BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - In July, just as the U.S.-Mexico border was about to begin a phased reopening to Mexican cattle, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) closed it again. It was, in part, to keep the New World Screwworm from entering the U.S. It’s a tiny parasitic fly but it could have devastating impacts for Texas cattle producers.

“We’re having a big reaction to it, but if it gets here, then it becomes a billion dollar problem,” said Ron Gill, a professor and livestock specialist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. “It’ll probably take at least ten years from where we’re at right now to get it pushed back down to Panama, if everybody cooperated to get that done.”

Gill also said that having the U.S. short 600,000 Mexican cattle hurts more than just Mexican cattlemen.

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