US Reopens Arizona Border Crossing To Mexican Cattle Amid Record Beef Prices
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reopened the Douglas, Arizona border crossing to cattle imports from Mexico's Sonora state on Monday, seeking to ease a U.S. slaughter cattle shortage amid record beef prices.[1]
USDA said the move followed an assessment that New World screwworm risk had fallen enough to allow targeted imports to resume.[1] Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins called the decision "careful, science-based," citing stronger animal health programs in Sonora and Chihuahua and individual animal inspections.[1]
The Trump administration closed the border to Mexican cattle in May 2025 to contain screwworm, a move that helped tighten U.S. slaughter supplies.[1] Mexico typically supplies about 1.1 million head a year, roughly 3 percent of U.S. supply, and USDA plans phased reopenings at crossings in New Mexico and Texas.[1]
Economists cited by reporters say the reopening and a new tariff-free ground beef quota are unlikely to quickly lower retail beef prices because herd rebuilding will be slow.[1] The U.S. cattle herd stood at 86.2 million head on Jan. 1, 2026, its smallest in 75 years.[1] That shrinkage helped push ground beef prices up about 57 percent over five years and steak prices up about 35 percent.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, August 24, 2026, USDA reopened the Douglas, Arizona border crossing to cattle imports from Mexico’s Sonora state after assessing lower New World screwworm risk.
- The Trump administration had closed the border to Mexican cattle in May 2025 to contain screwworm, contributing to a shortage in U.S. slaughter cattle.
- Mexico has traditionally supplied about 1.1 million head of cattle a year, roughly 3% of U.S. supply, and USDA plans a phased reopening of crossings in New Mexico and Texas.
- The U.S. cattle herd stood at 86.2 million head on Jan. 1, 2026, the lowest in 75 years, helping push ground beef prices up nearly 57% over five years and steak prices up 35%.
- Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Sonora and Chihuahua’s stronger animal health programs and individual animal inspections support a “careful, science-based” reopening.
- Agricultural economists cited in the article say the reopening and new tariff-free ground beef quota are unlikely to quickly lower retail beef prices given slow herd rebuilding.
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