American farmers are suffering, and some say it's because Mexico isn't holding up its end of the deal. What farmers need is not cash, but water.
“This is the first year I don't have water for irrigation,” said Brian Jones, who has been farming near the border for almost 40 years. He is seeing a huge drop in crops due to lack of irrigation water.
Under a treaty from the 1940s, Mexico agreed to give a certain amount of water to the Lower Rio Grande region. Farmers in the area say the Mexican government is falling behind in meeting its obligations.
“I only have half of my farm planted. And the other half is idle right now because we don't have water to take care of the crops,” Jones said. Luis Ribera, a professor and extension economist at Texas A&M, helped create a report on the potential losses for the United States if irrigation water remained in the region.
TEXAS AGRICULTURAL CRISIS CLOSERS AS US AND MEXICO FAT EACH OTHER OVER LONG-LASTING WATER TREATY
Economic impact of the lack of irrigation water from Mexico to the US. (Olivianna Calmes)
“Just the direct impact for producers is going to be close to $500 million… and more than 8,500 jobs depend on agricultural production and distribution and all that. So we are talking about big numbers,” Ribera said. . Jones said the sugar mill near him was the only one in the state. It closed this year because it did not have enough water for production.
Jones said it was sobering to see the mill close and a reminder for his own farm.
US STATE AGRICULTURAL LEADERS SEEK POSSIBLE COOPERATION IN CUBA'S PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers Closes (Olivianna Calmes)
“We're praying that Mexico starts doing what it's supposed to do, what it said it would do,” Jones said.
Without enough water, farmer Brian Jones says he has much less of a crop than he should. (Olivianna Calmes)
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Professor Ribera says that if this is not resolved, it could eventually start to drive up food prices.
