Valley farmer awaits Mexico water repayment

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Earlier this year, it was announced that $280 million in emergency funding had been approved by Congress to help farmers in the Rio Grande Valley.

One Valley farmer is one of many waiting for Mexico to send more water to the U.S., in part of the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty.

While the ongoing drought has become the new normal, local farmer Dale Murden says it is a matter of planning with resources available, which can determine whether or not you grow a crop.

Factors like the Valley's dry conditions, unpredictable weather patterns, and Mexico's water debt affect his harvest season.

Murden says the $280 million secured in emergency funding for farmers by lawmakers on Capitol Hill will be a great help.

"Very beneficial, especially if you are a cotton and grain farmer; they have had some rough times," said Murden. "For us, in the specialty crop business, it probably helps us to locate and look into buying some water for the future. I have to have water for these trees, so I am always looking for additional allocations."

Meanwhile, not all of Murden's land is currently harvesting crops; across the road, he had acres of fallow ground.

"We use what limited resources of water we have to divert to one of the stronger fields," said Murden.

Recently, Mexico agreed to release up to 420,000-acre feet of water to South Texas.

"You can't plant without water, and you can't grow a crop without water," said Murden. "So, trust me, we'd rather have the water than the grant, but the grant is a blessing to help some of us offset the costs."

Farmers can apply for emergency funding until Thursday, May 22nd.