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.”
4 Comments