Texas Agriculture Commissioner Urges USDA Action Against Screwworm Outbreak Threatening Livestock
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has called for immediate federal action to combat the spread of the New World screwworm, a destructive livestock pest. Recent detections in Texas and New Mexico have raised alarms, prompting Miller to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to deploy the Screwworm Adult Suppression System (SWASS). This system uses targeted bait to kill fertile adult screwworm flies, preventing reproduction. Miller emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the pest's spread could threaten billions of dollars in agricultural production. The USDA, along with state and federal partners, has initiated surveillance and testing efforts, but Miller insists on a more aggressive approach, including the use of sterile fly releases in conjunction with SWASS. 
