Non-Local News Releases

(Washington, D.C., July 9, 2025)- Yesterday, Mexico's National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) reported a new case of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Ixhuatlan de Madero, Veracruz in Mexico, which is approximately 160 miles northward of the current sterile fly dispersal grid, on the eastern side of the country and 370 miles south of the U.S./Mexico border. This new northward detection comes approximately two months after northern detections were reported in Oaxaca and Veracruz, less than 700 miles away from the U.S. border, which triggered the closure of our ports to Mexican cattle, bison, and horses on May 11, 2025.

While USDA announced a risk-based phased port re-opening strategy for cattle, bison, and equine from Mexico beginning as early as July 7, 2025, this newly reported NWS case raises significant concern about the previously reported information shared by Mexican officials and severely compromises the outlined port reopening schedule of five ports from July 7-September 15. Therefore, in order to protect American livestock and our nation's food supply, Secretary Rollins has ordered the closure of livestock trade through southern ports of entry effective immediately.

(Washington, D.C., July 8, 2025) — Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins alongside U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the next pillar of her Make Agriculture Great Again initiative: USDA's National Farm Security Action Plan. This historic plan elevates American agriculture as a key element of our nation's national security, addressing urgent threats from foreign adversaries and strengthening the resilience of our nation's food and agricultural systems.

"We feed the world. We lead the world. And we'll never let foreign adversaries control our land, our labs, or our livelihoods," said Secretary Rollins. "This Action Plan puts America's farmers, families, and future first—exactly where they belong. Under President Trump's leadership, American agriculture will be strong, secure, and resilient. He will never stop fighting for our farmers and our ranchers."

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Due to increasing precipitation and higher humidity, which reduce fire danger, the Bureau of Land Management has terminated fire restrictions on public lands in the Albuquerque and Las Cruces districts. Affected counties include Bernalillo, Catron, Cibola, Doña Ana, Hidalgo, Grant, Luna, McKinley, Otero, Sandoval, Sierra, Socorro, Torrance, and Valencia. 

The BLM appreciates the public's cooperation to help minimize the number of human-caused wildfires. 

Please be aware that BLM statewide Fire Prevention Order NM910-25-01 remains in effect. The order prohibits fireworks and other explosive devices on BLM lands. For more information, please contact the BLM Albuquerque District Office at 575-761-8700, BLM Las Cruces District Office at 575-525-4300, or reference the BLM NM Fire Restrictions site. Additional fire restrictions information can be found at www.nmfireinfo.com .   

Meetings set for July 29 and 31 in Las Cruces and Albuquerque

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LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) will hold public hearings Tuesday, July 29, and Thursday, July 31, to receive input on proposed amendments to the following rules:

Egg Inspection Fees (21.34.7 NMAC) – 9 a.m.

Seed Standards and Classifications (21.18.4 NMAC) – 10 a.m.

Pesticides Rule (21.17.50 NMAC) – 11 a.m.

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has announced the postponement of its annual youth encouragement and leftover license sales due to changes with the Wells Fargo payment process.

"This delay is unfortunate, and the Department apologizes for the inconvenience, but this delay is necessary to ensure the system operates fairly and efficiently," director Mike Sloane said. "The Department is working diligently to address the problem."

The Department will notify customers when the sales are rescheduled.

SANTA FE – Youth hunters will be eligible to purchase one of 1,960 antlerless Youth Encouragement elk licenses through the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish's Online License System starting at 10 a.m. MDT on July 9.

The sale is designed to provide additional hunting opportunities for youth and includes 1,570 licenses for any legal sporting arm and 390 licenses for muzzleloader hunts. Licenses will be sold online only on a first-come, first-served basis. To purchase a license, customers will need to log into their Online License System account.

Eligibility and requirements:

WASHINGTON, July 7, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today welcomed 30 faculty and staff from Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) and Hispanic-Serving School Districts around the nation to the 2025 class of E. Kika De La Garza (EKDLG) Fellows.

The EKDLG Fellows came to Washington, D.C. to learn how USDA services and programs can benefit them, their students, and their communities. USDA recognizes that HSIs are at the forefront of building and sustaining the next generation of the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences workforce. "To develop agricultural leaders in both the public and private sectors, HSIs must take positive steps to engage and create partnerships to build capacity," said Dr. Lisa R. Ramírez, director of USDA's Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement to mark the celebration of Independence Day on the Fourth of July:

"America was founded on the fundamental principle of freedom. Generations of brave Americans have committed their lives to building our country and securing freedoms for our nation, even as the idea of that nation has changed, grown, and expanded over time.

(Washington, D.C., July 4, 2025) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins issued the following statement after President Donald J. Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill into law:

"The One Big Beautiful Bill marks the start of a new golden age for America and American agriculture. This historic piece of legislation makes permanent the largest tax cuts in history.

"It provides immediate tax relief to farmers, ranchers, and rural Americans by increasing the small business expensing threshold and permanently extending the Small Business Deduction. Through the President's leadership, the bill Makes Agriculture Great Again, bolsters the farm safety net, makes crop insurance more affordable, and protects two million family farms from the death tax.