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
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas discusses expected changes to the 45Z tax credit and what they could mean for agriculture and rural America.
Shrinking slaughter capacity may delay heifer retention, complicating herd rebuilding plans.
Securing Critical Water Resources for South Texas Agriculture

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Midland County Junior Livestock Show in West Texas features swine competition with top exhibitors, including Grand Champion Brinley Wilson, ahead of Saturday’s premium sale.
Rep. Erin Houchin of Indiana discusses how the Affordable Homes Act will benefit rural communities, and her broader efforts to improve access to affordable housing.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig discusses market conditions, policy priorities, and his outlook for agriculture moving forward.
NEFB President Mark McHargue recaps the Farm Bureau’s Annual Convention, producer sentiment in Nebraska, and discusses key issues facing agriculture.
Congressman Dusty Johnson of South Dakota joined us to discuss key ag policy developments and his outlook for agriculture in 2026.
House Agriculture Committee Democrats are calling for action on the Farm and Family Relief Act, warning that proposed SNAP cost shifts to states could reduce food assistance for low-income families amid ongoing tariffs and trade disruptions that continue to strain U.S. farmers.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
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.