The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a groundbreaking $750 million sterile fly breeding program aimed at protecting American cattle from the invasive New World screwworm maggots spreading from Mexico. The project, set to launch at Moore Air Force Base near Edinburg, Texas, will serve as a central facility for the production of sterile flies, a biological control method proven effective in the past to eradicate the pest.
According to the USDA, New World screwworms pose a severe threat to U.S. livestock, wildlife, and even human health. The larvae of these flies can burrow into living animals, causing potentially fatal infections. While the pest had been effectively controlled in the United States since the 1970s, recent outbreaks in Mexico have raised concerns about its reemergence near the U.S. border. The program is designed to push the pest back to Panama, where it had been contained through similar measures before.
The USDA’s strategy extends beyond breeding sterile flies. The agency has allocated additional funds for technological interventions, including advanced traps, lures, and even horseback-mounted patrols known as ‘tick riders.’ Additionally, trained canines will play a role in detecting the pest, as highlighted by recent studies such as the Virginia Tech research on dogs identifying invasive species like the lanternfly.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has underscored the importance of safeguarding U.S. agricultural interests, framing farm security as a matter of national security. Speaking at a press conference in Austin, Texas, alongside Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Rollins emphasized that Texas, along with other border states, remains on the front lines of this battle. She also announced that the U.S. will continue to maintain a closed border for cattle, horses, and bison imports from Mexico until the threat has been significantly mitigated.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s agriculture ministry has acknowledged the economic impact of the screwworm infestation on its cattle industry and has vowed to take measures to address the issue. This dual approach highlights an international effort to combat the pest, with the U.S. taking the lead in deploying a comprehensive, multi-layered defense strategy. The project is expected to be fully operational within a year, with the long-term goal of protecting both U.S. agricultural interests and food security.