USDA is considering a phased reopening of the U.S.-Mexico border to feeder cattle imports while continuing aggressive efforts to contain the New World screwworm. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the Department is evaluating limited entry points. Containment efforts have so far held the pest roughly 200 miles south of the U.S. border, but pressure is building as feeder cattle supplies tighten and prices rise. USDA is expanding surveillance, trapping, and eradication programs in coordination with Mexico, while also investing about $1 billion in a new sterile fly facility in South Texas. Any decision to reopen the border will hinge on strict animal health protocols and Mexico meeting USDA benchmarks.
