Sterile Fly Dispersal Facility in Texas is Complete

USDA announced the completion of the U.S.-based sterile fly dispersal facility in Edinburg, Texas this week.

“This facility will be a critical part of our overall efforts to combat the New World screwworm, allowing USDA to disperse sterile flies more readily in northern Mexico and in the southern United States," said Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins during this week's ribbon cutting ceremony.

Rollins added the expansion of sterile fly production and dispersal facilities as the main method to eradicate New World screwworm and protect the U.S.'s cattle supply also includes, "Over $20 million to upgrade the Matapa, Mexico facility to suppress populations at the source. The contracting phase is now coming to conclusion. The break ground phase to open up the facility that we're building here to produce our own flies in America.”

USDA says that facility groundbreaking in South Texas is expected later this spring.

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