MEMPHIS, Tenn. - U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 11.5 million cotton acres this spring, down 5.2 percent from 2020 (based on USDA’s February 2021 estimate), according to the National Cotton Council’s 40th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey.

At the end of 2020, Xcel Energy became one of the first energy providers in the United States to reach 10,000 megawatts of wind energy capacity online for customers in the states it serves. The milestone is powered by the company’s 10 new wind projects in the Upper Midwest, Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico.

February is National Heart Month and we have an exciting heart health class coming up! Your local Health Extension Agent and Registered Dietitian, Courtney Lowe will host DASHing Your Way into Improved Health. The class will feature heart health information about the DASH Diet and hypertension.

Please continue the following practices to keep you and your family safe: • WEAR A MASK! • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. • Use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Don’t let a lack of brightly lit windows stop you from gardening indoors. Include some low maintenance, low light houseplants and maintenance strategies to boost your success.

AGLAONEMA ‘SIAM RED’(Red Chinese Evergreen) is a popular low light plant that can brighten up any space with its beautiful foliage. Photo credit: photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com.

Snow, ice, single-digit temps blanket the state Texans from Lubbock to Longview shivered under singledigit temperatures as their week began, with snow and ice creating dangerous road conditions throughout the state. Gov.

Temperatures and precipitation measurements (above are from the Amherst site only) for the prior day and night are recorded each morning from the West Texas Mesonet in Amherst, Earth, Olton, andAnton.