Texas – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, alongside USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, has announced a $280 million grant agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). This funding aims to provide critical economic relief to farmers and producers in the Rio Grande Valley, who have been severely impacted by Mexico’s ongoing failure to meet its water delivery obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty.
The agreement will directly assist those in the region who have experienced significant hardships due to water scarcity. The USDA and TDA’s efforts are particularly focused on addressing water delivery losses during the 2023 and 2024 calendar years, with eligible farmers set to receive direct payments as part of the program’s implementation.
“I’m proud to partner with the Trump administration and USDA to provide this crucial funding directly to our South Texas farmers and ranchers,” said Commissioner Miller. “Our agricultural producers in the Rio Grande Valley have endured enough hardship due to the water scarcity. I appreciate Secretary Rollins, Senator Ted Cruz, and Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz’s prompt action, leadership, and support.”
The grant will be managed by the TDA, which will oversee the program’s rollout, including the sign-up process and the distribution of payments. These funds are intended to help mitigate the economic effects of Mexico’s failure to honor its water obligations, a situation that has led to severe agricultural challenges in the region. Texas lawmakers, including Senator Ted Cruz and Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz, have voiced strong support for this initiative, urging continued action as the water crisis persists.
The region’s agricultural industry has been deeply affected by water shortages, with the last sugar mill in Texas shutting down due to the ongoing water deficit. The citrus industry, once a vital part of the local economy, is also barely holding on, further underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Since November 2024, Mexico had only delivered 425,000 acre-feet of water—just a quarter of the required amount—prompting further action from both the U.S. and Mexican governments. In response, the two nations reached a new agreement aimed at improving water conservation efforts, as well as reuse and delivery, to prevent further shortfalls and ensure the future of agriculture in the region.
