USDA Begins Phased Reopening of Southwest Livestock Ports

USDA began reopening Southwest ports for livestock trade on Monday, more than a year after suspending crossings to slow the spread of New World Screwworm. The phased reopening starts with the Douglas, Arizona port, while USDA also prepares to reopen Santa Teresa and Columbus in New Mexico. 

Agri-Pulse said the move comes after a recent screwworm case was detected in a cow in southern Sonora, about 292 miles from the U.S. border. USDA says livestock entering the country will undergo full inspections for signs of the pest. “The necessary resources — personnel, technology, laboratory support, and inter-agency coordination — are in place and ready in Douglas,” the department said. 

Mexico has activated surveillance and control measures, including releasing 360,000 sterile flies. USDA says it is monitoring more than 100 screwworm traps and 8,000 insect traps while deploying drones and dispersing 100 million sterile flies weekly in Mexico and Texas.