#sterileinsecttechnique

### The USDA’s Unconventional Weapon: Millions of Sterile Flies Take Flight The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched an unprecedented biological control campaign to suppress a resurgence of the New World screwworm—an obligate parasitic blowfly whose larvae can devastate cattle, sheep, and other livestock. By mass‑rearing and releasing 180 million sterilized flies from a newly inaugurated 22,000‑square‑foot facility in Metapa, Mexico, USDA aims to outcompete wild populations and halt the parasite’s spread before it inflicts further economic loss. **Key Takeaways** - **Scale of the operation:** The Metapa plant will produce up to 180 million sterile flies annually, a figure unprecedented in U.S. agricultural pest management. - **Sterile Insect Technique (SIT):** Released flies are irradiated to render males infertile, allowing them to mate with wild females without generating offspring, thereby reducing the screwworm population over time. - **Cross‑border collaboration:** The facility’s location in Mexico leverages favorable climate conditions for rapid fly production while strengthening bilateral bio‑security cooperation. - **Economic stakes:** Screwworm infestations can cost producers millions in livestock loss, veterinary care, and trade restrictions; the SIT program is a pre‑emptive investment to protect the $100 billion U.S. livestock sector. - **Environmental advantage:** Unlike chemical insecticides, sterile flies pose no residue risk, aligning with sustainable agriculture and wildlife conservation goals. - **Timeline:** Initial releases are slated to begin within weeks of the plant’s commissioning, targeting hotspots identified through USDA’s surveillance network. - **Long‑term outlook:** If successful, the program could serve as a template for combating other invasive pests threatening North American agriculture. #USDA #ScrewwormControl #SterileInsectTechnique #LivestockHealth #AgriculturalBiosecurity #Entomology #PestManagement #MexicoFacility #VeterinaryMedicine #newsababil360 [Read Full Article](https://news.ababil360.com/usda-mobilizes-180-million-sterile-flies-to-counter-new-world-screwworm-outbreak/)

## A One‑Year Production Gap Puts U.S. Beef at Risk The United States’ sterile‑fly program against the New World screwworm—a flesh‑eating larva that can devastate cattle herds—has hit a critical bottleneck. With manufacturing delays extending the rollout by roughly a year, the parasite has already moved beyond Texas, threatening producers across the Midwest and jeopardizing the nation’s beef supply chain. ### Key Takeaways - **Production slowdown**: The sterile‑fly facility is unable to meet schedule, creating a year‑long lag in deployment. - **Geographic spread**: Confirmed cases have risen from six infected cattle in Texas to new sightings in neighboring states. - **Economic exposure**: Cattle operations face potential losses exceeding hundreds of millions of dollars if the infestation expands unchecked. - **Biological control stakes**: The sterile‑insect technique remains the most effective, environmentally safe method to suppress screwworm populations. - **Regulatory pressure**: USDA and state animal health agencies are intensifying monitoring and contingency planning. - **Supply chain ripple**: Delays could translate into higher beef prices and reduced availability for consumers nationwide. - **Research urgency**: Funding for scaling up sterile‑fly production and alternative control methods is being fast‑tracked. - **Industry response**: Beef producers are seeking interim protective measures, including increased veterinary surveillance. - **Public‑health angle**: While not a direct human health threat, the screwworm’s impact on livestock can affect food security. - **Long‑term outlook**: Resolving the bottleneck is essential to restore confidence in the nation’s agricultural biosecurity infrastructure. [Read Full Article](https://news.ababil360.com/u-s-screwworm-sterile-flies-delay-threatens-beef-supply/) #Screwworm #SterileInsectTechnique #BeefSupply #CattleHealth #AgriculturalBiosecurity #TexasLivestock #USDA #ParasiteOutbreak #EconomicImpact #newsababil360