Key Takeaways
- USDA broke ground on an $8.5 million sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base, Texas.
- U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced a five-pronged national plan to prevent New World Screwworm (NWS) spread.
- Recent NWS detections in Mexico led to temporary import restrictions at the U.S. southern border.
- The plan includes support for Mexico’s control efforts, enhanced U.S. border protection, emergency readiness, and research investment.
- USDA will host public listening sessions to gather stakeholder input on eradication tools and technologies.
Facility Launch Supports Expanded Domestic Response to Pest Threat
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has initiated the construction of a new $8.5 million sterile fly dispersal facility in South Texas, part of a broader national strategy aimed at enhancing the country’s response to the New World Screwworm (NWS) threat. The facility, located at Moore Air Base, is expected to play a key role in dispersing sterile flies in Northern Mexico and, if necessary, along the U.S. side of the border.
The announcement follows USDA’s temporary suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through southern U.S. ports of entry on May 11, 2025, prompted by recent NWS detections in Mexican states as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz.
USDA Unveils Five-Pronged Strategy to Address NWS
The USDA’s plan outlines five core strategies:
1. Cross-Border Coordination
USDA is collaborating with Mexican counterparts to expand sterile fly production in Metapa, Mexico, increasing weekly output to 160 million flies. This includes providing traps, lures, and technical expertise to strengthen surveillance and detection systems in Mexico.
2. U.S. Border Surveillance
Efforts include increased communication, monitoring by APHIS cattle fever tick riders, and coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to intercept unauthorized livestock that may carry the pest.
3. Emergency Preparedness
The USDA is working with state-level animal health officials to revise emergency response plans and ensure sufficient availability of NWS treatments while minimizing regulatory delays.
4. Domestic Fly Dispersal
Construction of the sterile fly dispersal facility is now underway. Plans are also being explored to expand U.S. fly production capabilities, potentially increasing output by up to 300 million sterile flies per week in addition to those produced in Panama and Mexico.
5. Research and Innovation
The USDA is investing in research on improved traps, genetically modified strains, and newer sterilization technologies such as e-beam radiation. Partnerships with universities in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico will support training, validation, and outreach.
Stakeholder Engagement and Political Support
Public listening sessions will be held to collect input on sterile fly production, alternative eradication tools, and timelines for enhancing domestic capabilities.
The initiative has received bipartisan backing from Texas congressional representatives and agricultural organizations. Elected officials including Governor Greg Abbott, Representative Monica De La Cruz, and Senator John Cornyn have voiced support, emphasizing the plan’s significance for livestock protection and regional economic stability.
Industry groups such as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Texas Farm Bureau, and the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association also endorsed the USDA’s approach, citing the sterile fly method as a key tool in controlling the pest.
Outlook Given By The USDA
The USDA continues to monitor the NWS situation closely and reaffirmed its commitment to coordination across federal, state, and private sectors. The new facility in South Texas is expected to strengthen the U.S. response capacity and serve as a cornerstone in efforts to prevent the re-establishment of the pest within U.S. borders.
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