The USDA on Friday announced that it will begin a phased reopening of southern ports for livestock trade starting in Arizona with full inspections to ensure the animals are free of any signs of new world screwworm.
The department will open the Douglas, Ariz., port on Aug. 24, 2026, and take operational steps to reopen the Santa Teresa and Columbus ports in New Mexico. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service detected the first case of new world screwworm in the U.S. in June. There have been 42 domestically acquired animal cases, according to APHIS.
“The closure of the Southern ports of entry for the last year has been a tough but necessary action to control the spread of NWS in Mexico and protect the American livestock industry. Thanks to the work across the federal government as well as state, local, and industry partners, it is now safe to reopen the Douglas, Arizona, port in 30 days to resume the hundreds year old movement of cattle,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a press release.
The USDA identified Sonora and Chihuahua as the lowest-risk Mexican states for new world screwworm. The reopening timeline will be flexible and adjusted according to the steps taken by Mexico to meet certain milestones to reduce the spread of the parasitic fly.
Rollins has been working to implement a five-pronged plan to reduce cases. The plan includes coordinating with Mexico to track and develop a risk-based trapping plan, as well as support Mexico's hiring of over 500 surge staff for trapping and animal movement control. As part of the five-pronged approach, the USDA provided about $105 million funding for 40 projects through the NWS grand challenge, among other steps aimed at eradication.
Several livestock groups backed the decision to reopen the border, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Meat Institute and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
“We support a careful, phased reopening of the border that reflects both vigilance and confidence in our response plans,” Julie Anna Potts, the president and CEO of the Meat Institute, said in a statement. “Importing cattle from Mexico allows beef packers to better meet consumer demand given the tight supply of US cattle.”
NCBA said in a statement that the whole-of-government response has put the U.S. in a safe position to gradually reopen the border. NCBA also said that the USDA’s work has improved domestic readiness for producers.
“This decision will help normalize business for cattle operations throughout the border states and Southern Plains,” said Colin Woodall, NCBA’s CEO, said in the statement.
TSCRA similarly said that the temporary border closure provided “valuable” time to improve surveillance, expand sterile fly production and distribution, and implement protocols to manage the outbreak.
“Our members need the ability to maintain commerce, but they also need assurance that every reasonable safeguard is in place to reduce the risk of New World screwworm,” Stephen Diebel, TSCRA’s president, said in a statement. “Our priority has always been twofold: protecting the U.S. cattle herd and wildlife, while ensuring cattle raisers can continue to operate and markets can function. “
This latest announcement is the most recent attempt to reopen trade ports. The department suspended live cattle, horse, and bison imports in May of 2025. Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a phased reopening June 30, 2025, but halted the reopening after Mexico reported a new case nearly two weeks later in early July of that year.
For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com
