DOUGLAS, ARIZONA — The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to reopen the border crossing in Douglas, Arizona, to cattle from Mexico on August 24, 2026. The decision ends a year-long ban on Mexican cattle imports that began in May 2025 in response to an outbreak of the New World screwworm parasite.

President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will allow up to 700 head of Mexican cattle per day to cross at Douglas, Arizona, beginning August 24, 2026, under strict inspection protocols. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that each animal crossing the border will be inspected and declared free of the New World screwworm parasite. She added that the phased reopening begins in Arizona because the northern Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua have stronger animal health programs than other parts of Mexico.

Mexico has traditionally provided approximately 1.1 million head of cattle, or about 3% of the U.S. cattle supply, annually. Mexican cattle exports generated $1.2 billion for Mexico in the year prior to the ban. The U.S. cattle industry is valued at $113 billion.

The USDA reported that the U.S. cattle herd dropped to 86.2 million head on January 1, 2026, the lowest figure in 75 years. "Where we are today is sort of the culmination of some 18, 19, 20 years of very low cattle prices," said David Anderson, a professor of agricultural economics at Texas A&M University. He added that market conditions and environmental factors have constrained supply.

"That forces us to reduce our herds. Drought forces us to reduce them even further," Anderson said.

Glynn Tonsor, a professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University, stated that the U.S. beef industry has become more efficient and gets more meat from each animal than in past years. Despite these efficiency gains, consumer costs have risen. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of a pound of ground beef rose from $4.39 in July 2021 to $6.89 in July 2026.

Food prices in the U.S. rose approximately 25% overall between July 2021 and July 2026. The price of a pound of uncooked steak reached a record $13.06 in July 2026.

"I don’t expect to see any measurable impact on cattle prices or beef prices soon," said Derrell Peel, a professor of agribusiness at Oklahoma State University. Industry consolidation has occurred alongside these price trends. Tyson Foods announced in November 2025 that it would close its beef processing plant in Lexington, Nebraska.

Tyson Foods announced plans to close beef processing plants in Utah and Illinois in August 2026. JBS USA announced in June 2026 plans to close beef plants in Memphis and outside Philadelphia.

"This is an important step for America’s cattle producers, especially our feeders in the border states," said John Boozman, U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chair. He emphasized the economic importance of resuming trade flows. "Restoring this long-standing trade is critical to strengthening our cattle supply and supporting a healthy, competitive beef industry," Boozman said.

Why It Matters

The reopening of the Douglas border crossing affects a sector valued at $113 billion and addresses a supply constraint that has pushed the U.S. cattle herd to its lowest level in 75 years. The return of Mexican cattle, which traditionally account for 3% of the U.S. supply, occurs as domestic processors consolidate operations and consumer beef prices reach record highs.

The phased approach reflects ongoing biosecurity concerns following the spread of the New World screwworm to 30 Mexican states and recent detections in Texas. Strict inspection protocols involving radio-frequency tags and canine screening aim to prevent further infestations while restoring a trade relationship that generated $1.2 billion for Mexico prior to the ban.

Timeline

The New World screwworm outbreak was detected in Mexico in November 2024 and has spread to 30 of the 32 states. The New World screwworm parasite returned to southern Mexico in late 2024 after being contained near the Panama Canal for years.

The Trump administration closed the U.S.-Mexico border to cattle imports in May 2025 in response to the New World screwworm parasite.

The first case of the New World screwworm in Texas since 1966 was reported on June 3, 2026.

What's New

During the first week of the reopening, only 700 cattle per day will be allowed through the Douglas, Arizona border crossing. Mexico reported 1,969 active New World screwworm cases as of August 2026. The daily allowance for cattle crossings will increase to 900 in the second week and gradually rise to 1,300 cattle per day.

New U.S. protocols require imported cattle to be fitted with radio-frequency identification tags in their ears and screened by electronic readers and trained dogs.