Texas Launches Free Screwworm Inspector Training to Keep Livestock Moving

As New World screwworm cases continue emerging across Texas and New Mexico, Governor Greg Abbott announced a first-of-its-kind initiative on June 13 designed to address one of the outbreak's most pressing logistical challenges: the shortage of certified inspectors needed to keep legitimate livestock commerce flowing.

The free online training program, developed by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in partnership with USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Texas Animal Health Commission, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, aims to rapidly expand the pool of individuals qualified to inspect animals and certify documentation required for lawful movement.

"The State of Texas will use every tool to protect our cattle industry and wildlife while we eradicate this pest," Abbott said in announcing the program. "Through this program, Texas will protect our ranchers, ensure the security of our food supply and keep business strong."

The four-hour modular course, delivered through AgriLife Extension's AgriLife Learn platform, covers New World screwworm biology and life cycle, surveillance and reporting protocols, species-specific inspection procedures, treatment requirements, and the movement permitting system that governs how livestock may legally travel outside quarantine zones.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized the inspector shortage as a critical bottleneck in the response effort. "Stopping the spread of NWS will not be possible without our inspectors knowing what to look for," Rollins said. "We encourage everyone who can to help us identify and report suspected cases to help eradicate this pest as fast as possible."

Participants who meet TAHC eligibility standards and pass the final examination may apply to become certified NWS inspectors authorized to issue official Treatment/Movement Certificates. These documents have become essential as quarantine zones expand—warm-blooded animals cannot legally move outside infested areas without proper authorization and inspection.

The program reflects the reality that early detection and rapid response remain the cornerstones of screwworm containment. Each certified inspector represents another set of eyes capable of spotting the telltale signs of infestation: larvae burrowing into wounds, distinctive screw-like markings, and the characteristic odor of tissue damage that attracts egg-laying flies.

With eleven confirmed cases now documented across Texas and New Mexico since the first U.S. detection on June 3, the need for trained personnel has outpaced traditional certification pipelines. The online format removes geographic barriers, allowing rural residents, veterinary professionals, and agricultural workers statewide to participate without traveling to centralized training locations.

The training initiative also signals a broader strategic shift in the response effort—from purely defensive measures toward building sustainable local capacity. While federal and state agencies continue aerial dispersal of sterile flies and maintain inspection checkpoints along major highways, the certification program empowers private industry and local stakeholders to participate directly in containment operations.

Registration is open immediately through the AgriLife Learn platform, with course completion typically requiring four hours of focused study. For ranchers and livestock producers navigating the complex web of movement restrictions, each newly certified inspector represents another pathway toward maintaining operational continuity while the eradication campaign continues.