Business

AMARILLO, Texas—Plains Land Bank has good news for its stockholders. It will distribute a record $8.8 million in cash patronage to its stockholders in April. The rural lending cooperative declared the patronage distribution based on its strong financial results in 2020.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present a two-session online program focused on assisting female landowners Feb. 23 and Feb.

Dramatic increases in grain and oilseed prices in the last three to four months are affecting cattle feeding operations. July corn futures are currently priced at $5.20/bu compared to weekly cash prices above $4.00/bu in mid-October 2020 and $5.44/bu by mid-January 2021.

Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) is processing registration for its upcoming Young Farmer and Rancher Conference scheduled for April 9-11 at the Austin Marriott North Hotel in Round Rock. Sessions will also be available via Zoom for those unable to travel to the event.

AUSTIN—Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced today he will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts $1.05 billion in local sales tax allocations for February, 0.7 percent more than in February 2020.

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.

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.

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.