NextFin news, On August 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans to construct a $750 million fly factory on Moore Air Base, located near Edinburg, Texas, approximately 20 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. The factory will breed billions of sterile male New World screwworm flies to combat the flesh-eating parasite that threatens cattle across the southern United States.
The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, causing severe damage to cattle and wildlife. The parasite has been spreading from Mexico into the U.S., posing a risk of devastating the cattle industry and increasing beef prices.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that the agency aims to begin producing and releasing sterile flies into the wild within a year of the factory's opening. The sterile insect technique involves releasing sterile males that mate with wild females, resulting in no offspring and a reduction in the parasite population.
In addition to the fly factory, the USDA plans to invest $100 million in supplementary measures, including deploying fly traps and lures, increasing border patrols with horseback-mounted "tick riders," and training dogs to detect the parasite. These efforts are designed to prevent the screwworm from crossing the border and causing further harm to U.S. livestock.
The factory's location on Moore Air Base in southern Texas was chosen for its proximity to the border, facilitating rapid response to outbreaks. The initiative represents a significant federal investment in protecting the agricultural sector from this invasive pest.
The screwworm parasite has historically caused major losses in livestock, and its resurgence has prompted coordinated efforts between the U.S. and Mexican governments to control its spread. The sterile insect release program has been used successfully in the past to eradicate screwworm infestations in the U.S.
This announcement was reported by multiple sources including The Associated Press and Dallas News on August 15 and 16, 2025.
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