Business

AUSTIN—The Texas Railroad Commission issued a total of 451 original drilling permits in August 2020, less than half of the 960 permits issued in August 2019. The August 2020 total includes 377 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, seven to re-enter plugged well bores, and 51 for re-completions of existing well bores.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, cattle prices have been on a roller coaster. Now is a good time to analyze performance to make sure your operation is as efficient as possible, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers and ranchers that the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) is Sept. 11. This program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.

Small nonfarm businesses in Hemphill and surrounding counties are now eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought that began on July 21.

AUSTIN—Crude-oil and naturalgas production as reported to the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) for June 2020 came from 173,549 oil wells and 86,037 gas wells. The RRC notes that from July 2019 to June 2020, total Texas reported production was 1.5 billion barrels of crude oil and 10.5 trillion cubic feet of total gas.

AUSTIN—Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar released totals for fiscal 2020 state revenues, in addition to announcing monthly state revenues for August. •General revenue-related revenue for fiscal 2020 totaled $56.98 billion, down 1.5 percent from fiscal 2019.

Hemphill County U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) PTIC Janee Cross reminds livestock producers who suffered grazing losses that occurred throughout 2020 due to drought, to report their losses timely and to enroll in the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) by Jan. 30, 2020.

Almost 196,000 head of calves, feeder cattle and breeding stock were offered this week during Superior’s Big Horn Classic video cattle auction including lots from a number of Canadian-area ranchers. Broadcast live from the Holiday Inn, Sheridan Wyoming, the auction had producers from 32 states.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) this week announced a new annual survey of farmers, ranchers, and private forestland owners. The survey will help USDA understand what it is doing well and where improvements are needed, specifically at the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Risk Management Agency (RMA).

HAPPY—Happy Bancshares, Inc., a Texas corporation and holding company of Happy State Bank, announced the closing of its $140 million private placement of subordinated notes. “We are happy to announce the successful completion of our subordinated debt offering,” said J.