USDA Shares New World Screwworm Response Playbook

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the availability of the New World Screwworm (NWS) Response Playbook. The playbook outlines key approaches, resources, and tools to implement animal health response activities in the event of a U.S. detection of NWS. 

“USDA continues to execute our five-pronged plan to keep NWS out of the United States,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “While we continue to aggressively protect the U.S. border and are working with Mexico to stop the pest from continuing to spread further north, we also have to ensure our domestic response plans are ready to activate if needed...

ANALYSIS: A 2021 Pattern Emerges for the US Choice Cutout in 2025

Since June, Expana's Choice cutout has shown decreases of 8–10% and gains of 9–13%. The last time values fluctuated this much during the same time frame was in 2021, when they declined by roughly 16% and increased by 25%. While the swings in 2021 were more volatile, the overall pattern remains similar, even when comparing data going back to January. In 2021, there was about a 55% uptick from January to June, whereas in 2025, the same period saw a 24% rise. Again, although the degree of volatility differs, the pattern is comparable.

Current sentiment around the cutout points to steadiness with slightly...

FDA Conditionally Approves First Drug for Prevention and Treatment of New World Screwworm 

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration conditionally approved Dectomax-CA1 (doramectin injection) injectable solution for the prevention and treatment of New World screwworm larval infestations, and prevention of NWS reinfestation for 21 days. Dectomax-CA1 is conditionally approved for use only in cattle. 

“We understand the urgency with which America’s farmers and ranchers are asking for tools to fight New World screwworm,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Today’s conditional approval – the first in the U.S. for NWS – shows our dedication to rapidly advancing important animal medicines when they are needed most. We...

ANALYSIS: Argentina’s Beef Exports Rose 11.2% M-O-M in August to 70,854 mt

Argentina’s beef exports increase for the fifth consecutive month, up 11.2% month-over-month (M-O-M) to 70,854 metric tons (mt) in August, according to the latest data released by the National Institute of Statistics and Census. On a year-over-year (Y-O-Y) basis, this represents a slight 1.1% gain compared to the same period in 2024.

China remained by far the main destination for Argentina’s beef, representing 72.2% of total exports in August, reaching 51,177 mt. This is 12.1% higher than July’s figure and accounts for a marginal 0.7% increase Y-O-Y. On a year-to-date basis, China’s share of Argentina’s beef exports now stands at 69.9%, totaling...

New USDA Export Plan: Red Meat and Poultry Via Rail to Mexico; Screwworm Case Contained

As of September 18, a new, collaborative plan to export US red meat and poultry to the Mexican market via rail gained support from the USDA FSIS. 

"Through this innovative partnership, inspection personnel from Mexico’s National Service of Agri-Food, Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) will be inspecting at participating federally inspected establishments to reinspect and clear for export eligible US meat and poultry shipments at the point of origin. This process will eliminate the need for routine border inspections by Mexican officials..."

ANALYSIS: UK Beef Market Struggles with Tight Cattle Supply, Weak Demand, and Price Sensitivity

Cattle availability remains tight across the UK and Ireland, with slaughter numbers continuing to decline. Defra data shows a 4.9% year-on-year (YOY) reduction in GB prime cattle slaughter during the first half of 2025. Though cattle supplies remain constrained, subdued consumer demand has been the main driver for the bearish UK beef market lately. Market sources continued to highlight price stagnation in some beef cutouts due to weak sales.

The roasting beef prices have been declining in the past few months as it is...

ANALYSIS: Protein Production Outlook for Q3

The USDA is forecasting a mixed outlook for protein production in Q3, with significant declines expected in beef and turkey, while pork and broiler output remain steady or edge higher. Beef production is projected to fall sharply year-over-year (YOY), down 5.4% from 6.78 billion pounds in Q3 2024 to 6.42 billion pounds in Q3 2025. This reflects a tightening cattle supply pipeline, a trend that has persisted throughout much of the year and continues to pressure beef availability.

Turkey output is also forecast to contract, slipping 4.5% YOY to...

HHS Allows FDA Emergency Use of Animal Drugs to Combat New World Screwworm

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a declaration allowing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grant Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for drugs used to treat or prevent infestations caused by New World Screwworm in animals.

"Today we are taking decisive action to safeguard the nation’s food supply from this emerging threat,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “This authorization equips FDA to act quickly, limit the spread of New World Screwworm, and protect America’s...

NCBA Notches Legal Victory Protecting Cattle Producers from Overreaching Emissions Regulations

Last week, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) notched a legal victory in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia affirming protections for cattle farmers and ranchers from onerous and unnecessary air emissions reporting requirements. NCBA, along with a coalition of other livestock and farm groups, has engaged in this litigation for years to ensure that family farmers and ranchers were not forced to file complex, overreaching reports with the federal government about emissions under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and Comprehensive...

China’s Australian Beef Safeguard Kicks in 75 Days Earlier This Year Following Record Exports

China’s imports of Australian beef have triggered the 2025 Special Agricultural Safeguard (SSG) as of July 24, according to the latest announcement posted on the China International Trade Single Window, a website led by China’s National Ports Administration Office. 

Despite the higher annual quota volume for this year, this means the safeguard quota was exhausted in 205 days, 75 days earlier than in 2024. The safeguard limit was activated last year on October 6.  

The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) took effect in...

JBS Invests More Than US $7 Million in Traceability and Support for Small Producers in Pará

JBS has invested more than US$ 7 million in cattle traceability and support for small producers in Pará, as part of a pioneering state program that aims to trace the entire herd of cattle and buffaloes in the region by the end of 2026. The results of JBS's initiatives were presented during the "Expedition to the Sustainable Meat and Leather Market of Pará," an event promoted by the Nature Conservancy (TNC) Brazil.

The initiative is part of a broader collation involving...