Business

NGWA urges well owners to test water levels and have wells inspected to better handle extreme drought conditions The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) is urging all private well owners impacted by drought to have their systems inspected and water levels tested as we enter the summer months. Drought impacts both the productivity of a water well and its water quality.

The Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) has launched a webpage to inform stakeholders and highlight issues with legislative efforts meant to improve transparency and profitability in the cattle marketplace. The webpage provides extensive analysis regarding the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act (CPDTA), which would impose an onerous federal mandate on the cattle market.

AUSTIN—Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced last week that he would send cities, counties, transit systems, and special-purpose taxing districts $1.2 billion in local sales tax allocations for May, 11.8 percent more than in May 2021. These allocations are based on sales made in March by businesses that report tax monthly and sales made in January, February, and March by quarterly filers.

The preliminary estimates were calculated beginning Texas wildfires that ravaged the Eastland Complex, parts of the Panhandle, and Coryell County regions encompassing 433,000 acres have resulted in $23.1 million in preliminary agricultural loss estimates, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economists. The losses include more than 400 livestock deaths, lost grazing values, and fence repair costs.

AUSTIN—Crude oil and natural gas production for February 2022 came from 162,109 oil wells and 84,801 gas wells, according to the Texas Railroad Commission. From March 2021 to February 2022, total reported production in Texas was 1.5 billion barrels of crude oil and 10.6 trillion cubic feet of total gas. Crude oil production is limited to oil produced from oil leases and does not include condensate, which is reported separately by the RRC. For additional production stats, visit the RRC’s website at www.rrc.texas.gov/oil-and-gas/research-andstatistics/production-data/texasmonthly-oil-gas-production/.

AUSTIN—Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today said state sales tax revenue totaled $3.83 billion in April, 12.8 percent more than in April 2021. The majority of April sales tax revenue is based on sales made in March and remitted to the agency in April.

AUSTIN—Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced earlier this month that he would send cities, counties, transit systems, and special-purpose taxing districts $866.5 million in local sales tax allocations for April, 27.9 percent more than in April 2021. These allocations are based on sales made in February by businesses that report tax monthly.

Richard Hefley of Amarillo, Texas has been named to Coldwell Banker Commercial’s Circle of Distinction for 2021. The Circle of Distinction is an annual designation bestowed on top professionals based on sales volume. Hefley is a farm and ranch specialist for Coldwell Banker Commercial First Equity out of Amarillo. Richard Hefley has worked selling farm and ranch properties throughout Texas and Oklahoma for 42 years, dating back to 1980. Hefley is designated as an Accredited Land Consultant (ALC)—an accreditation for the highest-performing land experts who complete a rigorous education program and meet other criteria. He continues to put his expertise to use, brokering deals throughout 2021 as well as into 2022.

COLLEGE STATION—Due to the persistent drought conditions in the Great Plains and West, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering additional relief through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to help ranchers cover above normal costs of hauling livestock to forage or other grazing acres. This policy enhancement complements previously announced ELAP compensation for hauling feed to livestock. ELAP livestock and feed-hauling assistance is retroactive for 2021 and will be available for losses in 2022 and subsequent years.

CANADIAN—U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director Janee Cross this week announced that applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) are now being accepted to address damages from recent wildfires. ECP signup will begin on Monday, April 18 and end on Friday, May 20.