News

USDA announced the next milestone in the fight against New World screwworm (NWS) – the opening of a sterile fly dispersal facility in Tampico, Mexico. The Tampico facility will allow USDA to disperse sterile flies aerially across northeastern Mexico, including in Nuevo Leon.

There are 2 methods of dispersing sterile insects – aerial dispersal and ground release chambers. Aerial operations are preferred because they allow for dispersal at a steady rate through a large area and also because sterile insects may be dispersed in areas that are unreachable from the ground. Ground release chambers are used when there’s a need to quickly deploy sterile insects outside of the dispersal facility range.

USDA continues to disperse 100 million sterile flies per week in Mexico, but until now, aerial operations have been limited to southern Mexico, necessitating the use of ground release chambers in more northern areas of the country. Mass production and targeted dispersal of sterile flies remain critical components of effective response.

Although Mexico continues to confirm new cases of NWS, the overwhelming majority of these remain in the far southern part of the country, with no significant northward expansion over the past several months. Should that change, the Tampico facility will allow USDA to immediately tackle any cases that occur elsewhere in Mexico.

The two northernmost detections (approximately 70 and 170 miles from the U.S. border, respectively) occurred in Nuevo León, on September 20 and October 5, in young cattle transported from Chiapas, Mexico. Neither of those cases is still active and there have been no additional detections of NWS flies in traps or cases in animals in Nuevo Leon. USDA continues to disperse sterile insects in Nuevo Leon, and will now transition from ground release chambers to aerial dispersal in those areas.

USDA produces sterile flies for dispersal at the COPEG facility in Panama. USDA is also investing $21 million to support Mexico’s renovation of an existing fruit fly facility in Metapa, which will double NWS production capacity once complete. With ongoing support from technical experts from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Mexico anticipates this sterile fly production to begin as soon as summer 2026.

USDA has also begun construction on a sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas, that is projected to begin operating in early 2026. APHIS is also expediting design and construction of a sterile fly production facility in southern Texas, with a targeted maximum capacity of 300 million sterile flies per week.

USDA continues to work with Mexico’s agriculture authority, SENASICA, to implement the collaborative NWS action plan and guide trapping, surveillance, and movement protocols to help stop the northward spread of NWS.

Source: USDA Press Releases, No. 0230.25 (November 13, 2025)

Last week in Mexico City, Mexico, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins led the largest USDA agribusiness trade mission in U.S. history. During the mission to Mexico, 41 U.S. businesses, 33 cooperators and agriculture advocacy groups, 6 State Departments of Agriculture, and 150 participants conducted more than 500 business-to-business meetings over 3 days. This was a critical opportunity for U.S. business to further trade ties and for USDA to continue its aggressive response to New World Screwworm (NWS) in Mexico and continue to hold Mexico accountable for its commitments to the 1944 Water Treaty.

In addition to participating in this trade mission, Secretary Rollins met with the team at Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) Headquarters NWS Control Room to showcase bilateral efforts to combat the spread of NWS in Mexico. Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins accompanied Secretary Rollins on the trip and visited the State of Chiapas to review NWS containment practices and enforcement.

Secretary Rollins and Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg visited a Walmart Super Center in Mexico City and Bimbo Bakery, both major importers of U.S. products for use in their operations. The American delegation was joined by Chanel Tewalt, Director of Idaho State Department of Agriculture, Sherry Vinton, Director of Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Derek Sandison, Director of Washington State Department of Agriculture, and officials from the California, Tennessee, and Wisconsin State Departments of Agriculture.

Mexico was the top market for U.S. agricultural exports in 2024, with shipments valued at $30.2 billion.

Source: USDA-FAS Newsroom, News Release (November 13, 2025)

USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is now accepting applications for its agribusiness trade mission to Jakarta, Indonesia, scheduled for February 2–5, 2026. U.S. exporters interested in exploring trade opportunities in Indonesia’s thriving agricultural market must apply by Friday, October 10, 2025. 

In 2024, U.S. agricultural exports to Indonesia totaled nearly $3 billion, making it the 11th-largest market for U.S. products. Despite the U.S. being the 4th-largest agricultural supplier to Indonesia, there is a $1.1 billion deficit. The 2025 trade agreement is expected to unlock new market access and help close the gap. Under the agreement, Indonesia would eliminate tariffs on more than 99% of U.S. products and address long-standing barriers to U.S. agricultural trade, opening doors to expanded market access.  

