News Summary
In Edinburg, Texas announces significant measures to combat the New World Screwworm (NWS), a threat to agriculture. With a $1 billion investment from the USDA and state officials, a sterile fly production facility will aim to eradicate this invasive species. Governor Abbott emphasizes the economic stakes involved, as losses could be catastrophic for cattle and wildlife industries. A proactive response team will monitor and tackle the NWS threat along the U.S.-Mexico border, aiming to secure Texas’s agricultural future.
Texas has announced a historic federal investment of nearly $1 billion to combat the threat posed by the New World Screwworm (NWS), an invasive pest that jeopardizes the state’s vital livestock and agricultural industries. This significant funding comes as a joint effort from U.S. Senator John Cornyn, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), led by Secretary Brooke Rollins.
The new initiative includes $750 million earmarked for the construction of a state-of-the-art sterile fly production facility to be established in Edinburg, Texas. Once operational, this facility is expected to produce an estimated 300 million sterile screwworm flies per week, which is key to eradicating the NWS pest.
The NWS is a parasitic fly that lays its larvae in the open wounds of warm-blooded animals, leading to severe damage, infections, and even potential death. Given Texas’s substantial cattle industry, the presence of this pest raises alarming concerns regarding the state’s food supply and economic stability. Current estimates predict that economic losses attributable to the NWS could soar to billions annually across both the cattle and hunting sectors.
The USDA’s proactive response follows the detection of the NWS just 700 miles from the southern border of the United States. To mitigate further risks, the USDA has temporarily halted cattle imports from Mexico, aiming to contain any potential outbreak of NWS within U.S. territory. Governor Abbott has emphasized the urgent need for this intervention to protect Texas’s agricultural economy.
Historically, Texas has endured devastating consequences from previous NWS outbreaks. In the 1960s, as much as 80% of the state’s white-tailed deer population was affected, illustrating the potential severity of NWS impacts on wildlife and agricultural economies alike.
The establishment of the sterile fly production facility marks the first of its kind in the United States, taking the reins from previous operations based in Panama and Mexico. This facility is vital for controlling the NWS population and implementing effective pest management strategies in Texas and beyond.
In addition to the sterile fly production, USDA plans to allocate up to $100 million for research into innovative technologies aimed at monitoring and fighting the NWS. This includes novel trapping methods and modular units designed for sterile fly production. To enhance surveillance efforts, the USDA will recruit mounted patrol officers known as tick riders to monitor livestock for NWS signs along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Collaboration with Mexican agricultural officials is also part of the strategy to improve oversight and containment efforts for NWS within Mexico, emphasizing the need for a cooperative approach to tackling this pest that poses a cross-border threat.
Projected losses from the spread of NWS could surpass $2.1 billion in cattle, alongside $9 billion in the hunting and wildlife sectors in Texas. To address these challenges, the Texas Animal Health Commission and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have formed a New World Screwworm Response Team aimed at coordinating state efforts against the pest.
This comprehensive investment and response plan reflect the critical nature of the NWS threat, which Secretary Rollins has articulated as posing risks not only to American agriculture but also to national security. The USDA’s commitment extends to supporting the development of animal drugs that prioritize prevention and treatment for NWS, showcasing a multifaceted approach to an issue that could have long-lasting repercussions on the state’s economy and public health.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- DW News: Parasitic Screwworm Outbreak
- Wikipedia: New World Screwworm
- The Hill: Abbott and Rollins on Screwworm
- Google Search: New World Screwworm
- El Paso Times: USDA Steps to Stop Screwworm
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Parasite
- MRT: USDA Screwworm Facility in Texas
- Google News: Screwworm Texas
Author: STAFF HERE COLLEGE WRITER
The COLLEGE STATION STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECollegeStation.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in College Station, Brazos 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 the Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo, Chilifest, and Aggie Muster. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Brazos Valley, plus leading businesses in education, biotechnology, and retail that power the local economy such as Texas A&M University, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, and H-E-B. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HEREDallas.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
