The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has officially issued the 60-day notice that the COVID-related waiver on expiration dates for driver licenses (DLs) and identification cards (IDs) ends on April 14, 2021. Therefore, DPS continues to urge customers to make an appointment or renew online today. The department first advised the public that the waiver would end two months ago.

Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2021 must do so by March 15. Producers who have not yet signed a 2021 enrollment contract or who want to make an election change should contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to make an appointment. Program enrollment for 2021 is required in order to participate in the programs, but elections for the 2021 crop year are optional and otherwise remain the same as elections made for 2020.

Twenty-two Texas cotton industry members were elected to leadership positions in the National Cotton Council (NCC) for 2021, including Robert Lacy, Jr., a cottonseed processor, and Kevin Brinkley, a cooperative official, both from Lubbock, who were reelected as NCC vice presidents; and Barry Evans, a Kress producer, who was re-elected as the NCC’s secretary-treasurer.

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.