By Julie Tomascik
Editor

Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) is calling for swift Congressional action to strengthen the nation’s defenses against a dangerous livestock pest: the New World screwworm (NWS).

Members of the Texas Congressional delegation—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), U.S. Ben Ray Lujan (D-MN) and U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX)—introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at preventing the pest’s reestablishment in the U.S.

The Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms (STOP Screwworms) Act would authorize funding to construct a domestic sterile fly production facility, an essential part of eradication and long-term control efforts.

“Texas Farm Bureau thanks U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales for introducing the STOP Screwworms Act and for being leaders on the New World screwworm issue,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “The NWS is a devastating pest that could cripple the U.S. livestock industry and cause significant losses to livestock and wildlife. It’s critical to be proactive and provide resources for swift response, including the immediate construction of a sterile fly facility.”

The sterile insect technique has been a proven effective in controlling NWS. Because female screwworm flies mate only once in their lifetime, releasing sterilized male flies prevents reproduction, gradually reducing the population. This method successfully eradicated the pest from the U.S. in 1966 and continues to be used in Mexico and Latin America, where outbreaks still occur.

“Combatting the destructive New World screwworm is vital to protecting our cattle, Texas producers and the American livestock industry as a whole,” Cornyn said. “I am proud to lead this legislation to create a new facility dedicated to pushing these pests away from our border and will continue to work with Secretary Rollins and agriculture leaders across the state to ensure our farmers, ranchers, and producers have the resources they need.”

The screwworm is just 700 miles from the U.S., prompting urgent calls for action.

“We need to fully eradicate this pest before it’s too late,” Gonzales said. “The STOP Screwworms Act provides dedicated resources to do just that. By authorizing the construction of a new sterile fly facility in the United States, we reduce our dependence on Latin American partners for eradication efforts and take matters into our own hands.”

On May 11, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins temporarily closed the southern border to livestock imports to help slow the spread of the pest.

“We ask leaders in Washington to take this animal health threat seriously and immediately pass this legislation to protect our country,” Boening said.