USDA reopens Arizona crossing for Mexican cattle as screwworm control advances
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the Douglas, Arizona port of entry will reopen to Mexican cattle on Aug. 24, 2026, after a year‑long closure caused by the spread of New World screwworm. Reopening will be phased and contingent on Mexico’s compliance with a joint pest‑control action plan, including ongoing inspections of each animal to block infestations.
Mexico’s government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, plans a gradual resumption of cattle exports beginning with Sonora and then moving to Chihuahua and other northern states. The strategy is supported by a bi‑national effort that has released millions of sterile screwworm flies – 2.5 million in Chihuahua and additional releases in other states – and installed hundreds of thousands of traps to break the pest’s life cycle. The sterile‑fly production facility in Metapa, Chiapas, aims to scale output to 100 million insects per day by year‑end.
Financial markets reacted sharply: shares of Brazilian meat‑packing firms JBS and Marfrig’s U.S. unit MBRF jumped 10 % and about 5.5 % respectively, reflecting expectations that resumed imports will ease U.S. cattle shortages and improve beef‑processor margins.
Entities: Claudia Sheinbaum · Douglas, Arizona · Douglas, Arizona crossing · Metapa, Chiapas sterile‑fly facility · New World screwworm · United States Department of Agriculture · United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Meat Institute support reopening the Arizona crossing. (USDA statement)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The first reopening will occur at the Douglas, Arizona crossing on August 24, 2026. (USDA schedule; Sheinbaum details)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Reopening is conditioned on meeting U.S. sanitary requirements and a joint action plan to prevent screwworm infestations. (USDA and Mexican authorities)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] USDA inspectors will screen livestock to block screwworm‑infested animals. (USDA statement)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The U.S. border to live cattle, horses and bison has been closed since May 11, 2026. (USDA announcement)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Mexico will gradually reopen its border to cattle exports to the United States starting in the second half of August 2026. (Sheinbaum announcement; USDA reopening plan)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Mexico is releasing sterile screwworm flies and using specialized traps to control the pest. (Sheinbaum remarks)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Mexican state of Sonora has a well‑run program to control cattle movements. (USDA statement)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Shares of JBS rose roughly 10 % and Marfrig’s U.S. unit MBRF about 5.5 % after the border reopening announcement.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] USDA inspections at the reopened crossing will screen each animal for screwworm, blocking infected livestock.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Reopening of the crossing is conditioned on Mexico meeting a joint pest‑control plan for the New World screwworm.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The U.S. Department of Agriculture will reopen the Douglas, Arizona crossing to Mexican cattle on August 24, 2026.