Business

Body AMARILLO—Plains Land Bank has good news for its customers. It will distribute a record $8.5 million in cash patronage to its stockholders in April. The rural lending cooperative declared the patronage distribution based on its strong financial results in 2019.

Body The unemployment rate in Texas is around 9 percent—up from the state’s recent recordlow rate of 3.5 percent in January—as the coronavirus spreads, Comptroller Glenn Hegar said Thursday.

Body Gov. Abbott announced approval last week of emergency designation for smallbusiness disaster loans. The U.S.

Body Hemphill County A&M AgriLife Extension Agent Andy Holloway finally called calf rope late last week, announcing reluctantly that this year’s beef cattle conference, slated for April 28-29, would have to be posponed.

Body U.S. Department of Agriculture service centers are encouraging visitors to take proactive protective measures to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Body AUSTIN—As Saudi Arabia and Russia flood the international energy market with a glut of crude oil, prices have dropped to unsustainable levels that threaten the future of the Texas oil and gas industry, its associated benefits to the state economy, and American energy dominance.

Body TEMPLE The Winter Garden Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) announced plans this week for the Greater South Texas Conference for Women in Agriculture, which will be held on March 24 at the Dimmit Count Arena and Conference Center in Carrizo Springs.

Body AUSTIN––The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 1,133 original drilling permits in January 2020, compared to 1,199 in January 2019.