On June 30, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced risk-based port reopenings for cattle, bison and equines from Mexico beginning as early as July 7, 2025. The borders had been closed to live cattle imports since May 11, 2025, due to the threat of New World Screwworms (NWS) entering the U.S. at that time NWS had been detected as close as 700 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.
American Farmers & Ranchers Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh: “The decision to reopen the U.S.-Mexico border to live cattle imports at this time is premature and we strongly urge Secretary Rollins to reconsider. New World Screwworms pose a significant threat to the health of the U.S. cattle herd and the economic livelihood of thousands
of U.S. ranchers. The potential consequences are not limited to one region, but would affect every rancher across the country. We cannot afford to jeopardize the entire U.S. cattle herd by taking unnecessary risks.”
About American Farmers & Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmers Union: AFR is a membership services organization established in 1905 as Oklahoma Farmers Union. AFR provides educational, legislative and cooperative programs across the state and serves as a watchdog for Oklahoma’s family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. The organization is actively supportive of the state’s agricultural industry and rural population with membership consisting of farmers actively involved in production agriculture and non-farmers adding their voice in support of AFR principles.
