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'Wish it never happened': Starr County ranchers concerned after New World screwworm case
Summary by The McAllen Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Jorge Vela , ValleyCentral (KVEO NBC 23 / CBS 4) - Local News
· July 22, 2026
· 1 min read
ROMA, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Starr County rancher says he is concerned about the impact a confirmed case of New World screwworm could have on his operation as western Starr County remains under movement restrictions. “Wish it never happened but it did. Now, we deal with it,” said Richard Garza...
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Summary created by The McAllen Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Jorge Vela, ValleyCentral (KVEO NBC 23 / CBS 4) - Local News Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 22, 2026 Indexed here Jul 23, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Now, we deal with it,” said Richard Garza-Ray, a rancher near Roma.
Why this matters in The McAllen
The confirmed case of New World screwworm in western Starr County has significant implications for the local livestock industry, which is a crucial part of the Rio Grande Valley's agricultural economy. Ranchers like Richard Garza-Ray are right to be concerned about the potential impact on their operations, as movement restrictions can disrupt the delicate balance of their businesses. The screwworm infestation also raises questions about the long-term effects on the region's cattle population and the potential economic fallout for ranchers who rely on healthy livestock to make a living. As the situation unfolds, it will be important to monitor how local and state authorities respond to the outbreak and what measures they take to prevent its spread to other parts of the Valley, including Hidalgo County, where McAllen is located. The health of the local livestock industry has a direct impact on the local economy, making this a story that bears close watching.
About this story
Original reporting by ValleyCentral (KVEO NBC 23 / CBS 4) - Local News . The McAllen surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ValleyCentral (KVEO NBC 23 / CBS 4) - Local News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 22, 2026 ·
Source: ValleyCentral (KVEO NBC 23 / CBS 4) - Local News ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? ROMA, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Starr County rancher says he is concerned about the impact a confirmed case of New World screwworm could have on his operation as western Starr County remains under movement restrictions. “Wish it never happened but it did. Now, we deal with it,” said Richard Garza...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 22, 2026 by ValleyCentral (KVEO NBC 23 / CBS 4) - Local News and curated for The McAllen readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Jorge Vela at ValleyCentral (KVEO NBC 23 / CBS 4) - Local News. To learn more about how The McAllen selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The McAllen, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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