On June 30, 2025, the USDA announced a plan to implement a phased reopening of the southern border ports for the import of live cattle from Mexico, beginning with the border crossing at Douglas, Arizona, on July 7. However, on July 9, Mexico announced it had detected New World screwworm in Veracruz – 160 miles north of the current sterile fly dispersal grid.

Although the price of cattle is currently high, it is always a challenge for any farmer or rancher to thrive financially in a volatile marketplace. Some beef producers have turned to shipping meat directly to customers.

The July World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report (WASDE) showed this month’s 2025-26 U.S. corn outlook is for smaller supplies, domestic use and ending stocks. Corn beginning stocks are cut 25 million bushels to 1.3 billion, reflecting an increase in exports that is partly offset by lower feed and residual use for 2024-25.

Compared to last month, minor adjustments are made to the 2025 and 2026 production forecasts, with no major changes to industry fundamentals. The changes center on updates from current slaughter data, reducing expected cow slaughter, temporal changes to fed cattle marketings and lifting anticipated carcass weights.

The June World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report (WASDE) showed the 2025-26 U.S. corn outlook is little changed from last month, with lower beginning and ending stocks. Corn area and yield forecasts are unchanged. The USDA will release its Acreage report on June 30, which will provide survey-based indications of planted and harvested area.

On May 11, the USDA announced that it will close U.S. ports of entry along the southern border, effective immediately, to imports of live cattle, horses and bison due to the continued and rapid northward spread of New World screwworm (NWS) in Mexico.

The May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report (WASDE) showed the 2025-26 U.S. corn outlook is for record supplies and total use, and higher ending stocks. The corn crop is projected at 15.8 billion bushels, up 6% from a year ago on increases to both area and yield.