USDA is sending $280 million to help Texas producers amid severe water shortages from Mexico

USDA wants to help Texas producers who they say have been cheated out of water from Mexico.

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a $280 million grant agreement between USDA and the Texas Department of Agriculture. She said for too long farmers have suffered from Mexico’s failure to meet its water delivery obligations under a 1944 treaty.

Under the agreement, Mexico is obligated to provide the U.S. with 350,000 acre-feet of water each year, over a five-year cycle. Mexico has delayed all deliveries this cycle until the final year, and lawmakers have even considered sanctions in the past.

Rollins was in her home state this week, where she hosted a roundtable with farmers and ranchers, alongside Senator Ted Cruz. She reassured farmers of their commitment in Washington and said the Administration would do all it could to deliver for America’s farmers.

Related Stories
March brought better prices for several commodities, but rising fuel and feed costs kept margins under pressure.
Farmers still earn only a small share of consumer food spending, even as post-farm costs continue to take most of the dollar.
Corn and cotton gave the strongest signals this week, while soybean demand remained softer than in the previous report.
Reliance on vegetable imports remains uneven, with domestic production still anchoring several major categories.
StoneX’s Josh Linville discusses USDA’s efforts to boost domestic fertilizer production and his outlook on supply and prices.
With the Farm Bill now in the Senate’s hands, industry groups say the stakes are high—and timely action could be critical for producers navigating a difficult economic environment.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Just like cows, kids experience ups and downs—from small frustrations to unexpected moments—but there is still good in every day.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold joins us on Rural Health Matters to discuss rural mental health awareness, the importance of reducing stigma in agriculture, and resources available to farmers, ranchers, and rural families seeking support.
Utah Senator John Curtis joins us for “Champions of Rural America” to discuss new legislation to improve forest management and wildfire prevention and its broader implications for rural communities and infrastructure.
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson joins us to discuss rural electric co-ops’ push for expanded USDA loan programs, rising energy demand from data center expansion, wildfire mitigation and other policy priorities impacting rural power infrastructure.