In a shocking blow to the livestock industry, the United States has imposed a ban on Mexican cattle imports, leaving ranchers in northern Mexico reeling and threatening their very livelihoods. The ban, enacted nearly two months ago due to fears of a dangerous parasite known as screwworm, has sent shockwaves through the economy of Chihuahua, a region heavily reliant on cattle farming.

With over half a million cattle typically exported to the U.S. each year, the ban has forced ranchers to sell their livestock domestically at nearly half the price, crippling their operations. Manuel Borunda, a 70-year-old rancher who has dedicated his life to cattle farming, faces an uncertain future. “If I can’t sell these calves, my business won’t survive the year,” he laments, as he grapples with the compounded effects of the import ban and a relentless drought that has doubled feeding costs.

Screwworm, a parasite that can devastate herds by burrowing into the skin of infected cattle, poses a significant threat. While all reported cases have been confined to southern Mexico, ranchers warn that illegal cattle smuggling across the border could exacerbate the situation. Despite years of warnings to federal authorities, ranchers feel abandoned as they contend with the fallout of the ban.

The impact of this crisis is profound, especially for small-scale ranchers who lack the resources to weather such financial storms. As the cattle industry, valued at nearly a billion dollars in Chihuahua, hangs in the balance, the urgency for solutions becomes increasingly critical. The livelihoods of countless families depend on the swift resolution of this crisis, and the clock is ticking.