By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has expanded its strategy to stop the spread of the New World Screwworm (NWS), a destructive pest found in Mexico. At an announcement in Texas, Secretary Brooke Rollins revealed a new domestic sterile fly facility and enhanced border protections as part of a nationwide effort to safeguard agriculture.
NWS larvae attack living animals, causing painful wounds that can be deadly. The threat is especially serious for cattle, an industry worth over $100 billion to the U.S. economy.
USDA’s updated five-step plan includes:
- Research and Innovation: $100 million in funding for new technologies, sterile fly production methods, traps, and stockpiled treatments.
- Texas Sterile Fly Facility: A new site at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas, will produce 300 million sterile flies weekly. This complements facilities in Mexico and Panama and reduces reliance on foreign production.
- Border Patrol Expansion: USDA will increase mounted patrols, train dogs to detect screwworms, and monitor ports of entry for infected animals.
- Collaboration with Mexico: USDA will continue working with Mexican animal health agencies to improve case reporting, movement restrictions, and surveillance efforts.
- Food Supply Safety: Inspections confirm no screwworms in U.S. animals or food products.
“We have assessed the information on the ground in Mexico and have determined we must construct an additional sterile fly production facility in the United States to stop the northward advancement of this terrible pest that is threatening American cattle production. President Trump has made it clear that we must take all necessary steps to protect our country from foreign pests and diseases that threaten our economy and way of life. Today we are announcing a major investment to further America’s existential role in protecting our country and secure our borders from this national security threat,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “The construction of a domestic sterile fly production facility will ensure the United States continues to lead the way in combating this devastating pest. If our ranchers are overrun by foreign pests, then we cannot feed ourselves. USDA and Customs and Border Protection are constantly monitoring our ports of entry to keep NWS away from our borders. We are working every day to ensure our American agricultural industry is safe, secure, and resilient.”
The plan has gained strong support from farm groups and government leaders, who view the initiative as a decisive step in protecting U.S. food security and the livestock industry.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-imaginegolf
Categories: National