The U.S. Department of Agriculture is preparing to reopen a New Mexico port for livestock trade next week, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Wednesday. The port had been closed due to concerns over the spread of the New World screwworm parasite. This follows the reopening of a similar port in Douglas, Arizona, last month.
The reopening of the New Mexico port is crucial for facilitating cross-border livestock trade, which is essential for the agricultural economy. The closure due to screwworm concerns had disrupted this trade, and the phased reopening indicates a return to normalcy for the sector.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is preparing to reopen a port in New Mexico for livestock trade next week, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. The port had been closed due to concerns over the spread of the New World screwworm parasite. Rollins made the announcement on Wednesday during remarks at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture conference in Portland, Maine.
New Mexico officials, including Commissioner of Agriculture Jeff Witte, are preparing for the reopening of the Santa Teresa Port of Entry, drawing lessons from the recent reopening of the Douglas, Arizona, port on August 24. At full capacity, the Santa Teresa facility can handle between 500,000 and 700,000 head of livestock annually in both directions. Witte stated that a target reopening date of September 24 has been set, pending inspections and alignment of biosecurity measures.
The USDA has been implementing a phased approach to reopening southern border ports for livestock trade following closures related to New World screwworm concerns. The department plans to allow 30 days of implementation at each port before evaluating biosecurity measures. Currently, there are two active screwworm infestations in Texas, one in a horse and one in a dog.