Texas set to use synthetic bait to combat the spread of New World screwworm

“We got to do something now!”

The Texas Department of Agriculture is deploying a synthetic bait called Swormlure-5. It is designed to smell like an open wound, drawing flies in and helping control the spread.

Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller spoke with RFD-TV’s Tammi Arender about how the bait works, what producers need to know, and next steps moving forward.

Related Stories
Lawmakers advance FY27 agriculture funding bill, highlighting support for rural development, school lunches, disease response, and water issues.
National Pork Producers Council President Rob Brenneman joins us to discuss Prop 12 provisions in the House’s Farm Bill as it heads to the Senate for debate.
Researchers say stronger rootstocks are helping growers fight citrus greening.
The New World Screwworm case was detected roughly 119 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border — at nearly the same latitude as Zapata, Texas.
The spending bill keeps animal health and traceability funding in place while trimming several other USDA accounts.
With the Farm Bill now in the Senate’s hands, industry groups say the stakes are high—and timely action could be critical for producers navigating a difficult economic environment.