52 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN January 2026 are getting the sterile fly operation up and running again and, at some point, the border will open again. It’s still going to be some time, but they are making a good effort and cooperating with USDA on the ground. “They are taking this very seriously and have a very detailed plan they have crafted,” she said. “They have a ‘war room’ where they can look in real time at detections. And they’ve got staff in the field who are properly identifying and diagnosing the screwworm. They are making a sincere effort to get a handle on this. The commitment to joint protocols and harmonized treatment for New World screwworm is a continued effort in infrastructure, tracking, trapping and tracing.” Vinton and the delegation attended a special celebration at U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson’s residence. They were joined by Mexico Agriculture Minister Julio Berdegue and USDA Sec. Rollins. “I thank President Sheinbaum for welcoming me to the Presidential Palace where we had a productive and positive conversation about how we will continue to work closely together to eradicate the NWS, which is negatively impacting both our economies, including conducting a comprehensive joint review of our NWS response and efforts to ensure enforcement of our joint responsibilities in the 1944 water treaty,” Rollins said at the celebration. “This week was an incredible opportunity to connect buyers and sellers with more than 500 meetings over three days, pushing for American exports into Mexico’s ethanol market and discuss the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.” Nearing the end of her trip, Vinton toured Grupo Bimbo – the world’s largest bakery company and owner of 71 baking facilities in the United States. This tour offered an insight into Mexico’s agricultural supply chain and showcased how U.S. agricultural exports are distributed through the market. They imported nearly $400 million worth of U.S. ingredients in 2024, including wheat, dairy, eggs, potatoes and nuts. “This mission was about turning challenges into opportunities,” Vinton said. “This is about safeguarding our biosecurity – especially for our herds – and unlocking markets for our producers.” ~NC~ UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 50 Director Vinton and others pose for a photo following a private meeting with Undersecretary of Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg. Photo courtesy of Hannah Smallhouse.
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