Screwworm PsyOp? R-CALF Demands Federal Probe Into False Bio-Terror Alert That Rocked Cattle Markets

On May 27, cattle producers across the U.S. were blindsided by a viral report claiming New World screwworm—a flesh-eating parasitic fly last seen in U.S. herds over 40 years ago—had been detected in Missouri.

The claim was false. But the damage was real.

Live cattle futures immediately dropped, and millions of dollars in value were wiped out in a matter of hours. While government agencies scrambled to deny the report, the story had already spread, fueling panic and speculation across ag finance circles.

Now, R-CALF USA is demanding answers.

In a formal letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the group is calling for an investigation into what it calls a malicious false report—a move they say may constitute illegal market manipulation under the Commodity Exchange Act.

“False and misleading information about animal diseases… can cause severe financial harm,” the letter warns. “This type of conduct must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Both the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the USDA quickly confirmed there were no screwworm cases in Missouri or anywhere in the U.S. The outbreak claim was entirely fabricated.

“It appears this report was released for the purpose of harming cattle producers by placing their livelihoods at risk in the markets,” said R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard in an interview with Brownfield Ag News.

The screwworm, known for its larvae feeding on live tissue, is a USDA-monitored threat due to its historic devastation of livestock herds. It was eradicated in the U.S. by 1966—but its reappearance would trigger border lockdowns, surveillance zones, and immediate price shocks.

Exactly the kind of volatility traders could weaponize—if they had a false report in hand.

With beef markets already under pressure from shrinking U.S. herds, rising imports, and inflationary consumer pricing, R-CALF’s call to the CFTC is a warning shot: if commodity markets can be spooked with a headline, who’s pulling the strings?

This wasn’t just a bad tweet. It was a synthetic panic—and someone profited.

Now more than ever American ranchers need your support.