COLUMBUS, N.M.\u00a0 – The Columbus Stockyards are scheduled to reopen to livestock imports from Mexico on October 26, following a prolonged shutdown prompted by concerns over the New World screwworm parasite. However, the reopening comes as New Mexico agricultural officials investigate two newly confirmed infections in neighboring Grant County, including cases near Silver City and Hachita.<\/p>\n
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins is scheduled to visit Columbus on Tuesday, October 20, to tour the livestock facility and meet with agricultural stakeholders and federal officials ahead of the reopening.<\/p>\n
The visit comes just five days after the New Mexico Department of Agriculture announced two additional confirmed cases of New World screwworm in Grant County, involving a horse and a calf.<\/p>\n
According to local reporting, one case was identified in the Silver City area and another near Hachita, southwest of Silver City.<\/p>\n
The discoveries have prompted state and federal authorities to expand surveillance, trapping operations and livestock movement precautions across portions of southwestern New Mexico.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Department of Agriculture suspended imports of live cattle, horses and bison from Mexico on May 11, 2025, following the continued northward spread of New World screwworm in Mexico.<\/p>\n
The parasite, which had been largely eliminated from the United States decades earlier, poses a serious threat to livestock, wildlife, domestic animals and, in rare cases, humans.<\/p>\n
Unlike ordinary fly larvae that feed on dead tissue, New World screwworm larvae feed on the living flesh of warm-blooded animals.<\/p>\n
Female flies lay eggs in open wounds or other vulnerable areas. After hatching, the larvae burrow into living tissue, causing painful injuries, infections and potentially death if untreated.<\/p>\n
The USDA initially restricted livestock imports in November 2024, later allowing trade to resume under additional safeguards before imposing another suspension in May 2025.<\/p>\n
Agriculture Secretary Rollins ordered the restrictions as federal officials worked with Mexican authorities to contain the parasite and prevent its further spread.<\/p>\n
The shutdown disrupted livestock commerce along the southern border, including operations at Columbus and Santa Teresa, New Mexico.<\/p>\n
Before the shutdown, the Columbus livestock crossing was an important entry point for cattle imported from Mexico into the United States.<\/p>\n
Agricultural market figures for 2023 and 2024 indicate that approximately 135,000 to 140,000 head of cattle passed through Columbus annually.<\/p>\n
That represented an average of approximately 2,500 to 3,000 cattle each week.<\/p>\n
The nearby Santa Teresa livestock crossing handled considerably larger volumes, with approximately half a million cattle annually during the same period.<\/p>\n
Together, the two New Mexico crossings accounted for a substantial share of cattle imported into the United States from Mexico.<\/p>\n
The interruption affected ranchers, livestock transportation companies, feedlots, agricultural brokers and businesses supporting cross-border livestock trade.<\/p>\n
In October 2025, livestock industry representatives told New Mexico lawmakers that the shutdown had caused layoffs and significant financial disruption on both sides of the international border.<\/p>\n
In July 2026, the USDA announced a phased reopening strategy for livestock crossings along the southern border.<\/p>\n
The plan established additional inspection requirements and tied reopening decisions to Mexico’s progress in controlling the screwworm threat.<\/p>\n
The Douglas, Arizona, livestock crossing reopened August 24, followed by Santa Teresa, New Mexico, on September 24.<\/p>\n
Columbus is now scheduled to reopen October 26, according to a USDA media advisory issued Monday.<\/p>\n
Under the federal reopening plan, livestock entering the United States must undergo USDA inspections to ensure animals do not show signs of New World screwworm infestation.<\/p>\n
Federal officials have also indicated that reopening schedules may be adjusted if animal health conditions change or new risks are identified.<\/p>\n
While federal officials prepare to restore livestock imports through Columbus, New Mexico authorities are responding to additional screwworm infections in Grant County.<\/p>\n
On October 15, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture confirmed two new cases involving a horse and a calf.<\/p>\n
One case was subsequently identified in the Silver City area, while the other was reported near Hachita.<\/p>\n
These follow an earlier Grant County infection confirmed September 17 in a horse near Mimbres.<\/p>\n
The September case was determined to have been acquired locally, according to the New Mexico Livestock Board. That case has since been classified as inactive.<\/p>\n
The two new cases bring the total number of confirmed New Mexico infections to four since June, including an earlier case involving a dog in Lea County.<\/p>\n
State and federal officials are investigating the recent infections and expanding efforts to determine whether additional animals have been affected.<\/p>\n
The new Grant County infections have resulted in expanded animal health restrictions affecting parts of southwestern New Mexico.<\/p>\n
Authorities have established infestation zones extending at least 12.4 miles from the locations of affected animals.<\/p>\n
The northern infestation area includes Silver City and surrounding communities, while the southern zone near Hachita extends into portions of Luna and Hidalgo counties.<\/p>\n
Animals within designated infestation zones must undergo inspection and, when necessary, treatment before being moved within or outside those areas.<\/p>\n
Additional surveillance zones surrounding the affected locations allow officials to conduct fly-trapping and monitor livestock and wildlife for evidence of further spread.<\/p>\n
The restrictions are particularly relevant to ranchers and animal owners in Grant, Luna and Hidalgo counties.<\/p>\n
Officials encourage livestock producers and pet owners to watch for wounds that do not heal, worsening injuries, visible larvae, foul-smelling discharge or unusual irritation around wounds.<\/p>\n
Suspected cases should be reported immediately to the New Mexico Livestock Board. Owners should avoid moving potentially infected animals until receiving guidance from animal health authorities.<\/p>\n
The scheduled reopening of the Columbus Stockyards comes at a time when agricultural officials are attempting to restore an economically important livestock trade while continuing to respond to the parasite’s presence in southwestern New Mexico.<\/p>\n
The recent Grant County infections demonstrate that the screwworm threat remains an active concern.<\/p>\n
However, authorities have not established a connection between the newly confirmed infections and cattle imported through the Columbus Stockyards.<\/p>\n
The Columbus crossing has remained closed to livestock imports during the period in which the latest Grant County cases were detected.<\/p>\n
The USDA has not indicated in Monday’s advisory that the new infections will change the scheduled October 26 reopening.<\/p>\n
Secretary Rollins is scheduled to tour the Columbus Stockyards on Tuesday, October 20, before participating in a roundtable discussion with agricultural stakeholders and federal officials.<\/p>\n
A press conference is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. at the Columbus Stockyards, located at 8980 West Plata Avenue.<\/p>\n
Joining Rollins are USDA Under Secretary Dudley Hoskins and Associate Administrator Michael Schmoyer.<\/p>\n
The visit is expected to focus attention on the reopening of the livestock crossing and the federal government’s efforts to restore agricultural trade while maintaining protections against New World screwworm.<\/p>\n
For Columbus and the surrounding agricultural communities, the reopening represents an opportunity to restore livestock activity that historically brought thousands of cattle through the border crossing each week.<\/p>\n
At the same time, the new infections in neighboring Grant County underscore the importance of continued surveillance, inspections and cooperation among livestock producers and animal health officials.<\/p>\n
Additional information about New World screwworm, affected areas and animal movement requirements is available at ScrewwormNM.org.<\/p>\n
John Krehbiel – Bravo Mic Communications, LLC – john@bravomic.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"