Construction is moving forward on a new production facility for sterile screwworm flies.

The facility is in Edinburg and is being built to stop the spread of the New World Screwworm.

Rancher Francisco Cruz was a child when his father had to deal with a screwworm outbreak affecting the family herd.

Now, despite concerns over the spread of screwworms in the U.S., Cruz says he is taking action rather than worrying.

"When you're feeding your cattle, give them a check," Cruz said.

Livestock auctioneers like Charley Solis said they can compare this situation to some fever tick outbreaks they had and are still dealing with.

Solis is concerned about the broader impact on the cattle industry.

"The majority of our livestock that is sold here is shipped up north, and some of the purchasers, people that invest in those cattle, have been a little leery because of the situation with the screwworm," Solis said.

Starr County remains under a Texas Animal Health Commission quarantine, though no active screwworm cases are currently reported in the area.

As work continues on the sterile fly facility, ranchers like Cruz believe sale barn inspections—including those at the Rio Grande City location — will catch infected livestock.

"People know what to look out for, they inspect the cattle before they come into the ring," Cruz said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is building the nearly $800 million facility to mass produce sterile flies.

The facility is expected to be completed by late next year.

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