Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is once again sounding the alarm over the recent discovery of a highly dangerous fungus linked to Chinese nationals charged with smuggling it into the United States.
The fungus Fusarium graminearum, also known as head blight or scab, is now considered a serious threat to crops like corn, wheat, and barley, as well as other byproducts of the American agriculture industry.
However, in a recent statement, Miller assured Texans there is no need to panic, as the fungus is contained for now. He did urge farmers and consumers to stay vigilant and educate themselves on the dangerous fungus.
“There is no need for producers or the public to overreact as we have full containment of the fungus,” Miller said. “As producers, we must stay on top of any threat to the agricultural industry. The concern goes beyond reduced yields; we could face toxins in bread, cereal, and livestock feed, which could disrupt our food supply. That means we must remain vigilant, stay informed, and stay ahead of risks.”
Head blight is notorious for producing mycotoxins, especially deoxynivalenol, also called “vomitoxin,” that can contaminate grain and cause serious health risks in both humans and animals.
Farmers have been told to look for telltale signs of infection in their crops, such as “whitened spikelets,” salmon-colored growth at the base of certain plants, and shriveled grains known as “tombstone” kernels.
Miller’s warning follows a major FBI and CBP bust in Michigan earlier this month, where Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu, both Chinese nationals and one a Chinese Communist Party member, were charged with smuggling Fusarium graminearum into America, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Jian had ties to a University of Michigan lab, and investigators say the pair planned to exploit those school facilities to run illegal research on the fungus.
At the time, FBI special agent Cheyvoryea Gibson called the incident a direct threat to public safety and America’s agricultural economy, suggesting that it may have been part of a larger plan to target the country’s food supply.
“I’ve said this before, and I’ll repeat it again: we cannot allow anyone to compromise our national security. I’m proud of Texas for responding promptly when those mysterious seeds from China returned,” Miller added.
Farmers who spot any signs of head blight are encouraged to contact the Texas Department of Agriculture immediately at 1(800) TELL-TDA for lab testing and further assistance.