Cattle Group States Port Reopening Concerns Over NWS Spread In Mexico

BrownfieldAgNews reports: The CEO of R-CALF USA says the phased reopening of ports along the southern border to live cattle imports from Mexico could jeopardize the U.S. cattle industry. Bill Bullard says the northward spread of New World screwworm in Mexico is still very much a threat and is disappointed with USDA's decision. "We have the ability to keep it out of our nation but have to act decisively. We need to close the border. We need to help Mexico and Panama contain the pest. We need to leave no stone unturned." The USDA allowed imports to resume in Douglas, Arizona on Tuesday, will move from West to East and review the situation to ensure adverse effects don't arise. R-CALF recently sent a letter to Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins asking the department to reconsider and reverse the decision. Bullard says, "This is certainly not a disease where we should accept and compromise the health and safety of our livestock and our citizens by prematurely opening the border. We believe that's what this action represents." He says the U.S. should not rely on other countries for beef imports and needs to focus on rebuilding the domestic supply chain. "This issue highlights the need for the United States to sever its dependency on foreign supply chains for food, and this isn't the first time we've seen a disease outbreak upon a country where we've depended for beef cattle, sheep or lamb and it won't be the last." Director Freddie Keaton, a cattle producer from Salem, Missouri, says the impact of the fly in the U.S. could have far-reaching consequences. "If we were to get a screwworm outbreak, I'm not sure what it will do to the market. But it for sure will impact producers individually. We've heard groups talk about labor being an issue and everyone is shorthanded. If we have to deal with screwworm, labor is going to be a problem." The USDA announced has announced efforts to help combat the spread in Mexico including building a new dispersal facility in Texas.