CLEAN WATER AT A LOWER COST? — Producing clean water at a lower cost could be on the horizon after researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and Penn State solved a complex problem that had baffled scientists for decades, until now. Desalination membranes remove salt and other chemicals from water, a process critical to the health of society, cleaning billions of gallons of water for agriculture, energy production and drinking. The idea seems simple — push salty water through and clean water comes out the other side — but it contains complex intricacies that scientists are still trying to understand. CLICK HERE for the rest of the story! (Source: BC Water News and UT News)

FEBRUARY FUNDING DEADLINE — The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas has established a second funding application deadline of Feb. 12, 2021, for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). “We are encouraging producers to call their NRCS office to discuss conservation planning and financial assistance options,” said Kristy Oates, NRCS state conservationist for Texas. “Applications received by the February 12 deadline will be ranked for funding by early June.” For additional information visit the NRCS Texas website at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov. Applications for EQIP are accepted on a continuous basis. Producers interested in EQIP can contact their local USDA service center or visit the NRCS EQIP web page.
HONORED — Texas A&M AgriLife faculty and staff from across the state were honored Jan. 14 during the Vice Chancellor’s Awards in Excellence virtual ceremony. Area honorees include:

• Administration Award: Dr. Brent Auvermann, director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Amarillo. Auvermann was recently selected to serve on the U.S. Task Force for Agricultural Air Quality research.
• County Agent Award: Kerry Siders, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management agent for Cochran and Hockley Counties.

TRANSITION — Norma Ritz Johnson is the new Executive Director of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program. She previously served as Executive Vice President of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce. Johnson also served as Communications Director for National Sorghum Producers in the early 2000s. She succeeds Florentino Lopez, who served as the Checkoff Program’s Executive Director since 2011.