Fact Check: "Texas facility could produce 300 million sterile flies weekly!"
What We Know
The claim that a facility in Texas could produce 300 million sterile flies weekly is based on recent announcements from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). On June 18, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced plans for a sterile New World screwworm (NWS) fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in South Texas. This facility is part of a broader strategy to combat the resurgence of the NWS, a pest that poses a significant threat to livestock and wildlife in the United States. The USDA indicated that this facility could potentially boost domestic sterile fly production by up to 300 million flies per week, complementing existing production facilities in Panama and Mexico, which currently produce around 117 million flies weekly (USDA Press Release).
The facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2025 and is part of a five-pronged plan to enhance the USDA's capabilities in detecting and controlling the NWS. The plan includes collaboration with Mexico to improve surveillance and control measures (Spectrum News).
Analysis
The statement that the Texas facility could produce 300 million sterile flies weekly is partially true. While the USDA has indeed proposed that the new facility could reach this production capacity, it is important to note that this is a projection rather than a confirmed output. The announcement indicates that the facility is still in the planning stages and will not be operational until late 2025 (USDA Press Release, Texas Tribune).
The USDA's current production capabilities are significantly lower, with existing facilities in Panama producing about 117 million flies weekly. The proposed facility in Texas aims to complement this production, but the actual output will depend on various factors, including technological developments and operational efficiency (Spectrum News, Bay News 9).
Furthermore, while the USDA has a history of successfully eradicating the NWS in the past, the effectiveness of the new facility in achieving the projected output and combating the pest remains to be seen. The USDA's plans are ambitious and reflect a serious commitment to addressing the threat posed by the NWS, but they are contingent on future developments and successful implementation of the facility (USDA Press Release, Texas Tribune).
Conclusion
The claim that a Texas facility could produce 300 million sterile flies weekly is partially true. While the USDA has announced plans for such production, it is still in the proposal phase, and the facility will not be operational until 2025. The actual production capacity will depend on various factors, including the successful establishment of the facility and advancements in sterile fly production technology.
Sources
- Secretary Rollins Announces Bold Plan to Combat New World Screwworm’s Northward Spread - USDA Press Release
- The U.S. plans to open a fly factory in Texas - Spectrum News
- U.S. will fight screwworm from South Texas - Texas Tribune
- The U.S. plans to open a fly factory in Texas - Bay News 9
