REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- USDA on Thursday provided more details about last week's trade mission to Mexico City and announced the opening of a new screwworm defense facility in Tampico, Mexico.

Last week's trip, which USDA billed as the "largest trade mission in the department's history to Mexico," brought together 41 U.S. businesses and 150 participants who conducted more than 500 business-to-business meetings over three days while advancing critical efforts to combat New World screwworm (NWS), according to a USDA news release.

The mission, which included 33 cooperators and agriculture advocacy groups along with six state departments of agriculture, addressed multiple priority issues, including the ongoing NWS outbreak in Mexico, enforcement of the 1944 Water Treaty, and expansion of market access for American agricultural products.

"The trading and diplomatic relationship between our two countries is of the utmost importance to President (Donald) Trump and American farmers and ranchers," said Rollins. "Whether it is securing the Southern Border from illegal migration, combatting New World Screwworm, or expanding market access for American agricultural products, we are working every day to put American interests first."

U.S. AND MEXICO COLLABORATE

During last week's mission, Rollins met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to discuss collaborative efforts to eradicate NWS, which is having a negative impact on both countries' economies. The leaders agreed to conduct a comprehensive joint review of NWS response efforts. They also agreed to ensure enforcement of joint responsibilities under the 1944 water treaty, according to Rollins.

TRADE RELATIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTED

The mission also highlighted the critical economic relationship between the two nations. Mexico was the top market for U.S. agricultural exports in 2024, with shipments valued at $30.2 billion. Consumer-oriented products constituted nearly 50% of that trade at $14.6 billion, while bulk commodity exports accounted for one-third at $10.0 billion.

Rollins and Under Secretary for Trade Luke Lindberg visited a Walmart Super Center and Bimbo Bakery in Mexico City, both major importers of U.S. products. Grupo Bimbo alone imported nearly $400 million in U.S. ingredients in 2024, including wheat, dairy, eggs, potatoes, and nuts.

STERILE FLY DISPERSAL FACILITY OPENS

Also on Thursday, USDA announced the opening of a sterile fly dispersal facility in Tampico, Mexico. The facility will enable aerial dispersal of sterile flies across northeastern Mexico, including Nuevo Leon, providing greater flexibility and responsiveness in northern regions, according to a USDA news release.

"The opening of the Tampico sterile fly dispersal facility is another incredibly important tool in our arsenal to stop the spread of screwworm," Rollins said. "The facility will ensure flexibility and responsiveness in northern Mexico, giving us a greater ability to drop sterile flies and continue to push the pest south."

Until now, aerial operations were limited to southern Mexico, requiring the use of ground release chambers in northern areas. The Tampico facility allows USDA to transition to more effective aerial dispersal methods, which can cover larger areas at a steady rate and reach terrain inaccessible from the ground.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller commended Rollins for the opening of the Tampico facility.

"Secretary Rollins made it clear that the U.S. is serious about protecting animal health and safeguarding our border. Her engagement with Mexican officials on the New World Screwworm threat is critically important," he said.

FLY DISTRIBUTION CONTINUES

USDA continues dispersing 100 million sterile flies per week in Mexico. While Mexico continues confirming new NWS cases, the overwhelming majority remain in the far southern part of the country, with no significant northward expansion over recent months. The two northernmost detections occurred in Nuevo Leon in September and October -- approximately 70 and 170 miles from the U.S. border -- in young cattle transported from Chiapas. Neither case remains active, and no additional detections have occurred in the area.

USDA is investing $21 million to support Mexico's renovation of a fruit fly facility in Metapa, which will double NWS production capacity when complete in summer 2026. The agency has also begun constructing a sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas, projected to operate in early 2026, and is expediting construction of a production facility in southern Texas with targeted capacity of 300 million sterile flies per week.

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

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