It’s unclear when the border will reopen to cattle trade due to New World Screwworm

The southern border in Mexico and Arizona remains closed while officials work to stop New World Screwworm, but the cattle industry is eager to get it back open.

Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller says there is no clear timeframe for cattle trade to resume.

“You know, I get that question a lot, and they don’t have anything definite. I can tell you, when we successfully stop the advance of the screwworm fly, for, say, 60 days, and we see it pushing back down, we probably open it up. Now, then, there is a possibility that we could open it up in November, December, or January, in the dead of winter. That’s actually when we get most of our feeder cattle in from Mexico.”

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins will be in Austin, Texas this morning at 11:30 Central to make a big announcement regarding New World Screwworm.

Related Stories
Recent USDA reports show a steady feedlot supply despite growing consumer demand for beef, ahead of typical seasonal summer trends.
Dave Duquette, founder of Western Justice, joined us to discuss wolf management, rancher concerns, efforts to return control to the states, and his upcoming documentary, “Wolves: True Conflict.”
Citrus production depends heavily on reliable irrigation, making water shortages a critical issue for South Texas growers moving forward.
Growing milk supply may pressure prices ahead.
Tight supplies are driving stronger early-year cattle prices.
The Mengel Dairy Farms case is a sobering reminder that “having insurance” is not the same as “having protection.”

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Like 2024, the 2025 MLF Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops is comprised of four Cup events, each featuring two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing from the same boat and working together to claim part of a season purse of more than half a million dollars.
Agriculture Shows
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.