The red flour beetle infestation at Penny Newman Grain Company in Hockley County is almost completely eliminated, according to Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. The company has faced heavy fines and new incoming loads as a result of the infestation. The Red Flour Beetle is a close relative to the Confused Flour Beetle and can cause significant damage by contaminating grain. It is believed that the infestation originated from supply trains hauling in almond hulls from California. Penny Newman Grain Company failed to fully eradicate the beetles within the given ten-day window and now faces a $2000 fine for each remaining day. However, the company has made significant progress in eliminating the infestation, with three-quarters of their almond hull piles already cleaned out. By the end of October, the company will receive five new rail cars worth of freshly sanitized and fumigated hull, providing a fresh start for almond hull distribution in the area.