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 to support agriculture producers with irrigation water rights along the Rio Grande River. This initiative aims to provide economic relief to those affected by water shortages due to Mexico's non-compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty.

"Water is the lifeblood of Texas agriculture, and nowhere is this more critical than in the Rio Grande Valley," said Commissioner Miller. "The 1944 Water Treaty Grant rollout is precisely the action needed to assist our agricultural producers in the Valley as they have endured a prolonged drought."

The treaty mandates that Mexico deliver 350,000 acre-feet of water annually over a five-year cycle to the United States. Currently, Mexico owes over one million acre-feet of water, impacting farmers and ranchers in South Texas significantly.

Eligible producers are those who had farming acreage eligible for water allocations for agricultural use as documented through the Rio Grande Watermaster Program during 2023 or 2024. The counties included are Brewster, Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Kinney, Maverick, Presidio, Starr, Terrell, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy, and Zapata.

Workshops will be held to assist producers with their applications. Participants should bring necessary documentation such as their irrigation certificate number and proof of irrigable acres.

For more information on workshop dates and application materials, visit https://texasagriculture.gov/Grants-Services/Grants-and-Services/Texas-Water-Treaty-Assistance-Grant.

Information from this article can be found here.