USDA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Break Ground on New Texas Sterile Fly Production Facility

The $750 million facility will expand domestic capacity to combat the New World Screwworm pest and protect America's livestock industry.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 12:53pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a collection of premium, polished metal and glass laboratory equipment and tools, such as beakers, pipettes, and petri dishes, arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic seamless background, conceptually representing the advanced scientific capabilities being deployed to combat the New World Screwworm pest.A state-of-the-art facility to mass produce sterile flies will bolster America's defenses against the New World Screwworm, a serious threat to livestock and food security.Edinburg Today

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have broken ground on a new sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas. The facility is a key part of USDA's strategy to combat the New World Screwworm (NWS), a serious pest that threatens livestock, wildlife, and public health. The new facility will initially produce 100 million sterile flies per week, with plans to scale up to 300 million per week.

Why it matters

The New World Screwworm poses a significant threat to the health of livestock herds, the stability of rural economies, and the resilience of the U.S. food supply chain. This new facility will expand domestic production capacity and reduce reliance on other countries, allowing the U.S. to better protect its agricultural industry from this dangerous pest.

The details

The $750 million facility is being built through a partnership between USDA and USACE. USACE is providing engineering, design, construction management, and contract oversight to ensure the facility meets high standards for biosecurity, reliability, and long-term operational readiness. The initial operational capability is targeted for November 2027, with plans to continue expanding production capacity to 300 million sterile flies per week. This new facility will complement USDA's existing sterile fly production in Panama and Mexico, creating a robust network to rapidly counter any NWS threat.

  • The groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 17, 2026.
  • Initial operational capability is targeted for November 2027, reaching 100 million sterile flies per week.
  • Construction will continue beyond initial operations to scale up to 300 million sterile flies per week.

The players

Brooke L. Rollins

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

Lieutenant General William H. 'Butch' Graham

Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

Senator Cornyn

U.S. Senator from Texas.

Representative De La Cruz

U.S. Representative from Texas.

Under Secretary Hoskins

USDA Under Secretary.

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What they’re saying

“Breaking ground on this facility marks a major investment in safeguarding America's livestock and the producers who feed this nation. This puts NWS sterile fly production in American hands, so we do not have to rely on other countries for the best offensive measure to push screwworm away from our borders.”

— Brooke L. Rollins, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

“Thank you to President Trump and Secretary Rollins for your leadership in helping mitigate the spread of the dangerous New World screwworm. I am glad to be in the Rio Grande Valley today for the groundbreaking of the sterile fly production facility, which will combat this parasite from spreading throughout the Lone Star State.”

— Senator Cornyn, U.S. Senator from Texas

“Today's groundbreaking is a historic moment for South Texas, and I am thrilled to see this $750 million investment officially begin to take shape for our farmers and ranchers. I am incredibly proud to have helped secure this facility and appreciate Secretary Rollins' commitment to protecting Texas agriculture from the threat of the New World Screwworm.”

— Representative De La Cruz, U.S. Representative from Texas

“Our mission at USACE is to deliver engineering solutions, with our partners, to secure our Nation, strengthen our economy, and reduce disaster risk. That's why we're proud to deliver an engineering solution to the New World Screwworm, which represents a direct threat to our nation's livestock, our food security, and our economy.”

— Lieutenant General William H. 'Butch' Graham, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

“The work here today would not be possible without the hardworking Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) employees here at USDA. Our partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers is essential, and we are deeply grateful for their unwavering commitment.”

— Under Secretary Hoskins, USDA Under Secretary

What’s next

The new facility is being built with an aggressive timeline, with initial operational capability targeted for November 2027. Construction will continue beyond the initial operations to scale up production capacity to 300 million sterile flies per week.

The takeaway

This new sterile fly production facility in Texas is a critical investment in protecting America's livestock industry and food supply chain from the threat of the New World Screwworm. By expanding domestic production capacity, the U.S. can better combat this dangerous pest and reduce reliance on other countries, strengthening the resilience of the agricultural sector.