WESLACO, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — Last week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the United States and Mexico reached a new agreement regarding water deliveries under the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty.
“We have struck another deal with the country of Mexico with regard to the 1944 U.S., Mexico Water Treaty,” Rollins said. “Not surprisingly, the United States has consistently met its water obligation under that treaty. But for the past six years, and I was saying even before — when I worked for another Governor, Governor Rick Perry 25 years ago — we were negotiating with Mexico on this issue because they failed to — again — meet their obligations.”
Under the agreement, Mexico is expected to deliver 202,000 acre-feet of water before March, with additional payments planned.
But while the deal marks progress on paper, many in the South Texas agricultural community say relief has yet to materialize.
“There still are issues trying to get the water here,” said John Norman, a South Texas agriculture consultant. “As to my understanding, the water district still have not made allotments to the growers because they still don’t have enough water to get that in there where they can count on the water being there when they need it. So yes, the water supply is one of the biggest issues that we are dealing with down here.”
Without dependable irrigation water, farmers are facing mounting financial strain.
“Cotton prices, for instance, have gone down to 62 cents a pound right at this point in time,” Norman said. “If we had it to sell, which we don’t, we will have in July. But the thing is, that’s about 20 to 25 cents a pound too short for growers to make any money. Same thing on grain sorghum prices, they’re running around four dollars and 62 cents a pound. That needs to be up more like eight, nine, ten dollars a pound before they start making any money. Corn prices are awful, they’re terrible, and yet we still have hopes that we can get some corn planted down here. Problem is, we’re already getting late on planting and corn really, for the best production, needs water.”
Some producers may not survive another bad year if water shortages continue. When asked whether that could force land sales, Norman said options are limited.
“Well, or whoever wants to buy it or whatever you can do to do that,” Norman said. “There are very slim possibility of finding water that somebody else wants to sell, the water rights, but that’s minimal. You’re not going to find that much, number one, because people don’t have the water to sell.”
While desalination is often discussed as a long-term solution, Norman said it offers no immediate help.
“Not in the near future, no,” Norman said. “Who knows how long, 10, 20 years, it might be something that could be a viable water supply. I think probably more for cities than for irrigation purposes.”
He also noted that delayed deliveries from Mexico are not a new issue for South Texas growers.
“They’ve been through us more than once, but they certainly are apprehensive, and the planted acres of crops down here, particularly cotton, are going to be a very low prospect for this year,” Norman said.
As for what lies ahead, Norman offered a blunt assessment.
“Oh, just hang on to your hats,” he said. “It’s going to be a fun year.”
Congressional Reaction
U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX) said Mexico’s renewed commitment represents progress but emphasized that significant work remains. Cuellar issued the following statement to RFD NEWS:
U.S. Representative Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) also issued a statement addressing the water agreement and its impact on South Texas communities:
For now, though, many South Texas farmers say they are still waiting to see water flowing into irrigation systems — not just promises on paper.
Frank McCaffrey reporting for RFD NEWS.
