WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — USDA will invest $25 million in a new sterile fly facility in Arizona as part of its response to New World screwworm.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the Douglas Port of Entry will reopen to cattle imports from Mexico on Aug. 24. Every animal entering through the port will be inspected by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Rollins said Douglas was selected first because Sonora is considered Mexico’s lowest-risk state for New World screwworm and the port can support enhanced inspections.
Barchart Senior Analyst Darin Newsom said the reopening is unlikely to significantly change U.S. cattle numbers.
“It’s not the number of live head that are going to be crossing the border. That’s not going to change all that much, and certainly not going to change the market. What we could see is, and what we have seen, is more beef imports uh coming in from Mexico. I think that’s what’s I think that’s the key to this market and what what we really need to watch again on the cash side.”
The border has been closed to Mexican cattle imports for a year.
