Opinions

The number of people in Texas hospitalized with COVID-19 has declined more than 28 percent in the past month, according to the Texas Department of Health Services. As of Feb. 7, Texas hospitals were treating 9,957 COVID-19 patients, down from nearly 14,000 a month ago. The number of new cases in the past week was 123,239 — a 22 percent drop from the record high of 158,922 the week of Jan. 10, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University.

Well, it looks like we are in store for a little real Wintertime weather, which Agriculturally speaking we need some of. I’m not real “gung ho” about the temperature being in the teens, but at least what we call extreme cold weather doesn’t last as long as it does in states to the north of us.

Last week marked a milestone in NFL history. It was the first time since the NFL merger happened that two number one overall picks were traded for each other, when former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff and former Detroit Lions quarterback Matt Stafford were exchanged along with draft picks.

According to the Economic Research Service branch of the USDA, American Agriculture and its related industries accounts for 11.0 % of U.S.A. employment; this translates in 22 million jobs. Also, the U.S.A.’s 2018 gross domestic product (GDP) was $20.49 trillion; Agriculture accounted for 5.2% of that huge number. I’m not sure about you, but it’s difficult for me to even fathom that kind of money. Hopefully at this point we realize the importance of U.S. Agriculture in feeding, clothing and sheltering not only our citizens, but bushels and bushels of other citizens of the world. Hopefully we also realize the importance of a strong Agricultural link in the U.S.A. financial chain.