About the Program

For fiscal year 2026, the New Mexico Legislature appropriated $5 million in special funding to implement projects that improve farmers' and ranchers' ability to manage, save, and efficiently apply limited water resources for agricultural production. NM WRRI was designated to administer this funding, subsequently developing the Agricultural Water Resilience Program (NM WRRI AgWRP). This program implements Action A2 of the New Mexico 50-Year Water Action Plan to incentivize agricultural water conservation.

Sustainable water management is critical to support New Mexico’s communities, economy, and long-term agricultural productivity. New Mexico’s agricultural sector is the largest consumer of water in New Mexico and relies on water supply availability. The agricultural sector comprises nearly 25,000 commercial farms and ranches, with 95 percent being family-owned according to the NM Department of Agriculture. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor released on November 20, 2025, drought conditions in New Mexico now affect 72 percent of New Mexico’s land area and 1.8 million residents. Drought can decrease the quantity and quality of water available for agricultural use, presenting significant economic challenges to the agricultural sector.