NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MSC 3189, P.O Box 30005 - Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8005 Office of the Director/Secretary Dr. I. Miley Gonzalez, Director/Secretary
MEDIA ADVISORY	Fax: (575)646-8120

CANADIAN CATTLE GOING TO MEXICO

Las Cruces, New Mexico—New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA)
announced today its support of the Texas Department of Agriculture’s effort to stop Canadian cattle entering México through Texas export facilities until México accepts United States (U.S.) breeding cattle.

Dr. I. Miley González, NMDA Director/Secretary, stated “The department is
looking into all means of supporting the Texas decree and that New Mexico will work with all parties to reinstate full trade across all borders recognizing The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) standards.”

The U.S./México border has been closed to U.S. beef and breeding stock for over 50 months and during that time it has remained a one-way street for Mexican cattle coming north and very few U.S. cattle going south.

Other livestock industry leaders including the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association (NMCGA), Dairy Producers of New Mexico, and New Mexico Wool Growers, Inc. join in support of the Texas led effort.  "NMCGA is extremely pleased that Texas and New Mexico are stepping up and taking action to address México's barring of U.S. beef breeding cattle, yet allowing imports from Canada," said NMCGA president, Alisa Ogden.

Dr. González further supports the statement of Texas Commissioner Todd Staples, “México must recognize international standards and allow the importation of U.S. breeding stock immediately.”