Governor Greg Abbott and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today made agricultural stops in South Texas to take proactive action on behalf of American farmers and ranchers.
In Mission, the Governor and Secretary held a roundtable discussion with Texas agriculture producers regarding recent negotiations of the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty to discuss the breakthrough agreement’s impacts on the Texas citrus industry.
“Thank you to President Trump for stepping up and doing more than any other President has ever done to enforce this treaty,” said Governor Abbott. The urgency of it was heard at this roundtable today. We have an obligation to ensure more water goes to the men and women who grow crops in our state.”
"Uncertainty over water deliveries from Mexico negatively impact South Texas especially,” said Secretary Rollins. "The State Department, USDA, and IBWC engaged our Mexican government counterparts to negotiate. Recent treaty negotiations have resulted in significant increases in deliveries and improvements in the reliability of the water cover. It’s time to make a change, and that’s what we’re working to do."
During the roundtable, Governor Abbott and Secretary Rollins also discussed the passing of Proposition 4, a generational investment in Texas' water infrastructure.
The Governor and Secretary were joined in Mission by Lone Star Citrus Growers President Jud Flowers, Lone Star Citrus Growers Vice President of Operations TJ Flowers, Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening, and other Texas agricultural producers.
Additional photos of the roundtable will be provided here when available.
Following the roundtable, the Governor and Secretary participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of a Domestic New World Screwworm (NWS) Sterile Fly Dispersal Facility in Edinburg to combat the northward spread of NWS and protect American livestock.
Source : texas.gov