A new case of New World screwworm (NWS) was detected south of the U.S./Mexico border in late September, marking the closest case yet at just 70 miles away.
On Sept. 21, Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) confirmed an NWS case was found in the state of Nuevo León in Sabinas Hidalgo, less than 70 miles away from the closest point of the border. Sabinas Hidalgo is located near a major highway that connects Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, to Laredo, TX, which is a heavily trafficked commercial thoroughfare.
Preliminary reports from SENASICA indicated the case was found in an 8-month-old heifer moved to a feedlot in Nuevo León from a region in southern Mexico with known active NWS cases. The potential link to animal movement “underscores the non-negotiable need” for Mexico to follow the U.S.-Mexico Joint Action Plan for NWS in Mexico, USDA said.
“This is a national security priority,” emphasized USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins in response to the news. “We have given Mexico every opportunity and every resource necessary to counter NWS since announcing the NWS Bold Plan in June 2025.”
Rollins said that the department is executing its five-pronged plan to protect the border, “even in the absence of cooperation.” Key segments of the plan include investing in technology, building a domestic sterile fly dispersal facility and a production facility, increasing surveillance, enhancing public awareness and coordinating with Mexico and other international partners.
Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Julio Berdegué was in conversations with Rollins upon the case detection, and SENASCIA immediately implemented actions according to the joint action plan, the Mexican government said in a news release translated from Spanish. The animal was the only one detected with NWS in a shipment of 100 head and was treated early enough that larvae were in an early stage, Mexico said. The trapping system in northern Mexico has also not yet detected any NWS flies, the country added.
“Mexico has established an identification and communication protocol at approved feedlots in the north of the country to immediately detect and eliminate cases and prevent any further incidents,” the news release concluded.
Cattle industry groups expressed concern with the latest case and urged stricter measures from USDA.
“Now is the time for USDA to expedite construction of the domestic sterile fly facility and eradicate this pest from our doorstep,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall in a news release. “We also ask USDA to continue holding Mexico accountable and urge them to reduce animal movements that could spread screwworm north.”
The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF) also said all northward movement of livestock within Mexico should be halted.
“The NWS presents a serious threat to U.S. livestock, and both our nation’s cattle and sheep herds have already declined to historically low levels, as have the numbers of U.S. cattle and sheep farms and ranches,” said R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard in a statement.
The U.S. border has remained closed to livestock imports from Mexico after a previous case of NWS was detected in July in Veracruz, Mexico, about 370 miles away from the border.
Since July, USDA has been monitoring close to 8,000 traps across Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. More than 13,000 screening samples have been submitted, with no NWS flies detected, the department said.
“USDA is analyzing all new information related to the recent case in Nuevo León and will pursue all options to release sterile flies in this region as necessary,” USDA said.
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) said in a news release that producers located near the border and travelers from NWS-affected areas should closely monitor animals for signs and immediately report suspected NWS cases. Any suspected cases can be reported to a local TAHC region office or the 24-hour vet on-call line, 1-800-550-8242.
New plan to support farmers, exporters
In addition to continuing its five-pronged plan efforts, USDA teased the release of a “significant plan” aimed to help rebuild the American cattle supply, incentivize ranchers and revitalize the U.S. beef industry.
“This is only the beginning with many more announcements coming this week as USDA restores American strength, protects food security, and supports America’s ranchers and farmers,” USDA said on Sunday.
On Tuesday, the department released more details surrounding a three-point plan to support farmers, ranchers, producers and exporters. The plan was first announced during remarks at the annual meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture held Sept. 14-18 in Rogers, AR.
“Market promotion support, rapid response to reciprocal trade agreements, and better financing programs will translate to progress in chipping away at the $50 billion agricultural deficit,” said Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg in a news release.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act authorized $285 million per year for trade promotion programs beginning in fiscal year 2027. As part of the first prong of USDA’s plan, called the America First Trade Promotion Program, USDA will begin the program one year early with $285 million allocated in fiscal year 2026.
U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom said the program will allow farmers and ranchers to continue to build value for U.S. meat products and grow diversity in global demand. “The reciprocal agreements are expected to provide new opportunities in the ASEAN region, the United Kingdom and the European Union, and USDA’s positioning to help industry capture this additional potential is much appreciated,” Halstrom said.
The second prong of the plan, coined T.R.U.M.P. Missions (Trade Reciprocity for U.S. Manufacturers and Producers), aims to target reciprocal trade deal countries and new market access opportunities.
“The focus of these will be determined country-by-country to maximize high-return, low-risk agricultural export prospects and connect buyers and sellers,” USDA said.
The final prong of the plan, revitalizing export finance opportunities, will reinvigorate the GSM-102 credit guarantee program, USDA said. “By reducing financial risk to lenders, credit guarantees encourage exports to buyers in countries that have sufficient financial strength to have foreign exchange available for scheduled payments.” — Anna Miller Fortozo, WLJ managing editor
