Expanding population and economic growth in Texas are deepening water scarcity concerns that could strain agricultural production, experts told the Texas Plant Protection Association conference this week. With about 1,500 new residents arriving daily, municipal and agricultural water demands are rising sharply, speakers said. Agriculture accounts for roughly half of the state’s water use, and continued growth along the Interstate 35 corridor adds pressure on already stressed supplies. Giovanni Piccinni, director of the Texas Water Resource Institute, called for collaborative solutions that balance urban and farm needs, including improved irrigation efficiency and infrastructure investments. Farmers in West and South Texas are already adapting to reduced allocations, switching to drought-tolerant crops and supplemental water storage. Still, officials say long-term planning is essential to protect the state’s agriculture economy, one of the nation’s largest.
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