USDA Invests $25 Million to Combat Screwworm Pest

The United States Department of Agriculture is investing $25 million to establish a sterile fly dispersal facility in Douglas, Arizona, to combat the New World screwworm. This effort is part of a larger containment strategy that includes a $750 million production plant in Texas. The parasitic pest was detected in June 2026, with 42 cases identified and eight remaining active.

These measures facilitate a phased reopening of cattle import ports from Mexico. The port in Douglas is scheduled to reopen on August 24, followed by openings in Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico, provided Mexico adheres to a joint action plan. These ports were originally closed in May 2025, a decision that contributed to record-high U.S. beef prices.

Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins and Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs coordinated the site selection for the Arizona facility. While some U.S. cattle producers argue that resuming imports increases infestation risks, federal officials maintain that the sterile insect technique is the only proven method for eradication. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has assessed the current risk of the screwworm to the U.S. public and animals as very low.