Photo from Halfacre Construction Co., Aerial Innovations of Florida, and J. Renshaw, via Wikimedia Commons
The US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced earlier this week that Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas will be the site of a new sterile fly production facility in the efforts to eradicate the New World Screwworm. This $8.5 Million facility will help augment the existing sterile fly facility at COPEG, The Panama – US Commission for the eradication and prevention of the Cattle Screwworm.
Secretary Rollins also announced a five-pronged plan to enhance existing USDA Efforts to combat New World Screwworm including, “stop the pest from spreading in Mexico and ensure we are full partners in eradication, Protect the US Border at All Costs, maximize our readiness, Take the fight to the screwworm, and innovate our way to eradication.”
At a press conference held earlier this week Secretary Rollins said, “The United States has defeated NWS before and we will do it again. We do not take lightly the threat NWS poses to our livestock industry, our economy, and our food supply chain. The United States government will use all resources at its disposal to push back NWS, and today’s announcement of a domestic strategy to bolster our border defenses is just the beginning. We have the proven tools, strong domestic and international partnerships, and the grit needed to win this battle.”
This announcement was foreshadowed during the House Agriculture Committee last week through the Secretary’s testimony. The USDA will hold four public listening sessions for stakeholders to provide input on the finalization of future eradication plans.
Dale Sandlin reporting for Southeast AgNet.