Cattle Industry Issues

New World screwworm confirmed in southern Texas

david@agproud.com — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) officials confirmed Wednesday night the arrival of New World screwworm in a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County of southern Texas, making it the first confirmed case to arrive across the Mexico border.

Industry preparing for NWS as path approaches U.S. border

david@agproud.com — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

While NWS is currently not present in the U.S., speakers and officials at the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Convention in Fort Worth, Texas, March 28-29, gave indications the spread is being successfully kept at a distance away from the U.S. – for now. But plans are in motion for its arrival, possibly as early as this summer.

Cattle industry groups bust mystery feedlot virus

carrie.veselka@agproud.com — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A rumor started on March 14 claimed an unidentified Texas feedlot virus “sparked panic across southern cattle markets.” Multiple organizations within the Texas beef industry have rebutted this claim as false.

JBS packer workers strike at Colorado plant

carrie.veselka@agproud.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Plant workers walked out of a JBS packing facility in Greeley, Colorado, on Monday, March 16, putting a major dent in beef production at a time of high demand and high prices.

Insiders outline impact of Iran conflict on gas prices, fertilizer

david@agproud.com — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Far away from the Strait of Hormuz, the new oil crunch prices are hitting closer to home.

[Podcast] NCBA CattleCon 2026

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Join us live from Nashville, Tennessee, as we visit with Greg Eckerle about feedlot nutrition; talk with Andrew Coppin about ranch water technology; and learn more during a beef industry outlook with Marshall Hansen.

Range Beef Cow Symposium: Rebuilding the cow herd

carrie.veselka@agproud.com — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

At the 2025 Range Beef Cow Symposium, held in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Jay Parsons with the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) facilitated a panel discussion focused on rebuilding the cow herd.

Prepare for the storm

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

After several years of mild winters, agricultural weather forecasters are warning ranchers of possible blizzards this winter. Producers should care for their herds before, during and after snowstorms. However, before they repair water lines, collect medical supplies or hay bales for windbreaks, the first step is to develop a blizzard plan well in advance of a storm’s arrival.

U.S. exports are back on China's menu

carrie.veselka@agproud.com — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Negotiations on U.S.-China trade relations have taken a step forward by ending China’s retaliatory tariffs imposed on U.S. exports since March of 2025, reopening Chinese markets to U.S. ag products including beef and soybeans.

Officials: Still no timeline for Mexican cattle into U.S.

david@agproud.com — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Mexico’s minister of agriculture said there is no set timeline for reopening the border to the U.S. for live cattle shipments due to the continuing fight to control New World screwworm. Officials had hoped an estimated goal would emerge for live cattle imports to resume.

Cattlemen reject Trump’s plan for Argentina beef imports

david@agproud.com — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

A new push by President Donald Trump to import beef from Argentina, on the heels of a controversial deal to send $20 billion in aid to that country, has raised serious concerns among U.S. beef producers.

Screwworm less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border

abby@agproud.com — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

A new case of New World screwworm (NWS) in Sabinas Hidalgo, located in the state of Nuevo León, less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, was detected on Sept. 21, 2025.

First New World screwworm case in U.S. comes from human infestation

abby@agproud.com — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The first case of New World screwworm has been detected in the U.S. in a human. It was found in a resident of Maryland on Aug. 4, 2025, who had traveled from El Salvador. The person has received treatment for the infection.

USDA announces sterile fly production facility

abby@agproud.com — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced on July 15, 2025, the U.S. plans to build a $750 million factory on Moore Air Base outside Edinburg, Texas, about 20 miles from the U.S. and Mexico border.

USDA announces plans to reopen border for Mexican cattle imports after screwworm closure

abby@agproud.com — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced on June 30, 2025, risk-based port reopenings for cattle, bison and equines from Mexico beginning as early as July 7, 2025.

USDA announces $8.5 million sterile facility to battle NWS

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins launched the construction of an $8.5 million sterile fly dispersal facility on June 18 at the Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas, and announced a comprehensive five-pronged plan to bolster the USDA’s efforts to control New World screwworm (NWS).

