U.S. farmers are suffering, and some say it’s because Mexico isn’t living up to its commitments. What farmers need is not cash, but water.
“This is the first year I’ve had zero irrigation water,” said Brian Jones, who has farmed near the border for nearly 40 years. Due to a lack of irrigation water, he saw a significant reduction in crop yields.
Under a treaty in the 1940s, Mexico agreed to provide a certain amount of water to the Rio Grande region. Farmers in the region say the Mexican government has failed to live up to its obligations.
“Only half of my farm is planted. The other half is sitting idle 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 University, helped write a report on the losses the U.S. could suffer if the region continues to be without irrigation water.
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The Economic Impact of Mexico’s Lack of Irrigation Water on the U.S. (played by Olivia Calmes)
“The direct impact on producers alone will be close to $500 million…more than 8,500 jobs dependent on agricultural production and distribution and everything. So we’re talking about a big number,” Ribera said. Jones said the sugar refinery near his is the only one in the state. The plant closed this year because it did not have enough water for production.
Jones said seeing the closures was a sobering reminder, and a reminder for his own farm.
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Rio Grande Valley sugar growers close (played by Olivia Calmes)
“We pray that Mexico starts doing what they’re supposed to do,” Jones said.
Without enough water, farmer Brian Jones said his harvest was much smaller than it should have been. (played by Olivia Calmes)
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Professor Ribera said if the problem is not solved, it could eventually start to push up the price of groceries.
