U.S. secures water delivery deal with Mexico to aid Texas farmers

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a new agreement with Mexico that will deliver immediate and short-term water relief to farmers and ranchers in Texas, marking a significant development in efforts to enforce the 1944 Water Treaty. Under the arrangement, Mexico has committed to increasing water flows from six Rio Grande tributaries and transferring water from international reservoirs to help meet U.S. agricultural needs. The agreement extends through the end of the current five-year water cycle, which concludes in October, and is intended to alleviate ongoing shortages in the Rio Grande Valley.

“Mexico finally meeting the water needs of Texas farmers and ranchers under the 1944 Water Treaty is a major win for American agriculture,” Secretary Rollins stated. She noted that the agreement followed weeks of negotiations with Mexican officials, alongside Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. Rollins credited President Donald J. Trump’s administration for backing the effort and reaffirming its “America First” stance.

The 1944 Water Treaty obligates Mexico to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water to the United States over five years via the Rio Grande, while the U.S. delivers 1.5 million acre-feet to Mexico from the Colorado River. However, Mexico has faced repeated shortfalls in fulfilling its commitment, resulting in crop losses, job disruptions, and economic challenges for producers in southern Texas.

In tandem with the treaty negotiations, Rollins also announced a $280 million grant agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture. The funding is intended to provide economic relief to farmers in the Rio Grande Valley affected by Mexico’s delayed water deliveries.

The U.S. government emphasized that while the current agreement represents progress, further cooperation is needed to resolve outstanding water debts and ensure more consistent deliveries in the future. Regular consultations and monthly water transfers are expected to continue as part of ongoing treaty discussions.