Business

Drought conditions in Texas and throughout the U.S. continue to take a toll on cattle numbers, with higher calf prices and less beef production projected for 2023, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service livestock economist.

“Most of the country is in some form of drought,” David Anderson, AgriLife Extension economist in the Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Economics, Bryan-College Station, told attendees at the recent South-Central Texas cow-calf clinic in Brenham.

ABILENE—Smooth Ag Solutions has announced that it is establishing its first operating center in Miami. This location will act as a center for beta testing on nearby ranches, along with R&D and Rover servicing.

Texas Railroad Commission reports Oct. ‘22 drilling permit, completion stats AUSTIN—The Texas Railroad Commission issued a total of 851 original drilling permits in October 2022 compared to 768 in October 2021.

MINNEAPOLIS—Xcel Energy announced this week a proposal to advance the retirement of coal operations at Tolk Generating Station in Texas to 2028, more than four years earlier than planned. With this earlier retirement, along with accelerated coal-plant retirements in other states, the company will exit the use of coal by the end of 2030 when the Comanche 3 coal unit in Colorado retires.

The Texas Well Owner Network, TWON, is hosting two “Well-Informed” water well screening events on Nov. 15 in White Deer and Nov. 17 in Hereford, and a “Well-Educated” event on Nov. 16 in Canadian.

WASHINGTON— Agricultural producers can now change election and enroll in the agriculture risk coverage (ARC) and price-loss coverage (PLC) programs for the 2023 crop year, two key safety-net programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Signup began Monday, and producers have until March 15, 2023, to enroll in these two programs. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has started issuing payments totaling more than $255 million to producers with 2021 crops that have triggered payments through ARC or PLC.

AUSTIN—Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced last week the allocation of $1.06 billion in local sales taxes for October, 17.4 percent more than in October 2021. Checks will go to cities, counties, transit systems, and special-purpose districts in Texas.

TEMPLE—The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) recently received a grant of $3,992,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The grant will support TSSWCB’s Texas Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Program, which addresses water pollution caused by water runoff that carries pollutants into rivers, lakes, and other waterbodies.

Texas RRC reports Sept. ‘22 drilling permit and completion stats AUSTIN—The Texas Railroad Commission issued a total of 984 original drilling permits in September 2022 compared to 801 in September 2021.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is accepting comments on a proposal that would allow the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly called drones, to locate feral hogs at night for hunters on the ground.