SANTA TERESA, N.M. (RFD NEWS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will reopen the Santa Teresa livestock port on September 24, restoring another cattle trade route from Mexico while maintaining new safeguards against New World screwworm.
Santa Teresa follows Douglas, Arizona, which reopened August 24 as the first step in USDA’s phased restoration of southern livestock trade. USDA says Douglas reopened under a joint U.S.-Mexico protocol with additional animal-health safeguards.
The phased plan requires every animal entering through reopened ports to undergo USDA inspection for signs of screwworm. Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico, were identified as the next ports to be considered after officials evaluated the Douglas reopening.
The reopening is important for cattle movement into New Mexico and neighboring Texas feedlots, which have faced reduced Mexican feeder supplies during border restrictions.
USDA says future port operations remain dependent on disease risk, Mexican control efforts, inspections, and progress under the bilateral action plan.
