Business

Texas Farm Service Agency (FSA), in partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, is hosting the Texas Program Updates Webinar via Zoom tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 12, from 9-10 am. Texas FSA state office staff will discuss county office operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Important updates will include the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) and Quality Loss-Adjustment Program (QLA), Farm Loan programs, and Agriculture Risk and Price-Loss Coverage Program. Registration is required at https://bit.ly/3jDHD2m.

AUSTIN—The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 512 original drilling permits in January 2021 compared to 1,156 in January 2020. The January 2021 total includes 446 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, two to re-enter plugged well bores, and six for re-completions of existing well bores.

Confirmation hearings for Tom Vilsack, 70, ended Tuesday before the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee with the Senate panel voting unanimously to advance his nomination to the full Senate. The Iowa native is expected to garner broad bipartisan support leading to a smooth confirmation process as U.S. agriculture secretary.

AUSTIN—Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar this week said state sales tax revenue totaled $3.07 billion in January, 0.3 percent less than in January 2020.The majority of January sales tax revenue is based on sales made in December and remitted to the agency in January.

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is now accepting applications for Fiscal Year 2021 agricultural water-conservation grants. Applications are due to the TWDB no later than Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 2 pm. Up to $1,200,000 in grant funding is available to eligible political subdivisions and state agencies for agricultural water-conservation projects that improve irrigation efficiency, enhance resilience to weather extremes and climate variability, and promote innovation in agriculture. Priority consideration may also be given in the scoring and ranking of applications to projects that focus on improving soil health. Applicants are encouraged to engage agricultural producers and water managers through workshops and field days to promote the adoption of water-conservation practices and technologies. Applicants are encouraged to build upon the success of existing efforts and leverage the support from other local, state, federal, and private industry partners. Selected projects will further water conservation in the state and serve the public interest by supporting the implementation of water-conservation strategies identified in the state and regional water plans. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Cameron Turner at 512.936.6090 or cameron.turner@twdb.texas.gov. For more information, please view the full request for applications and application instructions online at twdb.texas.gov. Visit the Agricultural Water Conservation Grants program page for general program information and read about the success stories and examples of previously funded projects.

SACRAMENTO—Director Tanya N. Garfield of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West this week reminded Texas small nonfarm businesses of the deadline dates to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for economic injury. These low-interest loans are to offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by adverse weather conditions in the following primary counties.

“These awards enable landowners to address the threat that feral swine pose to natural resources and agriculture,” NRCS Acting Chief Kevin Norton said. “The projects we have identified will be key to addressing the feral swine problem.” (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Public Domain)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)—Thanks to the government paying nearly 40 percent of their income, U.S. farmers are expected to end 2020 with higher profit than 2019 and the best net income in seven years, the Department of Agriculture said in its latest farm income forecast in December. Farm cash receipts are forecast to decrease nearly 1 percent to $366.5 billion, the lowest in more than a decade, measured in real dollars. Direct federal government payments saved farmers’ bottom line: Farmers overall saw a 107 percent increase in direct payments from 2019, when a third of net income came directly from the government. Excluding USDA loans and insurance indemnity payments made by the Federal Crop Insurance Corp., farmers are expected to receive $46.4 billion from the government, the largest direct-to-farm payment ever. That includes $32.4 billion in assistance through coronavirus pandemic relief food assistance and Paycheck Protection program payments to farmers. Additional support comes from more traditional revenue-loss programs due to low commodity prices, compensation for trade disruptions resulting from tariff battle, and conservation programs assistance. Overall, farmers will see the highest level of net farm income, a broad measure of profitability, since 2013, the USDA said.