October 20, 2025

USDA rejects Texas plan to use fly traps Against Screwworm Infestations in Cattle 

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is clashing with the Trump administration over its handling of a parasitic pest spreading north through Mexico that could endanger the state's US$15 billion cattle industry if it crosses the border.

In an interview with a Nashville television network that focuses on rural issues, Miller expressed frustration that the US Department of Agriculture was not using a synthetic bait that he has promoted to combat the New World Screwworm, a fly that infects warm-blooded animals and recently has been spotted less than 100 miles from the border.

"I still haven't gotten buy-in from the USDA to do a fly bait," Miller told RFD-TV. "If we put out the fly bait, we can wipe out the screwworm in Mexico in 90 days, but for some reason, they're very reluctant to do that."

On October 14, the USDA responded accusing the elected agriculture commissioner of "blatantly disregarding tried and true (New World Screwworm) offensive strategies in favor of clickbait publicity stunts."

In the statement, which was first reported by RFD-TV and provided to The Texas Tribune by the USDA, a spokesperson said the agency deployed and tested Miller's "infamous traps" and they were found to be "ineffective."

"In one month, USDA's traps in Panama caught thousands of New World Screwworm flies — Commissioner Miller's traps caught ONE single NWS fly," the spokesperson said. "When presented with the results of his traps underperforming, Commissioner Miller indicated USDA staff should ‘paint them black' to which USDA declined."

-      AP