Story perspectives

Texas Pledges $750 M Fly Facility, Canada Halts Livestock shipments.

6/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

Governor Greg Abbott pledged money to speed construction of a $750 million sterile-fly breeding facility near the U.S.–Mexico border.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency temporarily barred live livestock imports from Texas after confirming the screwworm outbreak.
Record beef prices of $9.64 per pound and the USDA’s weekly release of millions of sterile flies show strain on cattle producers as the agency seeks EPA approval for the genetically modified male-only strain NovoFly.

History

Historical Context

After Edward F. Knipling and Raymond C. Bushland introduced the sterile-insect technique in 1958, USDA releases of up to 1.5 million sterile screwworm flies per week eradicated the pest from the United States by 1982. A 2026 Texas outbreak has prompted Governor Greg Abbott’s $750 million NovoFly program and a Canadian import ban, echoing the earlier eradication effort.

1 of 2

Story summary

Governor Greg Abbott pledged money to speed construction of a $750 million sterile-fly breeding facility near the U.S.–Mexico border.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency temporarily barred live livestock imports from Texas after confirming the screwworm outbreak.
Record beef prices of $9.64 per pound and the USDA’s weekly release of millions of sterile flies show strain on cattle producers as the agency seeks EPA approval for the genetically modified male-only strain NovoFly.

1 / 2