Mexico resumes livestock sales to US under tight controls over screwworm risk

In Hermosillo, Mexico, rancher Martín Alfonso Ibarra tends to his cows and calves at dawn, anticipating their eventual shipment to the United States. The yearlong ban on Mexican cattle imports, imposed due to concerns over the New World screwworm fly, has ended, allowing these animals to return across the border. The ban caused setbacks for both U.S. and Mexican livestock sectors, with the U.S. experiencing record-high beef prices.

Beginning August 24, U.S. livestock imports from Mexico will resume at the Douglas, Arizona, border crossing near Agua Prieta. However, initial shipments will be restricted, with only 700 cattle allowed daily, increasing to 900 and then 1,300. Each animal must be equipped with radio-frequency identification tags and screened by electronic readers and trained dogs.

While Mexico has reported 1,969 active screwworm cases, a decline from the previous year's 3,938, authorities note that eradication will take time. Ranchers welcome the resumption but express frustration over the new U.S. controls, which they believe will limit trade and exacerbate existing shortages.