USDA keeps U.S./Mexico border open despite new case of New World screwworm

A new case of New World Screwworm has been detected in Mexico.

The parasitic worm was discovered last week in Mexico’s Tabasco State. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says it will not restrict cattle imports from the country after recently lifting its November ban and reopening the border.

The re-opening came after USDA and Mexico established new protocols for assessing animal health before import. USDA says the new protocol will keep New World screwworms out of the U.S.

Despite the confidence from the USDA, the newly reported case was a major market mover for cattle, with fears of another border shutdown pushing feeder cattle futures at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange yesterday.

Related Stories
Ben Kurtzman with American Farmland Trust discusses the growing pressure on farmland and ranchland and the steps being taken to help conserve farms and ranches across the country ,as unrest in the Middle East adds more obstacles for producers.
For producers, success this season will require more than just a clean field; it will require meticulous record-keeping, a proactive written mitigation plan, and a constant eye on both the forecast and the federal docket.
Tidal Grow’s AlignN delivers encapsulated nitrogen to leaves, boosting in-season response, yield gains, and farm profits.
RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney explains how geopolitical developments in the Middle East can create energy-driven pressures that impact the supply chain and reshape demand for certain ag products.
Jake Charleston of Specialty Risk Insurance offers his perspective on current cattle market conditions and shares advice for producers seeking to stay protected in an uncertain market.
India trade tensions may affect the U.S. export outlook.

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.
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.