Presses USDA Secretary Rollins on Rising Costs Facing Kansas Farmers, Flesh-Eating Parasite Detected in United States
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, during a U.S. House Agriculture Committee hearing, Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) questioned U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins on the recent detection of New World Screwworm in the United States, as well as rising costs and staffing cuts affecting the Department’s ability to respond to agricultural threats.
“I continue to hear from Kansas farmers and ranchers who feel like they are getting hit from every single direction,” said Davids. “When farmers are hurting, it doesn't stay on the farm. It affects food prices, local businesses, and the entire country and our rural communities. And that's exactly why farmers need a Department of Agriculture that they can count on. Instead, we have seen significant staffing cuts across the board.”
WATCH: Davids speaks with USDA Secretary Rollins during today’s hearing
The USDA confirmed yesterday that New World Screwworm larvae were detected in a three-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas — the first confirmed case in the United States in decades. The New World Screwworm is a flesh-eating parasite that can devastate livestock herds, threaten ranchers' livelihoods, and drive up grocery prices. Federal and state officials have established surveillance zones and initiated eradication measures, including increased deployment of sterile flies designed to stop reproduction of the pest.
The parasite’s northward spread from Mexico has raised concern among agriculture experts due to its potential to rapidly damage cattle herds and other livestock. Analysts estimate that even a limited outbreak could cost producers approximately $732 million per year and result in $1.8 billion in total losses. The cattle industry alone represents a $15 billion sector in Kansas.
“Yesterday, when confirming the New World Screwworm case in Texas, I have to say I was struck by your use of the phrase ‘as expected’ in the USDA post on X,” Davids told Secretary Rollins. “I know there were projections on timing, … but from talking to Kansans, I can say that ranchers don't care that it's expected. They want to know what's being done to prevent [it].”
Davids also highlighted broader pressures facing Kansas farmers, including rising input costs and market uncertainty. She cited a 30 percent increase in fertilizer prices, $28 billion in crop losses over the last crop year tied to trade policy uncertainty, and a 70 percent increase in Midwest farm bankruptcies last year.
Davids has consistently worked to support rural communities while pushing back against extreme policies that make it harder for producers to thrive. She voted for a bipartisan Farm Bill to provide certainty for Kansas producers, opposed reckless tariffs that are driving up costs, and introduced legislation aimed at strengthening the food supply chain and lowering fertilizer costs. She has also raised concerns about the President’s Argentina beef bailout, which puts foreign producers ahead of American ranchers.