Relief is on the way to Texas farmers and ranchers dealing with water shortages

“We’re going to get this $280 million out to those Rio Grande Valley farmers and make sure they can see another day and farm another crop.”

Relief is on the way to Texas farmers and ranchers who have not been getting water deliveries from Mexico, as part of a decades-old treaty.

The state Department of Agriculture and USDA have teamed up, offering $280 million in grant assistance for producers with water rights along the Rio Grande River.

Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller spoke with RFD-TV’s Tammi Arender about the treaty’s background, what farmers need to know, and if this will be enough to alleviate the situation.

Related Stories
Corn growers are turning to ethanol, E15 expansion, and export markets to help absorb record supplies and stabilize prices. Farm leaders discuss low-carbon ethanol demand, flex-fuel vehicle challenges, input costs, and the role of USMCA as producers look for market relief in the year ahead.
Congressional leaders signal momentum toward expanded, targeted farm aid to help producers manage losses and cash-flow stress in 2026.
Protein-driven dairy growth is boosting beef supply potential, creating an opening to support rural jobs and ground beef availability.
New Resource Makes It Easier for People to Access Data on Rural Development funded Projects in Rural Communities
U.S. agriculture entered the week with mixed signals as weather, logistics, and markets shaped early-year decisions. Here is a regional breakdown of domestic crop and livestock production for the week of Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey speaks with Texas’s Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez about USMCA renegotiation and its impact on U.S.–Mexico agriculture trade.