USDA Pledges $25 Million for Arizona Screwworm Facility as Mexican Cattle Imports Resume

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will commit $25 million to a new facility in Arizona for dispersing sterile flies to combat the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating pest threatening livestock. The agency's announcement on Wednesday supports a broader strategy to control the parasite as the U.S. prepares to lift a ban on cattle imports from Mexico.

Resuming Trade and Managing Risk

The funding coincides with the USDA's plan to resume imports of Mexican cattle, which were halted more than a year ago to prevent the pest from entering the country. The agency stated it will reopen a port of entry in Douglas, Arizona, on August 24, with two additional ports in New Mexico to follow.

The import ban was a contributing factor to record-high U.S. beef prices, creating pressure on the administration to lower costs for consumers. However, the decision to resume trade has drawn criticism from some American cattle producers, who argue it increases the risk of screwworm infestations in domestic herds.

A Strategic Investment in Pest Control

The new dispersal facility in Douglas was proposed by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs in a letter to the USDA. In a post on X, Hobbs warned that the "continued threat of New World screwworm, prolonged disruptions to livestock trade, and additional costs for producers could keep beef prices elevated and further strain household grocery budgets."

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The USDA considers the release of sterile flies the most effective tool against the pest. This project is part of a larger federal effort, which includes the construction of a $750 million sterile fly production plant in Texas, as the agency seeks to significantly increase its capacity to fight the screwworm.

The Screwworm Threat

New World screwworms are parasitic flies that lay eggs in the open wounds of any warm-blooded animal. After hatching, the larvae burrow into and consume living flesh, which can be fatal if left untreated. The pest has been migrating north through Central America and was detected on farms in Texas and New Mexico in June.

The USDA has stated its goal is to push the screwworm's geographic boundary back to the Darien Gap, a dense rainforest between Panama and Colombia. Achieving this requires a massive supply of sterile flies to disrupt the pest's life cycle across a wide area.