Castro 4-H competes

Castro County 4-H had 18 youth compete in District 2 4- H Livestock Judging in Lubbock. Juniors - 3rd-5th grade The Castro County Junior team won 8th place overall.

USDA pushes taking more land out of production

The USDA is nearing an announcement for “greater opportunities” for landowners to take farmland out of production in exchange for an annual payment, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last week.

FEMA extends assistance registration for counties

Governor Greg Abbott announced that at the request of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has extended the Individual Assis tance registration period for Texans impacted by the winter storm.

Great Lakes Cheese expands to new facility in Abilene

Governor Greg Abbott announced that Great Lakes Cheese will establish a new Packaging and Distribution Facility in Abilene. The project will create over 500 new jobs and represents almost $185 million in capital investment.

National Sorghum Foundation opens new scholarships

The National Sorghum Foundation opened three scholarship applications for college students studying agriculture in the 2021-2022 academic year.

Safe Outdoor Dogs legislation passes out of senate committee

The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice passed SB 474 by Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville) on a vote of 4 to 0.

Ask the Agent

Sugar Sweetened Beverages Part of a healthy lifestyle is choosing nutrient dense beverages. When considering a beverage, it is important to think of the calories and nutrients it will provide.

Editor’s Message

“Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment and learn again to exercise his will – his personal responsibility.” -Albert Schweitzer We’ve become a nation that rebels against virtue and character and chooses instead to blame others for one’s own laziness and failure to accomplish.

Castro County Community Calendar

Community April 13 – June 8 Dimmitt Chamber of Commerce. Office will be temporarily closed. Call 806-647-2524 and leave a voicemail. April 20-29 Free Diabetes Education Classes. The South Plains, District 2 Diabetes Education is offering a free four-class series on managing Type 2 diabetes.

March unemployment figures sluggish

In March, the seasonally adjusted Texas unemployment rate was 6.9 percent, unchanged from February 2021. Texas gained 99,000 total nonagricultural jobs over the month, marking gains in 10 of the last 11 months. Private sector employment increased 106,600 for the month.