Halfacre Construction Company, which has offices in Sarasota and Punta Gorda, is building a new United States Department of Agriculture research and development facility in Manatee County. The 28,210-square-foot building will be used to protect local agriculture from non-indigenous insect outbreaks. The building will replace the existing Sarasota facility on 57th Street and DeSoto Road. The new design will not only allow for an increase in production but is also equipped as an emergency facility to combat multiple outbreaks from various species.