“This trade deal creates an unprecedented opportunity for American farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses to gain more access to Southeast Asia’s largest market,” said Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg, who will lead the mission. “This mission is well-timed to connect U.S. exporters with key buyers and meet Indonesia’s growing demand for high-quality American agricultural goods — boosting rural economies and keeping U.S. products globally competitive.”

Participants will join buyers from across Indonesia for targeted business-to-business meetings. USDA-FAS staff and regional experts will also host networking events, market briefings, and site visits.

For more information or to apply, visit the Indonesia Agribusiness Trade Mission webpage.

Source: USDA-FAS Newsroom, News Release (Sept. 26, 2025)

USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg announced an aggressive 3-point plan that will support U.S. agricultural producers and exporters. According to Lindberg, "Secretary Rollins is focused on expanding market access, enforcing trade commitments, and boosting rural prosperity. Market promotion support, rapid response to reciprocal trade agreements, and better financing programs will translate to progress in chipping away at the $50 billion agricultural deficit."

The 3-point plan was announced during remarks at the annual meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and includes:

• America First Trade Promotion Program: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act authorized an additional $285 million per year for trade promotion programs beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2027. USDA will kickstart that program 1 year early with $285 million in FY26 and launch the America First Trade Promotion Program.

• Trade Reciprocity for U.S. Manufacturers and Producers (TRUMP) Mission: USDA will launch a new model of trade missions — as a supplement to the current model — targeting reciprocal trade deal countries and new market access opportunities. The focus of these will be determined country-by-country to maximize high-return, low-risk agricultural export prospects and connect buyers and sellers.

• Revitalize export finance opportunities: The GSM-102 credit guarantee program is authorized to offset $5.5 billion in market risk for purchasers of U.S. commodities. Currently, the program has only $2 billion in liabilities on its books. USDA will reinvigorate this program to ensure it is best aligned to facilitate U.S. exports to new markets. The GSM-102 program provides credit guarantees to encourage financing of commercial exports of U.S. agricultural products. By reducing financial risk to lenders, credit guarantees encourage exports to buyers in countries that have sufficient financial strength to have foreign exchange available for scheduled payments.

Source: USDA-FAS Newsroom, News Release (September 23, 2025)

On September 10, 2025, Colombia officially reopened its market to U.S. live cattle under the same import requirements as previously established, following successful discussions between USDA Bogota and Colombia's Plant and Health Authority (ICA). Import requirements are now accessible through ICA’s SISPAP system. This development resolves the April 2024 restrictions on U.S. live cattle and select bovine products, which were initially imposed due to concerns over Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

Source: USDA-FAS Global Agricultural Information Network, Report No. CO2025-0023, September 22, 2025

Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) confirmed a new case of New World screwworm (NWS) in Sabinas Hidalgo, located in the state of Nuevo León, less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. This is now the northernmost detection of NWS during this outbreak, and the one most threatening to the American cattle and livestock industry. Sabinas Hidalgo is located near the major highway from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, to Laredo, Texas, which is one of the most heavily trafficked commercial thoroughfares in the world.

Currently, U.S. ports remain closed to imports of cattle, bison, and horses from Mexico.

Since July, USDA alongside Mexico, has been actively monitoring nearly 8,000 traps across Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. To date, more than 13,000 screening samples have been submitted, with no NWS flies detected. USDA is analyzing all new information related to the recent case in Nuevo León and will pursue all options to release sterile flies in this region as necessary.

USDA has made substantial progress in implementing its 5-prong plan to protect the nation’s livestock, wildlife, and public health from the growing threat of NWS:

1. Innovating our way to eradication.
2. Protecting the U.S. border.
3. Strengthening surveillance and detection.
4. Enhancing public awareness and education.
5. Coordinating with Mexico and international partners.

USDA is working in close partnership with the following Federal agencies to ensure a unified national response:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Food and Drug Administration.
• Department of the Interior.
• Department of Energy.
• Department of Homeland Security.
• Environmental Protection Agency.
• Department of State.

NWS maggots can infest livestock and other warm-blooded animals, including people. They most often enter an animal through an open wound and feed on the animal’s living flesh. USDA urges residents on the southern border to check their pets and livestock for signs of NWS. Look for draining or enlarging wounds and signs of discomfort. Also look for screwworm larvae (maggots) and eggs in or around body openings, such as the nose, ears, and genitalia or the navel of newborn animals. If you suspect your animal is infected with screwworm, contact your state animal health official or USDA area veterinarian immediately. While not common in people, if you notice a suspicious lesion on your body or suspect you may have contracted screwworm, seek immediate medical attention. Learn more about NWS on the APHIS website.

Source: USDA Press Releases, No. 0220.25 (September 21, 2025)