USDA Threatens Mexico: Stop Flesh-Eating Pest or Face Trade Shutdown

Paul Riverbank, 4/27/2025In a significant escalation of agricultural diplomacy, the USDA has issued Mexico an April 30 deadline to address the northward-moving screwworm crisis. This ultimatum, threatening livestock import restrictions, underscores growing tensions over Mexico's bureaucratic impediments to U.S.-funded eradication efforts.

The Looming Agricultural Showdown at the Border

As someone who's covered U.S.-Mexico relations for over two decades, I've rarely seen such a direct ultimatum from the Department of Agriculture. The message to Mexico couldn't be clearer: Get the screwworm crisis under control by April 30, or watch your livestock trade grind to a halt.

Let's put this in perspective. The New World screwworm isn't just another agricultural pest – it's a flesh-eating nightmare that once cost American ranchers millions before we eliminated it in 1966. Now it's creeping northward from Central America, and bureaucratic red tape is hampering our response.

I spoke with ranchers in Texas last week who remember their grandparents' stories about the devastation these parasites caused. "We can't go back to those days," one third-generation cattleman told me, his voice heavy with concern. The numbers back up his worry – Mexican cattle imports have plummeted from 114,000 head last year to a mere 24,000 last month.

Here's where things get complicated. The U.S. has a proven weapon against this threat – releasing sterile male flies to crash the pest population. It worked before, and it can work again. But Mexico's restrictions on Dynamic Aviation, our key contractor, are like trying to fight a fire with one hand tied behind your back.

The frustration from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins practically leaped off the page in Saturday's letter. Mexican customs charging duties on U.S.-funded supplies? Limited flight permissions? These aren't just bureaucratic annoyances – they're potentially catastrophic obstacles.

What's particularly maddening about this situation is its preventability. The U.S. has already poured $165 million into emergency funds. That's serious money for serious action. But without seven-day-a-week operations and free movement of essential supplies, we might as well be throwing good money after bad.

I've seen similar cross-border agricultural disputes before, but this one's different. The threat isn't theoretical – it's literally crawling north. And while diplomatic niceties have their place, Rollins' proposed emergency summit might be our last chance to avoid a major disruption in agricultural trade.

The clock's ticking. By the time you read this, we'll be even closer to that April 30 deadline. For both nations' agricultural sectors, the stakes couldn't be higher. Sometimes good fences make good neighbors – but in this case, what we need is seamless cooperation.

Paul Riverbank has covered agricultural policy and international trade for major news outlets since 1998. His latest book, "Borderland Economics," examines U.S.-Mexico agricultural relations.

The Looming Agricultural Showdown at the BorderAs someone who's covered U.S.-Mexico relations for over two decades, I've rarely seen such a direct ultimatum from the Department of Agriculture. The message to Mexico couldn't be clearer: Get the screwworm crisis under control by April 30, or watch your livestock trade grind to a halt.Let's put this in perspective. The New World screwworm isn't just another agricultural pest – it's a flesh-eating nightmare that once cost American ranchers millions before we eliminated it in 1966. Now it's creeping northward from Central America, and bureaucratic red tape is hampering our response.I spoke with ranchers in Texas last week who remember their grandparents' stories about the devastation these parasites caused. "We can't go back to those days," one third-generation cattleman told me, his voice heavy with concern. The numbers back up his worry – Mexican cattle imports have plummeted from 114,000 head last year to a mere 24,000 last month.Here's where things get complicated. The U.S. has a proven weapon against this threat – releasing sterile male flies to crash the pest population. It worked before, and it can work again. But Mexico's restrictions on Dynamic Aviation, our key contractor, are like trying to fight a fire with one hand tied behind your back.The frustration from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins practically leaped off the page in Saturday's letter. Mexican customs charging duties on U.S.-funded supplies? Limited flight permissions? These aren't just bureaucratic annoyances – they're potentially catastrophic obstacles.What's particularly maddening about this situation is its preventability. The U.S. has already poured $165 million into emergency funds. That's serious money for serious action. But without seven-day-a-week operations and free movement of essential supplies, we might as well be throwing good money after bad.I've seen similar cross-border agricultural disputes before, but this one's different. The threat isn't theoretical – it's literally crawling north. And while diplomatic niceties have their place, Rollins' proposed emergency summit might be our last chance to avoid a major disruption in agricultural trade.The clock's ticking. By the time you read this, we'll be even closer to that April 30 deadline. For both nations' agricultural sectors, the stakes couldn't be higher. Sometimes good fences make good neighbors – but in this case, what we need is seamless cooperation.Paul Riverbank has covered agricultural policy and international trade for major news outlets since 1998. His latest book, "Borderland Economics," examines U.S.-Mexico agricultural relations.