Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, along with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has announced a $280 million grant program to support agriculture producers with irrigation water rights along the Rio Grande River. These grants aim to provide financial relief to farmers and ranchers affected by water shortages resulting from Mexico’s non-compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty.
Commissioner Miller emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "Water is the lifeblood of Texas agriculture, and nowhere is this more critical than in the Rio Grande Valley." He described the grant as essential for aiding agricultural producers in the region who have faced prolonged drought conditions.
According to the 1944 Water Treaty, Mexico is required to deliver 350,000 acre-feet of water annually to the United States over a five-year cycle. However, to date, Mexico has not met these obligations, resulting in more than one million acre-feet of owed water. This shortfall has led to significant losses for farmers and ranchers in South Texas, including job losses and negative impacts on family livelihoods.
The TDA will allocate the financial assistance to eligible producers through a non-competitive grant process. An "Eligible Producer" is defined as an agriculture producer whose farming acreage qualified for water allocations for agricultural use, as documented through the Rio Grande Watermaster Program. Producers may have permits individually or through a water irrigation district for the years 2023 and/or 2024. Eligible producers are located in counties including Brewster, Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Kinney, Maverick, Presidio, Starr, Terrell, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy, and Zapata.
Workshops will be conducted to assist producers with the application process. Participants are advised to bring their authorized irrigation certificate number, documentation related to their irrigation district or Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) water rights, and proof of their total number of irrigable acres.
For more details regarding workshop dates, locations, application materials, and frequently asked questions, interested parties are encouraged to visit the TDA website.
Director, Communications Maddison Jaureguito
