Screwworm Updates, Another Shuttered Beef Plant and New Grazing Ground: The Week in Beef
The screwworm fight is intensifying, but it’s far from the only story hitting U.S. beef producers this week. Amid the challenges, ranchers did catch a win on the grazing front. Here’s a quick rundown of four stories to know.
USDA Re-Pauses US-Mexico Imports to Help Contain Screwworm
The U.S.-Mexico border remains shut to livestock imports indefinitely, as USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed the closures will continue until the New World screwworm (NWS) threat is better understood. An estimated 1 million head of Mexican cattle are sitting on the other side of the border that would normally be filling U.S. feedlots. While some politicians are pushing for a phased reopening with strict checkpoints, others warn that the risk of further screwworm incursions is too high a price.
Track the latest USDA updates on the screwworm.
Got Pets Near Screwworm Country? The FDA Just Made Treatment Easier
While the majority of cats and dogs are at low risk, the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) on June 11 for generic Nitenpyram Tablets, a fast-acting, over-the-counter treatment for NWS infestations in dogs and cats. The drug kills most larvae within hours of the first dose, offering pet owners in affected areas an affordable option without a prescription. It’s the 10th EUA issued under the current administration’s whole-of-government screwworm response.
Read the full FDA release here.
More Grazing Ground, Less Red Tape
The USDA is directing the U.S. Forest Service to open more National Forest System land for livestock grazing, reopening vacant and closed allotments and streamlining permitting. The move is aimed at increasing grazing capacity across federal lands, a welcome signal for ranchers who’ve long battled hurdles for access to public grazing allotments.
JBS Closes Another Plant as Cattle Shortage Continues
JBS, the world’s largest meatpacker, is shutting down its beef-processing facility in Pennsylvania, making it the latest casualty of a prolonged U.S. cattle shortage that’s squeezing plant utilization and profit margins industry-wide. With fewer cattle moving through the supply chain, expect continued pressure on beef processing capacity and retail prices heading into the back half of 2026.