NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) — U.S. farmers along the Rio Grande are seeing some relief after years of scarce water deliveries from Mexico. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says Mexico plans to release 202,000 acre-feet of water this week. It should help ease the strain on South Texas farmers struggling to sustain crops such as cotton, milo, and hay.
Past water gaps have led to mounting debt. While this delivery offers hope, many farmers warn it is not a total solution to their ongoing water challenges.
Lawmakers recently offered some support on agricultural water supplies. The House passed the PERMIT Act, a bill aimed at reducing regulatory hurdles for land that can revert to wetlands during drought or other periods of inactivity.
“Under the current five-year window, pauses that ranchers and farmers might take can often revert to wetlands, triggering EPA oversight that locks out grazing,” explained Rep. Andy Biggs, R-AZ. “My amendment protects these parcels so they can return to production when conditions improve, without fear of federal reclamation.”
The Permit Act also provides exemptions for stormwater and pesticide discharges on farmland to ease compliance while maintaining protections for U.S. waterways.
Texas A&M livestock economist Dr. David Anderson joins Tony St. James to discuss the geopolitical tensions and U.S.-Mexico border closure that are leading to sharp swings in the cattle market.
October 31, 2025 12:50 PM
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Arizona producers are proving that desert farming and water conservation can coexist through technology, reuse, and efficiency — reinforcing both food security and environmental stewardship.
October 31, 2025 12:39 PM
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U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) shares his perspective on the U.S.-China trade developments and their potential impact on American producers, farmers, and ranchers.
October 30, 2025 12:56 PM
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Shaun Haney, Host of RealAg Radio, discusses President Trump’s move to halt trade talks with Canada and Mexico over a commercial about tariffs launched by the Government of Ontario.
October 28, 2025 12:04 PM
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Farmers display a unique optimism — planting with the expectation that weather, basis, and prices will improve by harvest — asserting that the profession is an identity, not just a job.
October 27, 2025 12:12 PM
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Stay alert for trade announcements—especially border reopening timelines, tariff threats, and developments in Brazil’s export flows.
October 24, 2025 01:56 PM
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Until a phased reopening is inked, plan for tighter feeder availability, firmer basis near border yards, and continued reliance on domestic and Canadian sources.
October 24, 2025 11:42 AM
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Rising demand for Comfort Colors t-shirts reinforces the pull for U.S.-grown cotton, linking rural fiber production to a fast-growing mainstream apparel brand.
October 23, 2025 03:06 PM
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American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economist Bernt Nelson provides an updated outlook on the current U.S. cattle market.
October 23, 2025 02:20 PM
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