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.
While treatable with a vaccine, anthrax is a dangerous threat to cattle herd health if not identified and treated immediately.
September 26, 2025 06:10 PM
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Lower inventories and cautious farrowing plans suggest tighter hog supplies into 2026, keeping producer margins sensitive to demand trends and health risks.
September 26, 2025 11:28 AM
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Midwest corn and soy producers are monitoring for disease and lower yields due to the ongoing drought over the last 30 days.
September 24, 2025 04:38 PM
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Fewer placements and historically low marketings point to tighter cattle supplies ahead, with Nebraska and Kansas gaining ground as Texas feedlots face supply pressure and the threat of New World Screwworm.
September 24, 2025 03:40 PM
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What is it like working cattle with an outbreak of New World Screwworm so close to home? Wayne Cockrell, with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, joined us on Wednesday to discuss.
September 24, 2025 12:29 PM
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“We believe that it is just a matter of days or weeks... before we see New World screwworm in Texas.”
September 23, 2025 11:08 AM
Farmers may benefit from higher turkey prices this holiday season, but risks from HPAI and limited poult placements could further strain the supply.
September 23, 2025 10:35 AM
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September 23, 2025 09:42 AM
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With the latest detection just across the border, animal health officials on both sides are intensifying efforts to contain the outbreak before it spreads further north.
September 22, 2025 09:51 AM
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