USDA Invests $25 Million in Arizona for Sterile Fly Facility to Combat Livestock Threat
In a strategic move to safeguard the livestock industry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has earmarked $25 million to establish a sterile fly dispersal facility in Douglas, Arizona. The initiative aims to eradicate the New World screwworm, a parasite that poses a significant threat to livestock.
The sterile insect technique involves releasing sterile New World screwworm flies to mate with wild populations, thereby reducing their numbers. Currently, the United States operates only one other such facility in southern Texas.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced this funding during her visit to Douglas, highlighting the importance of this method. “The sterile insect technique is the only proven method to eradicate New World screwworm, and we will continue expanding this critical tool to protect America’s livestock and food supply,” Rollins stated on social media.
The upcoming facility is part of broader efforts to reopen the border to livestock trade, which has been closed for over a year due to concerns about the parasitic threat. The Douglas Port of Entry is set to reopen on August 24, facilitating trade while ensuring biosecurity.
Notably, Arizona and its neighboring Mexican state, Sonora, have not reported any screwworm cases, yet vigilance remains high. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs expressed support for the new facility. In a letter to Rollins, shared on social media, she emphasized the state’s ongoing collaboration with local leaders and livestock industry stakeholders to protect cattle from the parasite.
Hobbs added, “We hope the federal government will work with us to keep our cattle safe, lower the price of beef, and ensure we block this pest from coming into our state with a new sterile fly dispersal facility.”
As the USDA and local governments work in tandem, the new facility represents a significant step in protecting the livestock sector and maintaining a secure food supply chain.
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