US-Mexico cattle trade to resume in phased reopening
The US Department of Agriculture announced on Friday that it will reopen southern cattle ports to Mexican livestock beginning August 24, 2026, at the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry, contingent on Mexico meeting milestones of a joint action plan to control the New World screwworm outbreak. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins called the prior closure "a tough but necessary action to control the spread of NWS in Mexico and protect the American livestock industry" and said the reopening would resume "the hundreds year old movement of cattle." Subsequent ports at Santa Teresa and Columbus in New Mexico will be evaluated after the initial reopening. The department suspended live cattle, horse and bison imports in May 2025 and announced a phased reopening on June 30, 2025, but halted the process after Mexico reported a new case nearly two weeks later. Rollins's five-pronged plan includes about $105 million in NWS grand challenge funding and support for Mexico's hiring of more than 500 surge staff for trapping and animal movement control.
Screwworm cases, trade stakes and industry response
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has confirmed 42 domestically acquired animal cases since the first US detection on June 3, 2026, with 41 cases in Texas and one in New Mexico. Sonora and Chihuahua were identified as the lowest-risk Mexican states due to robust inspection programs and distance from heavily affected southern regions; the closest active case to the Douglas port was detected July 22 at approximately 325 miles. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had instructed local authorities to expedite preparations for exports resuming in late August. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said the reopening "is the right move for ranchers and American consumers" but added that "the prolonged closure has already taken a toll on producers, disrupted supply chains, and created uncertainty." The National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Meat Institute and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association backed the decision, though R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard warned that an open border will incentivize northward cattle movement from screwworm-endemic southern Mexico. The closure contributed to record-high US beef prices and contracted the $100 billion industry.
Pakistan authorizes one million tons of wheat imports
Pakistan will import one million tons of wheat and release government stockpiles to provinces after a federal-provincial review of supply, pricing and stocks. Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain said the imports "would help meet domestic needs and support price stability," and the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation was directed to release existing stocks—Punjab requested one million tons and Sindh sought at least 220,000 tons. Average wheat prices climbed to 4,611 rupees per 40 kilograms in the first week of July, up from 4,516 rupees a week earlier, while average flour prices reached 1,288 rupees per 10 kilograms. Estimates of production diverged: the Federal Committee on Agriculture targeted 29.68 million tons for the 2025-26 Rabi season, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission estimated 27.48 million tons in May citing smaller cultivated area and lower yields, the Economic Survey 2025-26 reported 29.61 million tons, and provincial estimates showed 29.31 million tons. The Progressive Flour Millers Group projected a shortfall of 2.5 million tons in Punjab alone this season, against official demand projections pegging total 2026-27 needs at 34.33 million tons.
Philippines deploys P235 million package against sugarcane pest
The Philippine Department of Agriculture announced P235 million in assistance and additional drones to combat the red-striped soft scale insect in Negros Occidental sugarcane fields, with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. releasing P35 million directly to municipal and city mayors—P10 million for pesticides and P25 million for drone spraying—while P200 million in emergency cash assistance will flow through the Department of Social Services and Development to about 12,327 affected farmers at P10,000 per beneficiary. Sugar Regulatory Administration data shows the pest has infested 92,780 hectares of sugarcane nationwide, with 61,382 hectares in Negros Occidental. Forty large-scale commercial drones will be deployed, transported by a Philippine Air Force C-130 aircraft, with daily coverage expected around 300 hectares in Negros due to a 1.2-meter altitude requirement—compared with up to 600 hectares per day under normal conditions.
South Africa launches online FMD vaccination authorisation
South Africa's Department of Agriculture launched an online self-vaccination authorisation system allowing livestock owners to apply for permission to vaccinate their own animals against foot-and-mouth disease, Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp announced on Saturday. Applicants must register as an "Authorised Person" through the FMD Reporting platform, notify Provincial Veterinary Services at least five days before vaccination, and submit a report within 14 days. Approved applicants may obtain vaccines directly from authorised veterinarians, and farmers in the voluntary programme will purchase vaccines for their cloven-hoofed animals, though the state will continue providing vaccines in newly affected outbreak areas. Private-sector reporting platforms including RMIS, SAAI and Buffalo Analytics may also be used if authorised by the Director of Animal Health.
Fertilizer disruptions and El Niño pressure Asian rice production
Farmers from Senegal to Brazil are turning to organic alternatives including cow dung, compost and biofertilisers as fertilizer prices have risen about 40% in Senegal and 50% globally since the war in Iran began on February 28, with the Gulf region producing 30% of globally traded chemical fertilizer. Senegalese farmer Abou Sow, who abandoned chemical fertilizers eight years ago, now rallies farmers to buy manure from local herders; Senegal imports 125,000 tons of fertilizer annually and the government announced in April it would subsidize and distribute 30,000 tons of organic fertilizer. Brazil's biofertiliser sector grew 15% from 2023 to 2024, though the country imports over 80% of its fertilizer. Meanwhile, a strengthening El Niño and below-normal monsoon rainfall are threatening rice production across Asia, with India's monsoon running about a sixth lower than normal since June. Thai benchmark rice prices recently touched an 18-month high and Chicago rice futures are up about 40% this year. Vietnam has warned that severe El Niño may affect rice crops over 350,000 hectares, and Philippine farmers have resorted to dry-seeding their fields to avoid diesel costs for irrigation pumps.
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