Plans to strengthen the nation’s defenses against the New World Screwworm are moving forward as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Army Corps of Engineers announced a new construction contract for a sterile fly production facility in Texas.
The agencies have awarded the contract to Mortenson Construction to build the facility at Moore Air Base. The site will play a central role in the five-prong strategy announced by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to prevent the spread of the invasive pest and protect the U.S. livestock industry.
The sterile fly facility is designed to expand the USDA’s domestic response capacity, allowing officials to produce more sterile flies used to control and suppress New World Screwworm populations. Officials say the expanded production capability will strengthen protections for U.S. livestock, wildlife, and public health.
Under the agreement, the Army Corps of Engineers will partner with USDA and provide oversight for the project, including the facility’s design, engineering, and construction.
“The Army Corps is the best in the business, and their engineering expertise and proven track record in delivering complex projects will help ensure that we can build a modern, resilient facility that protects American agriculture from invasive pests for decades to come,” said Rollins.
Lt. General William Graham added that the Corps has long played a role in addressing national challenges through engineering and infrastructure development.
Officials say the new facility represents another step in USDA’s broader effort to prevent New World Screwworm from threatening the U.S. cattle herd and livestock industry.