Higher food prices possible from Mexico-Texas water dispute

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The Texas delegation renewed its push this week to force Mexico to honor a water treaty from the 1940s.

“U.S. and particularly Texas based agriculture are deprived of the water they need in order to grow their crops and earn a living,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). “We’re trying to get the attention of the Mexican government.”

The 1944 treaty with the United States required Mexico provide 350,000 acre-feet of water to the United States. 

Data released from the International Boundary and Water Commission shows Mexico has delivered 385,163 acre-feet since 2020, well below the more than 1.2 million acre-feet required by the treaty.

“This is a very life or death matter for many farmers and ranchers,” Cornyn said.

The Texas Farm Bureau said the Rio Grande Valley was hit the hardest by the water shortages. 

Brian Jones is a fourth-generation farmer in that region.

“A lot of the nation, especially the state of Texas, but also across the eastern part of the nation relies on the Rio Grande Valley to supply the fall and winter vegetables,” Jones said. “It will start impacting customers in the grocery store quickly.”

Jones said he usually plants cotton, sorghum and food-grade corn. Other farms in the valley plant greens, citrus and sugar cane, too. He said, this year, the water shortages forced farmers to plant different crops that don’t use as much water.

“This is the first year, in my 38 years, where I’ve had zero irrigation of water,” Jones said.

Representatives from the Mexican consulate in Washington, D.C. did not return requests for comment.