By Julie Tomascik
Editor

A bill introduced last week aims to help Rio Grande Valley farmers and ranchers who have been affected by lack of water payments from Mexico.

The South Texas Agriculture Emergency Assistance Act, authored by U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz who represents the Valley, is designed to address the economic losses farmers have endured during the 2023 and 2024 crop years due to Mexico’s failure to meet obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty.

It would allocate $280 million in grants to the state to be administered through the Texas Department of Agriculture to help border farmers for losses incurred due to drought and the lack of water payments from Mexico.

The financial assistance, if approved, would be proportional to the actual losses incurred by affected farmers.

“The hardworking agricultural community in South Texas has faced significant challenges due to water shortages impacting their livelihoods,” De La Cruz said. “This bill is an essential step to ensure these producers receive the support they need to continue feeding and fueling our nation.”

Under the treaty, Mexico owes the U.S. a total of 1.75 million acre-feet of water by October 2025, but the country has only paid 426,845 acre-feet, according to the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission.

Because of Mexico’s failure to provide the water it owes the U.S., the state’s only sugar mill in Texas shut down. Now, citrus and other crops are threatened and facing an uncertain future.

One of Texas Farm Bureau’s priority issues for the year is work toward solutions to force Mexico to abide by the 1944 Water Treaty and ensure annual delivery of water to the U.S. The organization supports De La Cruz’s bill.

“The ongoing water delivery issues severely affect our farmers and ranchers, risking significant yield reductions and posing a threat to our national food security,” Laramie Adams, TFB associate director of Government Affairs, said. “This bill would help farmers in the Rio Grande Valley who have suffered under years of drought and Mexico’s lack of follow through on water deliveries.”

This bill is one of several that De La Cruz has introduced throughout the year related to Mexico’s water debt. Other bills and resolutions are aimed at forcing Mexico to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty.

De La Cruz also formed the South Texas Water Working Group, which consists of border leaders, to work on long-term solutions to the drought, population growth and lack of water from Mexico.In addition to TFB, the South Texas Agriculture Emergency Assistance Act is supported by Texas Citrus Mutual, Texas International Produce Associate and Texas Vegetable Association.

The bill now awaits consideration by the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture.

For more information on the bill, click here.