Some farmers will be getting more water in the future, but they'll be paying a higher rate for that increased supply.

The changes are part of Metropolitan Water District's gradual phase-out of a plan that gave farmers a discount on the cost of the "surplus" water they had been buying.

"Surplus" water in this context is water that MWD, the district that provides about half of the Rancho California Water District's supplies, sold at lower rates after baseline amounts of water were allocated to MWD's customers, smaller districts such as Rancho California.

Metropolitan Water District started the process of phasing out the plan, called the Interim Agricultural Water Program, late last year when it became clear that legal battles in Northern California were permanently altering the large water district's ability to accurately forecast future water supplies.

Farmers who participated in the Rancho Water program paid a 30 percent discounted rate for their water, district spokeswoman Meggan Reed said.

"In exchange, they agreed that they would be the first ones to be cut in a water supply situation," she said.

On Wednesday, the district will meet with area farmers to answer questions about the program's phase-out.

There also will be a presentation by district staff members that explains how state water issues led MWD to end the program.

Farmers who continue to participate in the program will find their costs increasing by about 10 percent, but they will get 5 to 10 percent more water each year.

Depending on how they use that water, the farmers ---- the district serves mostly avocado and wine grape farmers ---- could increase their yields to offset the higher cost of water.

But higher yields might not lead to higher profits if the markets for avocados and wine grapes aren't solid.

This shaky situation has led some farmers to have "mixed feelings" about the new rates, Reed said.

Farmers who don't want to deal with the vagaries of the program ---- which includes the possibility of water cuts in the event of an extended drought ---- can opt out and lock in their rates, as well as the amount of water they will get.

District board member Stephen Corona, a farmer who has raised avocados and citrus, said that opt-out option is becoming more popular, but the math isn't always clear-cut.

"It's a hard decision for people to make," he said.

The MWD meeting is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. in the district's board room, 42135 Winchester Road.

For more information, call the district at 951-296-6900.

Call staff writer Aaron Claverie at 951-676-4315, ext. 2624.