USDA's Rollins turns Trump from ICE raids on ag

david@agproud.com — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

A new guidance by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), lobbied for by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to the president last week, has led to a reversal of raids on ag operations that hired illegal immigrant labor.

Experts warn of potential New World screwworm invasion

abby@agproud.com — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

All things New World screwworm (NWS) were the topic of conversation during a recent Texas A&M AgriLife Extension webinar on June 9, 2025. With growing concern of the pest making its way to the U.S., a panel of industry professionals covered the questions of what it is, preventative and treatment measures, and livestock, wildlife and human concerns.

Animal health officials continue battle against NWS

tyrell@agproud.com — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

As of June 5, New World screwworm had yet to make an appearance in the U.S., though animal health officials and livestock producers in border states and throughout the South remain on high alert.

Why more feeder cattle are moving north

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Typically, feeder cattle concentrations have shifted north from Kansas and Texas into states such as Iowa and Nebraska in the summer months; however, the industry has seen new movement beginning earlier this year.

Federal government drops charges against South Dakota ranchers

carrie.veselka@agproud.com — Mon, 12 May 2025 10:51:40 -0400

Federal authorities formally dropped the charges levied against South Dakota ranchers Charles and Heather Maude on April 28, following a nearly yearlong dispute with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) over a 25-acre parcel of land bordering the federally administered Buffalo Gap National Grasslands in South Dakota.

U.S. halts livestock imports from Mexico to prevent a screwworm outbreak

abby@agproud.com — Mon, 12 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The USDA has suspended imports of live cattle, horses and bison from Mexico through southern border ports, effective immediately, due to the resurgence of the New World screwworm. Screwworm is a parasitic fly that poses a significant threat to livestock and wildlife.

Tariffs on Canadian, Mexican goods paused

tyrell@agproud.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

President Donald Trump on March 6 signed executive orders announcing another 30-day postponement of implementation of across-the-board 25% tariffs on goods entering the United States from Mexico and Canada. All products covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) of 2020 are exempt from the new tariff until at least April 2.

[Podcast] NCBA CattleCon 2025 – Part 2

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Join us as we visit with NCBA's Kaitlynn Glover about some of the most pressing D.C. issues impacting the cattle industry; talk risk management in the current beef market with Rabobank's Lance Zimmerman; and learn about the science of beef yield with John Stika from Certified Angus Beef.

Mexican borders reopen with stringent inspections in place; beef exports see lower volumes, higher values

carrie.veselka@agproud.com — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced in early February that the U.S. is resuming cattle and bison imports from Mexico.

Trump agrees to 30-day halt on Canada, Mexico tariffs

david@agproud.com — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

President Donald Trump signed on Monday a 30-day pause to the implantation of 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada. Trump initiated the plan on Feb. 1 as a way to push for more action by both countries to halt illegal immigration and drug traffic into the U.S.

Cargill, Tyson plan major beef plant cuts

david@agproud.com — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 15:27:48 -0500

Tyson Foods announced Dec. 4 it is closing three U.S. plants affecting more than 1,000 employees, biggest among them being the Emporia, Kansas, facility with 809 workers. Two other prepared food facilities in Philadelphia that produce frozen cheesesteaks are also closing.

Cattle imports from Mexico paused following detection of screwworm

abby@agproud.com — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The U.S. suspends Mexico cattle imports after New World screwworm (NWS) was identified in an infected cow at a livestock inspection checkpoint close to the border of Guatemala, in the state of Chiapas. The U.S. was notified by Mexico government officials on Nov. 22, 2024.

Beef industry’s biggest news of 2024

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Here are some of the main stories that affected beef and ag industries in the past year.

McDonald’s has beef with the ‘big four’

carrie.veselka@agproud.com — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

McDonald’s has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. meat industry’s major beef processors and their subsidiaries for alleged price fixing.