Pests
Agragene plans to target spotted wing drosophila before expanding the technology to livestock pests.
Agragene is developing a precision sterile insect system as part of USDA’s New World Screwworm Grand Challenge.
Pear growers are recovering after last season’s losses from pests, heat and reduced irrigation.
While demand is one concern, U.S. growers are also monitoring the cotton jassid, an emerging insect threat.
Bryan Witherbee, the CEO of Agragene, says the technology builds on the sterile insect technique, which successfully helped eliminate pink bollworm and New World Screwworm in the past.
Experts says one barn owl family can eat an estimated 1,600 to 4,000 rodents each year.
Helena remains focused on developing practical technologies that address the challenges growers face while delivering measurable value in the field.
Texas livestock specialists say the pasture mealybug, an invasive insect, has been confirmed in 70 counties since its discovery in 2025.
Higher production costs remain a challenge, but growers say recent H-2A changes provide some labor relief.