The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is supporting USDA’s phased reopening of the Mexican border to cattle imports beginning August 24. NCBA CEO Colin Woodall says USDA’s response to the New World screwworm has been effective. “The process has been very smooth. It is working and whenever there are tweaks that need to be made, they get made very quickly.” Woodall says the inspection process gives the industry confidence that cattle can safely move across the border. “There were going to be multiple steps that these cattle were going to have to go through to be inspected before they could ever cross into the United States.” He says the announcement wasn’t unexpected and praised USDA’s approach moving forward. “It is something that we have been waiting on, the secretary has put a plan in front of the industry. We’re supportive of what she’s doing.”
