Mexico Resumes Water Payments Under 1944 Treaty, But Shortfalls Persist for Texas Producers

RFD News correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports from Texas on the ongoing water dispute and its implications for U.S. farmers.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (RFD NEWS) — After years of delays, Mexico has begun making water payments to the United States under the terms of a 1944 water treaty. However, farmers say the amount of water delivered still falls short of requirements.

In an exclusive interview, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) told RFD NEWS correspondent Frank McCaffrey what it took to pressure the Mexican government to resume payments under the agreement.

McCaffrey takes us to Texas to speak with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle about the issue, where Sen. Cruz and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) emphasized that water access and treaty compliance remain major concerns for producers.

Both lawmakers believe water will be a significant topic during this year’s review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which President Donald Trump recently called “irrelevant.”

That review process is scheduled to begin this summer.

Related Stories
Reduced slaughter numbers and stronger export demand are helping push livestock by-product values higher.
Soy Transportation Coalition’s Mike Steenhoek discusses the proposed six-axle truck pilot program and its potential impacts on agriculture and freight transportation.
Ohio Farm Bureau’s Evan Callicoat discusses data center expansion in the state, producers’ land and resource concerns, and debates over tax exemptions and rural development.
Dr. Derrell Peel says the longer the border remains closed to Mexican cattle imports, the more likely some industry changes could become permanent.

RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey covers news from Texas, in the US-Mexico border region. He has provided in-depth coverage of immigration, the 2021 Texas freeze, the arrival of the New World screwworm, and Mexico’s water debt owed under a 1944 treaty.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Cattle markets continue supporting rural land values, but lenders say repayment rates and carryover debt are becoming a larger focus.
Analysts say drought, tight cattle supplies and summer grilling demand continue shaping the protein market outlook.
New data from ag-tech company Bushel suggests younger producers are beginning to play a larger role in farm decision-making across the country.
CECU President and CEO Jason Altmire discusses rural workforce shortages, technical skills, and why hands-on labor remains critical despite AI growth.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune says senators are trying to align the E15 effort with broader Farm Bill negotiations as producers continue grappling with weak farm income and elevated costs.
RFD News Farm Legal Expert Roger McEowen shares the major role of timing clauses in farmland sales, leases, and succession planning.