Texas to Combat New World Screwworm with $750 Million Facility

News Summary

The U.S. government plans to invest $750 million in a facility at Moore Air Base, Texas, to produce sterile New World screwworm flies. This initiative is crucial for protecting the state’s cattle industry from flesh-eating pests threatening livestock health. With collaboration from Mexican authorities, the facility aims to mitigate economic losses while safeguarding the agricultural heritage of Texas.

Texas to Battle New World Screwworm with $750 Million Factory

Edinburg, Texas, is about to become the center of a vital initiative aimed at protecting the Lone Star State’s bustling cattle industry. The U.S. government has unveiled plans to invest a whopping $750 million to build a state-of-the-art facility at Moore Air Base, just 20 miles from the Mexican border. This facility will focus on producing sterile New World screwworm flies, which are notorious for their flesh-eating larvae that threaten livestock health.

A Timely Response to a Growing Threat

The announcement, made by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on August 15, 2025, comes as a direct response to the invasion of these pests in Mexico. In recent months, the U.S. has closed its border to imports of cattle, horses, and bison from our neighbor to the south to minimize the risk of these pesky maggots making their way into Texas. In fact, the border has faced closures three times in just the past eight months! The latest scare occurred in July when officials reported an infestation a concerning 370 miles away from the Texas line.

With concerns mounting over the potential for economic losses in the cattle sector that could reach billions, the importance of this facility and its operations cannot be overstated. The flesh-eating maggots not only pose a threat to livestock but can also infest wildlife, pets, and even people in rare instances. Rollins highlighted that “farm security is national security,” reinforcing the idea that all Americans should take this pest seriously.

Building a Barrier Against the Screwworm

To combat this infestation, USDA plans to start producing and releasing sterile male screwworm flies within a year of the factory’s opening. This method is not new; a similar technique helped to eradicate the species from the U.S. back in the 1970s. This innovative approach relies on breeding sterile males that will mate with wild females, producing sterile eggs and featuring a self-limiting population of the pest.

The new Texas facility is set to be highly productive, with capabilities to churn out an impressive 300 million flies each week. To ensure optimal effectiveness, an additional $100 million will be allocated for fly traps and lures, enhancing the strategy in controlling these insects on both sides of the border.

Collaborative Efforts with Mexico

The initiative is not limited to the U.S. alone; it involves close cooperation with Mexican authorities. Mexican Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegué Sacristán and U.S. officials have endorsed a screwworm control action plan that focuses on monitoring these pests within Mexico. This collaboration is essential, as the Mexican cattle industry has already been hit hard by caterpillar-related infestations, further affecting the U.S. due to border restrictions.

Potential Economic Ramifications

Governor Greg Abbott has expressed grave concerns over the possible ramifications on Texas livestock and the state’s food supply. With Texas being one of the leading cattle producers nationwide, this is a critical issue that could ripple through the economy, affecting everything from grocery prices to rancher livelihoods. The last significant outbreak of New World screwworms in the U.S. back in the 1960s wiped out an alarming 80% of Texas’s white-tailed deer population. Such historical data underscores the necessity of this preventative action.

Conclusion: A Hopeful Future

As the U.S. prepares to tackle this nagging issue head-on with its $750 million factory in Edinburg, there’s a sense of hope that the old strategies can work anew. The efforts to produce sterile flies hold promise for safeguarding Texas’s rich agricultural heritage and ensuring that the cattle trade remains a vital part of the state’s economy. With community vigilance and governmental support, Texas ranchers may soon find themselves on the offensive against this formidable pest.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• DW News: Parasitic Screwworm Outbreak
• Wikipedia: New World Screwworm
• The Hill: Abbott, Rollins on Screwworm Threat
• Google Search: New World Screwworm
• Reuters: USDA to Build Texas Facility
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Screwworm
• KSAT: Gov. Abbott and USDA Discuss Screwworm Threat
• Agriculture.com: $750M Fly Facility to Eradicate Screwworm