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 set to become a crucial hub for a significant initiative aimed at protecting the state’s vital cattle industry. The U.S. government has announced plans to invest $750 million into the construction of a cutting-edge facility at Moore Air Base, located just 20 miles from the Mexican border. This facility will concentrate efforts on producing sterile New World screwworm flies, recognized for their harmful larvae that threaten the health of livestock.
A Timely Response to a Growing Threat
The announcement, made by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on August 15, 2025, is a direct response to the increasing threat of these pests in Mexico. Recent months have seen the United States close its border to imports of cattle, horses, and bison from Mexico multiple times in order to mitigate the risk posed by these damaging insects. Border closures occurred three times in the past eight months, with the most alarming incident reported in July when an infestation was discovered just 370 miles from the Texas line.
With the potential for billions of dollars in economic losses looming over the cattle sector, the significance of this facility and its operations is critical. The larvae of the screwworm not only endanger livestock but can also infest wildlife, pets, and, in rare cases, humans.
Building a Barrier Against the Screwworm
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to start producing and releasing sterile male screwworm flies within a year of the factory’s opening. This strategy is reminiscent of a successful method employed in the 1970s that eradicated the species from the U.S. Essentially, the facility will breed sterile males that mate with wild females, yielding sterile eggs and naturally reducing the pest’s population.
The new facility aims to be highly productive, with an impressive capacity to produce 300 million flies per week. To complement this effort, an additional $100 million will be allocated for fly traps and lures, which will enhance the effectiveness of controlling these insects along the border.
Collaborative Efforts with Mexico
This initiative will not be limited to the U.S. alone, as it involves collaboration with Mexican authorities. Both U.S. officials and the Mexican Agriculture Secretary have endorsed a control action plan that emphasizes monitoring these pests within Mexico. This joint effort is essential, especially with the Mexican cattle industry already suffering from caterpillar-related infestations, which further impacts the U.S. due to border restrictions.
Potential Economic Ramifications
Serious concerns have been raised regarding the potential impacts on Texas livestock and the state’s food supply. As one of the leading cattle producers in the nation, Texas faces significant economic ramifications that could affect everything from grocery prices to the livelihoods of ranchers. Historical data reveals that the last major outbreak of New World screwworms in the U.S. during the 1960s resulted in the loss of an alarming 80% of Texas’s white-tailed deer population, highlighting the urgency of these preventative measures.
Conclusion: A Hopeful Future
As the U.S. gears up to address this ongoing issue with the $750 million plant in Edinburg, there is hope that established methods can be effectively revived. The initiative to produce sterile flies represents a promising strategy to safeguard Texas’s agricultural legacy while keeping the cattle trade flourishing as a critical part of the state’s economy. With active participation from the community and government backing, Texas ranchers may soon gain an upper hand 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
Author: STAFF HERE AUSTIN WRITER
The AUSTIN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAustinTX.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Austin, Travis County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as SXSW, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, and the Austin Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and Visit Austin, plus leading businesses in technology, automotive, and retail that power the local economy such as Dell Technologies, Tesla, and Apple. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
