Business

AMARILLO—After months of historic lows, costs for natural gas that fuels almost half the region’s electricity production have gone up and will increase bills for Xcel Energy’s Texas customers, but only for a short time before savings from a new wind farm are expected to bring those costs back down in early 2021.

AUSTIN—Crude-oil and natural-gas production as reported to the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) for July 2020 came from 169,713 oil wells and 84,052 gas wells. Preliminary reported total volumes for crude oil were 108,879,658 barrels of crude oil, compared to 134,724,334 bbls in July 2019, and 798,320,347 Mcf of natural gas, compared to 891,122,643 Mcf a year ago.

WASHINGTON—President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue this week announced up to an additional $14 billion for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. Signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) will begin Sept. 21 and run through Dec. 11.

AMARILLO–Xcel Energy is seeking information that will help guide the company toward its clean energy goals in Texas and New Mexico as planned retirements of large regional power plants create new opportunities for innovation and area development.

WASHINGTON—USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farm owners that they have a one-time opportunity to update Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program yields for covered commodities on the farm. The deadline is Sept. 30, to update yields, which are used to calculate the PLC payments for 2020 through 2023. Additionally, producers who elected Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) should also consider updating their yields.

AMARILLO—The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has promoted Blair Johnson, P.E., to Amarillo district engineer, effective Sept. 1. In his role as district engineer, Johnson will oversee the planning, designing, construction, operation, and maintenance of 9,394 miles of roads and 840 bridges spread across 17,848 square miles in the Texas Panhandle.

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.