U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is preparing to unveil a major policy and control initiative targeting the New World screwworm, a parasitic fly that attacks warm-blooded animals and has been steadily advancing north from Central America through Mexico.

Speaking at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday before the Governor's Charity Steer Show, Rollins said she will travel to Texas on August 15 to deliver "probably the biggest announcement to date on New World screwworm and how we forever push it back."

The pest's reemergence has already disrupted livestock trade. On July 9, USDA closed the U.S.-Mexico border to livestock imports after reports confirmed the screwworm's northward spread. The shutdown came just two days after the agency had reopened a single port of entry in Douglas, Arizona, with plans to resume imports through four more crossings in the coming months.

Rollins acknowledged "unbelievable pressure" from international stakeholders to reopen those ports but stressed that the USDA is coordinating closely with the Mexican government to prevent further spread.

Reviving Old Tools with Modern Strategy
Texas recently reintroduced Swormlure, a 1970s-era bait that uses synthetic chemicals mimicking the smell of fresh wounds to lure adult screwworm flies, often paired with insecticides for lethal control. The method is part of a wider integrated pest management approach USDA and state agencies are exploring.

The screwworm poses a severe threat to U.S. livestock producers, as infestations can cause significant economic losses and animal suffering. The last major U.S. outbreak in the 1960s and 1970s required decades of coordinated eradication efforts across North and Central America.

Economic and Policy Stakes
The current resurgence is already straining the beef supply chain. U.S. cattle imports from Mexico-a key source for feedlots-remain suspended, tightening domestic supplies and adding pressure to already high cattle prices.

Rollins previewed the announcement during a press event in Iowa, where she also revealed a $152 million USDA investment in 19 rural development projects across the state. She was joined by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig, and USDA undersecretary nominee Glen Smith.

While the USDA has not disclosed details, industry leaders expect the Texas announcement to outline loterm prevention and surveillance strategies, potentially combining modern biotechnology with proven field methods like Swormlure to contain the pest permanently.