Beef-Price Bet Faces Flesh-Eating Setback in Texas

A New World screwworm outbreak near the Texas–Mexico border threatens Trump's bid to lower beef prices before the midterms, with potential billions in losses if it spreads. The USDA has quarantines and is releasing sterile flies to curb the pest, but containment is hampered by having only one North American sterile-fly facility (Panama) and a Texas plant not online until 2027. Beef prices are already high (ground beef ~ $7/lb, steak ~ $13/lb), and industry officials warn that the pest could keep costs elevated for farmers and shoppers.