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
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.
Landowners interested in protecting working ground through an easement now have another funding window open until the end of May.
Paul Neiffer joined us to explain how USDA’s base acre expansion will be calculated, outline key deadlines for farmers, and discuss how the changes tie into farm program decisions and the broader Farm Bill outlook.
Farm Bureau Economist Dr. Faith Parum discusses USDA’s efforts to expand fertilizer capacity, signals for farm profitability, and AFBF’s Farm Bill expectations.
Expanded export financing could provide greater support for ag sales abroad if buyers and lenders use the additional tools.
Kansas Congressman Derek Schmidt joins us to discuss House passage of the Farm Bill, its potential impact on farm profitability and stability, key policy compromises, and the outlook for Senate consideration.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

With 2023 projected to be a difficult year for agricultural producers, Chapter 12 filings may increase. One of the requirements to get a Chapter 12 reorganization plan approved is that be filed in “good faith.” In this blog post, RFD-TV Legal Contributor Roger A. McEowen explains exactly what farmers need to know about the process.
The failure of a grain elevator can cause large problems for farmers and for the local community it serves. A farmer who knows their rights and where they stand if an elevator fails can be in a better position than those farmers who aren’t as well informed. That is the topic of today’s blog post by RFD-TV Legal Contributor Roger A. McEowen.
Financial matters in farming can be frustratingly complicated, especially when it comes to the process of filing for bankruptcy. That is the topic tackled in today’s blog post by Farm-Legal Expert Roger A. McEowen—the definition of “insolvency” for purposes of the exclusion from income of CODI.