Key Takeaways
- Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announces emergency quarantine on two-spotted cotton leafhopper.
- Quarantine aims to protect Texas cotton, nursery, and ornamental sectors.
- Four counties placed under quarantine following confirmed detections.
- Movement of regulated host plants restricted to limit pest spread.
- Violations may result in fines up to $4,000 and additional penalties.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller Announces Immediate Quarantine Measures
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has issued an emergency quarantine targeting the two-spotted cotton leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula), also known as the cotton jassid. The order took effect on February 5, 2026, and will remain in place pending further evaluation by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).
The quarantine follows the expiration of a previous order and is intended to provide additional time for assessing pest management strategies ahead of spring planting.
“This pest is a ticking bomb for Texas agriculture,” Miller said. “Cotton fuels our rural economy—we can’t let it ravage yields.”
Impact on Cotton and Related Sectors
The two-spotted cotton leafhopper reproduces rapidly and can cause “hopperburn,” a condition that curls leaves, damages plant tissue, and reduces yield potential. Cotton yields may decline significantly under severe infestations. Texas cotton production contributes more than $1.5 billion annually to the state’s economy.
In addition to cotton, the pest poses risks to nursery crops, ornamental plants, and home gardens.
Regulated Items and Quarantine Zones In Texas
The quarantine restricts the artificial movement of regulated items, including live host crops and nursery plants that could carry the leafhopper.
Confirmed detections have led to quarantine zones in Cameron, Grimes, Fort Bend, and Wharton counties. The order also prohibits regulated items from certain infested states—including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina—unless certified pest-free and treated.
Violations of the quarantine may result in fines of up to $4,000 per offense, seizure or destruction of regulated items at the owner’s expense, and potential criminal charges.
The Texas Department of Agriculture indicated that the quarantine will remain in effect while officials continue evaluating pest management and containment efforts.
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