New Fly Facility Protects Livestock

By Scout Nelson

Construction has officially begun on a new sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas. The groundbreaking took place on April 17 and marks an important step in strengthening the United States’ ability to control the New World screwworm (NWS), a dangerous pest that threatens livestock, wildlife, and public health. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop this facility as part of a broader national strategy.

This new facility is a key part of a five-part plan led by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to prevent and manage screwworm outbreaks. The goal is to increase domestic production of sterile flies, which are used to control the pest population. The project is being developed on a fast timeline to ensure that the country can respond quickly to any future threats.

The initial production target is set at 100 million sterile flies per week by November 2027. After reaching this milestone, the facility will continue expanding its operations to produce up to 300 million sterile flies each week. This increase will greatly improve the nation’s ability to manage and reduce screwworm populations.

Sterile fly production is a proven and effective method for controlling screwworms. Female screwworm flies mate only once in their lifetime. When they mate with sterile male flies, the eggs they produce do not hatch. Over time, this process reduces the overall population of the pest. This method, known as the sterile insect technique, has been used successfully for many years.

The new Texas facility will work alongside existing programs. A facility in Panama currently produces around 100 million sterile flies each week. In addition, the USDA has invested $21 million to upgrade a facility in Metapa, Mexico, which is expected to begin operations soon.

Together, these efforts will strengthen pest control systems and help protect agriculture and public health across the country.

These combined efforts will strengthen the country’s ability to respond to screwworm threats and protect agriculture. More information is available at https://www.usda.gov.

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