Farmers in the Rio Grande Valley are grappling with significant financial losses due to a severe lack of water for irrigation. Many have either refrained from planting or have shifted to crops that rely solely on rainfall, drastically reducing their income. To alleviate the situation, financial aid funds are available, and farmers have until 11:59 pm to apply. These funds, amounting to $280 million, are provided by the Texas Department of Agriculture and the USDA. \n\nThe funds will be distributed among eligible applicants based on their total acreage. Brian Jones, a local sorghum farmer, explained that the money will likely be used to cover operational costs such as bank payments and equipment loans. “We aren’t sure how much we’ll receive, but anything will help. We’ve been without sufficient water for the past three years,” he said. \n\nThe scarcity of water has also impacted the availability of surplus water for purchase. Sonny Hinojosa, a water advocate in Hidalgo County’s Irrigation District No. 2, noted, “There isn’t much water to buy, which is unfortunate. This aid will hopefully offset some losses.” \n\nWhile conditions have slightly improved compared to last June, thanks to Mexico releasing 56,000 acre-feet of water after pressure from the White House, the region remains far from having abundant water supplies. Farmers hope this additional water will help them prepare for the next planting season in early 2024. However, Mexico still owes the U.S. one million acre-feet of water by October. \n\nWith the application deadline extended to June 5, farmers are anxiously awaiting updates on the exact aid amounts they will receive. \n— new from KRGV
