Mexico’s Sonora cattle crossing to US to reopen next week

Mexico's Agua Prieta cattle crossing from Sonora into the United States is set to reopen on September 8, following a temporary suspension for repairs, the Sonora Regional Livestock Union announced on Tuesday. The crossing had briefly resumed trade just last week after a closure lasting over a year due to a screwworm-related issue. However, safety concerns with a cattle inspection chute used by USDA personnel led to a fresh shutdown on August 28.

The USDA had reopened the Douglas, Arizona port to cattle imports from Mexico on August 24 as part of a gradual US reopening of Mexican livestock trade, which had been halted for more than a year over the screwworm. The agency plans to evaluate the reopening of ports in Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico for cattle, bison, and horses next.

The livestock union highlighted the importance of opening the Nogales quarantine facility, which would provide Sonora cattle producers with an alternative export route into Arizona. This facility has the necessary infrastructure to carry out the cattle reception and pre-inspection protocol. According to Mexico's National Confederation of Livestock Organizations (CNOG), exports of cattle were expected to start at 700 head per day during the first week of reopening, rise to 900 head per day in the second week, and eventually reach around 1,300 head per day.

Since November 2024, Mexico has confirmed over 40,600 cases of screwworm, according to government data. Sonora state has confirmed 21 cases.