USDA Unveils $21 Million Plan to Combat Livestock Threat in Texas

Moore Airfield, Texas, USA - On June 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an important initiative aimed at safeguarding livestock through the establishment of a sterile fly production facility dedicated to combating the New World Screw Worm (NWS). This facility, which will be located at Moore Airfield in Texas, marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to manage this pest, which poses a threat to both livestock health and rural economies.

During a visit with USDA officials, Ethan Lane, Senior VP of Government Affairs at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), praised the initiative. He emphasized its potential to enhance domestic production and support related operations in Panama, where the USDA already operates a facility producing sterile flies. The new Texas facility is expected to crank out hundreds of millions of sterile screw worm flies each week, a key step towards preventing the pest’s spread across the U.S.-Mexico border, as the screw worm can hitch a ride on cattle, wildlife, and even humans. Southeast AgNet reports that a new distribution facility is also under construction, with plans to make it operational by the end of 2025.

The Investment in Mexico

The USDA’s battle against the NWS is not limited to the United States. A $21 million investment is being made in a sterile insect production facility in Metapa, Mexico. This was announced during a bilateral call between U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Mexican Secretary Julio Berdegué Sacristán. The upgraded facility is projected to produce an additional 60 to 100 million sterile flies per week, effectively doubling the USDA’s reach in the fight against this parasitic insect, which can threaten food security and livestock health. AG Daily highlights that this expansion is a key part of a cooperative effort between USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Mexican authorities.

Having previously eradicated the screw worm in the U.S. during the 1980s, the USDA has been actively working to keep the pest at bay but recognizes that it still remains a threat in parts of Mexico and Central America. The renovated facility in Metapa represents a concerted effort to push NWS populations further south and prevent their incursion into the United States. Such efforts include stringent regulations and ongoing surveillance to monitor live animal movements from Mexico, with firmly enforced restrictions still in place and regularly reviewed. USDA emphasizes that these strategies reflect a long-term commitment to animal health and economic stability in rural America.

Collaborative Strategies for Success

USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins has reiterated the importance of working closely with Mexican counterparts to effectively eradicate the NWS. This collaboration includes not only investment in production facilities but also a concerted effort to enhance surveillance and streamline regulatory processes. In fact, a U.S. technical team is gearing up for a visit to Mexico to evaluate current conditions and assist with ongoing surveillance improvements.

The USDA’s commitment to using sterile insect techniques (SIT) is a testament to its comprehensive approach, and the additional flies produced will support the already active operations that are currently releasing approximately 100 million sterile flies each week from the COPEG facility in Panama. With efforts ramping up to consolidate the fight against the screw worm, the collaboration between the U.S. and Mexico seems to be the right recipe for success.

As we look to the future, the establishment of the facilities in both Texas and Mexico could signal a turning point in the control of the New World Screw Worm. Let’s keep an eye on these developments, as there’s something to be said for a proactive stance in maintaining our livestock’s health and securing our rural economies.