The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to reopen cattle imports from Mexico later this month, beginning at the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry. Ben Weinheimer, president and CEO of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, says the phased reopening comes with extensive health protocols designed to keep New World screwworm out of the U.S..
“They’re probably really the cleanest animals moving into the country when it comes to presenting a really low risk for introduction or reintroduction of any type of disease or pest into the U.S.”
Weinheimer says the gradual reopening is an important step toward restoring the normal flow of cattle and beef trade between the United States and Mexico.
“Everybody’s kind of looking forward to a point of renormalizing trade with Mexico because it’s been — while there’s an international boundary there, when it comes to the flow of cattle and beef products, the border operates fairly transparently historically. And we kind of hope to see that really reach that state again here going forward in the next several months.”
He also offered an encouraging update on the New World screwworm situation in Texas.
“The last confirmed case is posted on USDA’s website is July 21st. They’re still getting many larvae submissions to the lab in Kerrville, to the mobile lab in Pleasanton, Texas. And so those entomologists and scientists, you know, continue to have a pretty heavy workload related to those submissions. Several of those submissions they’re getting, though, are not being confirmed as New World screwworm. That’s good to see.”
While officials continue monitoring the outbreak, Weinheimer says the response from state and federal agencies has continued to improve.
“I think people are fairly pleased with the response. The USDA screwworm response playbook that was worked on a couple of drafts of that back last year and earlier this year – the agencies have been really working to implement that as best they can, making a few adjustments, of course, as you go, because now that you’re having to live it, it’s different than reading words on paper. But, you know, getting positive feedback and several improvements have been made over the course of the past 60 days.”
USDA plans to reopen the Douglas port on Aug. 24, with additional ports expected to come online in phases as conditions allow and inspection operations expand.