(Texas Scorecard) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced an agreement ensuring that Texas farmers and ranchers will receive critical water deliveries from Mexico. This marks a significant victory for American agriculture after years of drought and treaty noncompliance.
The breakthrough follows weeks of negotiations and comes as part of the longstanding 1944 Water Treaty between the two nations.
Under the 1944 Water Treaty, Mexico is required to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water to the United States over a five-year cycle from the Rio Grande River, while the U.S. provides 1.5 million acre-feet to Mexico from the Colorado River.
Persistent shortfalls by Mexico in meeting these obligations have led to severe water shortages in the Rio Grande Valley, which have devastated crops, shuttered the region’s last sugar mill, and threatened local economies.
The new agreement compels the Mexican government to transfer water from international reservoirs and increase the U.S. share of flow from six of Mexico’s Rio Grande tributaries through the end of the current five-year cycle, which concludes in October.
Immediate water releases are planned to provide relief for this growing season, with continued commitments for additional monthly transfers and regular consultations on future deliveries.
Secretary Rollins, who led the negotiations alongside Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, emphasized the importance of this step:
“Mexico finally meeting the water needs of Texas farmers and ranchers under the 1944 Water Treaty is a major win for American agriculture. After weeks of negotiations … we secured an agreement to give Texas producers the water they need to thrive. While this is a significant step forward, we welcome Mexico’s continued cooperation to support the future of American agriculture,” Rollins stated.
Last month, amid negotiations, Secretary Rollins also announced a $280 million grant agreement between the USDA and the Texas Department of Agriculture to provide economic relief to Rio Grande Valley farmers impacted by the water shortfall. The funding is being distributed immediately to eligible producers, offering short-term support while longer-term solutions are pursued.
The agreement comes in the first 100 days of the Trump administration, with Rollins crediting President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies and strong stance in holding trading partners accountable.
The administration had previously threatened tariffs and other consequences if Mexico failed to honor the treaty, signaling a tougher approach to cross-border water disputes.
Both U.S. and Texas officials stress that ongoing cooperation and enforcement will be necessary to ensure Mexico continues to meet its obligations under the treaty.