Returning from a recent meeting in Washington, D.C. with USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and Under Secretary Greg Ibach, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced that progress is being made on his efforts to protect Texas cattle from any adverse effects from pesticide spray boxes used to combat the deadly cattle fever tick.
Miller announced that, as a result of his meetings in Washington, he has secured the option for cattle producers to hand-spray their livestock in lieu of using the spray boxes. In an additional effort to receive input from all stakeholders on the use of the cattle spray boxes, Miller directed the agency to propose a new ventilation rule on Sept. 21, 2018.
With the comment period open until Nov. 30, 2018, cattle operations can continue to operate under previously-agreed-upon conditions. Miller anticipates that it will likely be sometime in December of this year before all of the proposed rule comments are reviewed, and does not expect any potential changes in the use of the insecticide Co-Ral (also known as coumaphos) or spray boxes until sometime early next year.
“I am allowing the cattle fever tick spray boxes to continue operations while we continue to work on a long-term solution,” Miller said. “I am hopeful that comments from producers will continue to shed light on the use of these boxes and provide valuable guidance.”
Earlier this summer Miller temporarily stopped the use of spray boxes, citing concerns over cattle health. His decision alleged that the spray boxes utilize Co-Ral at seven times the recommended agriculture levels to kill the infectious ticks. He cited complaints from ranchers that cattle were dying following the treatments.
Texas Department of Agriculture and Miller also claim that licensed applicators were not present at the inspection, as required by state and federal law. The announcement of the shutdown was met with pushback from the Texas Animal Health Commission and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
