# USDA Reopens Border to Mexican Cattle Amid Screwworm Fight

> The USDA is reopening the border to Mexican cattle in a phased plan starting August 24 at Douglas, Arizona, with up to 80,000 head per month expected eventually. Live and feeder cattle futures fell sharply after the announcement. The ban had contributed to record-high beef prices.

- Date: 2026-07-29 · published 2026-07-29T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: trade · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/18297-usda-reopens-border-to-mexican-cattle-amid-screwworm-fight
- Commodities: [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md), [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Futures reacted immediately to the expected rise in feeder supply, showing the bearish price mechanism. The pace of the phased reopening will determine how much pressure persists.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bearish ▼
- LCATTLE: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| FCATTLE | 2026-08-24 | [As US border reopens to Mexican cattle, concerns persist over screwworm spread \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17844-as-us-border-reopens-to-mexican-cattle-concerns-persist-over-screwworm-spread.md) | -4.1% | +0.8% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-09-24 | [As screwworm fight continues, Mexican cattle ranchers ready for border reopening - El Paso Matters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17419-as-screwworm-fight-continues-mexican-cattle-ranchers-ready-for-border-reopening.md) | -0.0% | +3.4% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-07-27 | [U.S. to lift screwworm ban on Mexican cattle - TT](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18296-u-s-to-lift-screwworm-ban-on-mexican-cattle-tt.md) | +0.8% | -3.1% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-07-24 | [US to Lift Screwworm Ban on Mexican Cattle to Aid Beef Supply - Bloomberg](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18294-us-to-lift-screwworm-ban-on-mexican-cattle-to-aid-beef-supply-bloomberg.md) | +0.8% | -2.5% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-06-30 | [USDA announces phased reopening of Mexican cattle imports after screwworm closure \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/24159-usda-announces-phased-reopening-of-mexican-cattle-imports-after-screwworm.md) | +1.9% | +8.3% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-08-24 | [As US border reopens to Mexican cattle, concerns persist over screwworm spread \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17844-as-us-border-reopens-to-mexican-cattle-concerns-persist-over-screwworm-spread.md) | -1.6% | -2.8% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-07-27 | [U.S. to lift screwworm ban on Mexican cattle - TT](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18296-u-s-to-lift-screwworm-ban-on-mexican-cattle-tt.md) | -0.6% | -2.9% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-07-24 | [US to Lift Screwworm Ban on Mexican Cattle to Aid Beef Supply - Bloomberg](https://feedsoft.ai/events/18294-us-to-lift-screwworm-ban-on-mexican-cattle-to-aid-beef-supply-bloomberg.md) | -0.4% | -2.5% |

## Sources

- wisfarmer.com: https://www.wisfarmer.com/story/news/2026/07/29/usda-reopens-border-to-mexican-cattle-amid-screwworm-fight/91062618007/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.