USDA Facility to Stop Cattle Pest As Threat Nears Texas

A new federal facility under construction in South Texas is drawing attention from cattle producers across the state, including in Young County, as officials work to stop the spread of the New World screwworm.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture broke ground on April 17 on a sterile fly production plant in Edinburg, part of a national effort to prevent the pest from reaching Texas.

The screwworm, which attacks livestock by laying eggs in open wounds, has not yet been found in Texas but is moving closer, according to federal officials. If it arrives, it could cause serious losses for ranchers.

“The New World Screwworm threatens the health of our herds… and the stability of rural economies,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said.

The new facility will produce sterile flies to suppress the pest’s population, a method that has been used successfully in the past. Once operational, it is expected to produce up to 100 million flies per week, eventually expanding to 300 million.

For ranchers in North Texas, the project represents a line of defense.

While the threat remains outside the state, producers in areas like Olney are watching closely, knowing an outbreak could quickly impact cattle operations and the local economy.