A recent report by Texas A&M estimates a potential 2024 total loss in economic output of over $993.2 million due to the absence of irrigation water for crop production in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The report examines the total economic impact on the region's agricultural production, which consists of row crops (and specialty crops absent irrigation water. In terms of employment, it would result in an estimated loss of over 8,000 jobs. The lack of irrigation water is in large part due to Mexico's failure to deliver water to the U.S. per the 1944 Water Treaty. According to the report, the current Mexican water deficit is the second-largest deficit in the last three decades. The Treaty obligates Mexico to deliver a minimum of 350,000 acre-feet annually, as an average, on a five-year cycle. Now in year four of the current five-year cycle, Mexico owes over 736,000 acre-feet of water. Because of the lack of water, the Texas International Produce Association reports vegetable and fruit plantings are down 25 – 100 percent, depending on the corp.
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