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

 New Mexico Officials Applaud Mexico’s
Opening of the Border to United States (U.S.) Cattle

Las Cruces, NM—Concluding intense negotiations with representatives of the governments of Canada and Mexico, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced protocols effective today to harmonize standards for the export of breeding cattle to Mexico consistent with international standards.

New Mexico Director/Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. I. Miley Gonzalez, welcomed the announcement declaring, “This will give the U.S. and New Mexico cattlemen the opportunity to resume where we left off in December 2003 and begin making available to our ranching friends in Mexico the same quality of genetics that have been available in previous years.”

Dr. Gonzalez stated that many millions of dollars worth of requests for New Mexico registered and commercial breeding cattle has been on hold due to the border being closed to imports from the U.S.

New Mexico Governor Richardson has consistently urged Mexico to reopen the U.S./Mexico border to imports from the U.S. and strongly supported Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staple’s decision to stop Canadian cattle exports through Texas to Mexico.

The agreement between the governments of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will allow New Mexico ranchers and breeding stock producers to begin preparations for sending cattle to Mexico immediately following today’s announcement.

Governor Bill Richardson joins Secretary Gonzalez in thanking the commissioners of agriculture in Texas, Arizona, and California, as well as U.S. Secretary Ed Schafer, for their continuing efforts in reestablishing trade with Mexico.

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