Mexico is now reacting to Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins’ decision to suspend cattle imports due to the spread of new world screwworm.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has described the move as unfair and says the Mexican government has been working on all fronts to prevent the spread. However, USDA says an “unacceptable northward advancement” has taken place and the suspension is a result of that.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association supports the move. According to Ethan Lane:
“This really is a time for us to be looking at those controls in Mexico, looking at what we’ve got going on at our own border, and then continuing to engage with Congress and illustrating to them just how pressing it is— as part of these ongoing funding and budget discussions in DC make sure they’re thinking about the fact that this is going to be an expensive fix and even more expensive if we end up with new world screwworm here in the Untied States. So we’ve got to be serious about ramping up production of sterile flies here in the U.S. We’re going to need several hundred million more a week than we have now to even begin to mount a defense against this, nevertheless, push it back down into Central America, and that is not a cheap proposition. We’re talking about several hundred million dollars here at a minimum.”
Lane says that Secretary Sollins deserves a lot of credit for taking decisive action. The import ban will be evaluated on a monthly basis.
Marilyn Schlake with the UNL Department of Agricultural Economics joined us for a closer look at the evolving role of livestock sale barns.
January 27, 2026 12:19 PM
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Nearly everyone in the South Texas ag community appears extremely worried about the potential of a New World screwworm epidemic, according to a local veterinarian. RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports.
January 23, 2026 11:56 AM
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Wayne Cockrell with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association joined us to discuss preparedness, producer awareness, and the industry’s response to New World screwworm concerns.
January 21, 2026 12:00 PM
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Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller joined us to discuss data center expansion, farmland preservation, rural economic impacts, and imminent cattle biosecurity concerns affecting agriculture today.
January 16, 2026 01:28 PM
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January 16, 2026 09:57 AM
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Agronomy experts explain why standing crop residue protects soil and reduces costs for crop growers, while shredding often yields little benefit at higher costs.
January 14, 2026 08:00 AM
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Dr. Rosslyn Biggs with the Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Veterinary Medicine shares insight into biosecurity, preparedness, and animal health concerns facing livestock producers as New World screwworm outbreaks continue in Mexico.
January 07, 2026 12:57 PM
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Roger McEowen with the Washburn University School of Law joined us to provide legal insight and context on these issues facing agriculture. Today, he discusses pesticide litigation.
January 06, 2026 01:39 PM
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New World Screwworm cases in Mexico, including one within 200 miles of the U.S. border, are adding pressure to livestock markets and trade decisions.
January 06, 2026 12:09 PM
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