USDA Weighs Phased Reopening of U.S./Mexico Cattle Trade Amid Screwworm Threat
Secretary Brooke Rollins signals potential border shift while expanding containment efforts and domestic biosecurity investment
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins is signaling a possible shift toward reopening the U.S./Mexico border to feeder cattle imports, even as the department intensifies efforts to contain the spread of New World screwworm, according to reporting by Ron Hays in Oklahoma Farm Report’s Beef Buzz.
Rollins said USDA is actively evaluating a phased reopening strategy, with early discussions focused on limiting entry to select ports — particularly the westernmost crossing at Agua Prieta, Sonora, due to its distance from current screwworm activity.
“Up to this weekend, we’ve had no plan to reopen,” Rollins said, noting that position is now evolving as USDA assesses geographic risk and containment progress.
Containment holding — but risks rising. Despite fears that the pest would reach Texas last year, Rollins said containment efforts have so far kept the screwworm largely about 200 miles south of the U.S. border, though northward pressure continues.
USDA has deployed a dynamic response — including mobile dispersal facilities, trapping systems, and daily monitoring — to track and suppress outbreaks in coordination with Mexican authorities.
The administration has also increased direct involvement inside Mexico, deploying U.S. resources to strengthen surveillance and eradication efforts — a move Rollins said has improved bilateral cooperation and accountability.
Border closure reshapes trade and cooperation. The prolonged closure of cattle imports has tightened leverage over Mexico, with USDA requiring compliance with specific animal health benchmarks before any reopening.
Industry groups, including the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, have supported a science-based, phased reopening tied to strict inspection and treatment protocols, reflecting concerns over both biosecurity and supply chain disruptions.
$1 billion sterile fly strategy. A cornerstone of the long-term containment plan is a new sterile fly production facility in South Texas, with groundbreaking expected in April. The facility — backed by roughly $1 billion in federal investment — aims to reduce reliance on foreign production, particularly in Panama, and expand the sterile insect technique used to eradicate screwworm populations.
Rollins emphasized the scale of the investment, calling it notable given broader administration efforts to reduce spending.
Additional context and market implications
Why the screwworm threat matters. The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue in livestock, posing a severe threat to cattle, wildlife, and rural economies. The U.S. eradicated the pest decades ago, but outbreaks in Central America and Mexico remain a persistent risk to North American livestock systems.
A breach into Texas or other U.S. cattle regions would have major economic consequences, including:
- Trade restrictions on U.S. beef exports
- Increased veterinary and biosecurity costs
- Disruptions to feedlot supply chains
Cattle market and supply chain impacts. The closure of Mexican cattle imports — historically a key source of feeder cattle for U.S. feedlots — has already tightened supply dynamics:
- Feeder cattle prices have remained elevated amid constrained imports
- Feedlots, particularly in the Southern Plains, face reduced placement flexibility
- Freight patterns and sourcing strategies have shifted toward domestic supply
A phased reopening could ease some supply pressure, but the scale and timing will depend heavily on USDA risk tolerance and Mexico’s compliance with containment protocols.
Policy and trade backdrop. The issue sits at the intersection of:
- Animal health policy (USDA-APHIS oversight)
- North American trade flows under frameworks like USMCA
- Border enforcement leverage, where biosecurity concerns are shaping trade access
The administration’s approach — balancing strict containment with gradual reopening — reflects broader efforts to protect domestic agriculture while maintaining regional trade continuity.
Bottom Line: USDA is moving toward a targeted, risk-based reopening of cattle imports from Mexico, but only alongside intensified biosecurity measures and major new investment in eradication infrastructure. The outcome will be pivotal for cattle markets, cross-border trade, and the broader resilience of the U.S. livestock sector.
