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Cattle imports to resume as USDA reopens border; Missouri producer supports approach

The past president of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association says he supports USDA’s phased approach to reopen the U.S.-Mexico border to cattle imports.

Concerns about New World screwworm had the border closed for more than one year, and Jeff Reed tells Brownfield “Sometimes, U.S. cattle producers might lose sight that other U.S. producers actually make a living off those cattle, you know, feeding them in their feedlots. And we’ve seen a lot of feedlots closed because of that.”

The USDA says it will open the Douglas, Arizona port to cattle trade on August 24. Following its reopening, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says operational steps will be implementedsimultaneously for subsequent openings at the Santa Teresa, New Mexico and Columbus, New Mexico ports.

Reed says once cattle imports resume, it will take time for feedyards to fill back up at capacity.

“There’s a lot of people feeding cattle and and a lot of cattle sitting open, you know where they’ve got yard space.”

He says because imported cattle will be closely inspected as they come into the United States, he isn’t concerned about increased risk of New World screwworm.

Reed has been closely monitoring his cattle herd in southern Missouri for the pest.