Drones will be used to detect cattle infected with the New World screwworm in the Rio Grande Valley, federal officials announced.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott held a Monday press conference in Edinburg to announce the new initiative.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Customs and Border Protection signed an agreement allowing the USDA to use CBP drones to find infected animals. The drones use AI technology to identify which animals may be infected.

"If the drones are seeing a herd of white-tailed deer, they can spot the deer, and then that technology can zero in on it if there is one or two that have a higher temperature than the others, there is a good chance they have a New World screwworm," Secretary Rollins said.

Rollins explained detection is step one of the plan. Step two involves releasing sterile flies in an infected area to stop the spread.

The drones will also help crack down on ranchers illegally moving livestock.

Russell Boening, co-owner of Boening Bros in San Antonio, has worked with cattle for more than 70 years. He says the drones should help prevent the spread of the pest.

Boening encouraged ranchers and livestock owners to stay alert.

"The fight is not over. We still need to be vigilant. We need to watch our cattle, our livestock, and our wildlife, but it is heartening for me," Boening said.

The USDA also announced the new sterile fly building in Edinburg is now set to open in April, seven months ahead of schedule.

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