Amarillo business briefs

Amarillo Globe-News
·5 min read

FirstBank Southwest chosen as a recipient of the American Banker 'Best Banks to Work For' award for 3 years in a row

FirstBank Southwest (FBSW) was named a recipient of the 2022 American Banker “Best Banks to Work For” award. Becoming one of American Banker’s “Best Banks to Work For” didn’t happen by accident, according to a news release: "It happened by FBSW leaders working purposefully every day to ensure that employees are engaged, creating a work-life balance, and just caring about the people you live and work with."

The American Banker program is a survey competition to determine which banks are the nation’s best employers. The process is managed by Best Companies Group (BCG) and winners are published in American Banker magazine. In order to be considered, banks must be commercial or retail, or the commercial or retail banking units of diversified financial services companies. They must also have at least 50 employees working in the United States. The employer questionnaire captures information about workplace policies and practices. All employees were surveyed, and the targeted response rate had to be 65% or more.

“FirstBank Southwest is honored to be one of the American Banker’s “Best Banks to Work For” list for 2022”, said Andy Marshall, President and CEO of FirstBank Southwest. “We strive to provide our team with an enjoyable workplace where they can maintain a healthy lifestyle. We are especially proud as this award is truly a reflection of the dedication and loyalty of our incredible FBSW family.”

Get social with them on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, or visit them on our webpage at www.fbsw.com.

Cowgirl Christmas offers unique holiday shopping

CBT Barrel Racing kicks off its 18th annual Christmas Cash Barrel Race with its holiday tradeshow, Cowgirl Christmas Nov. 25-27 at the Amarillo National Center.

The Cowgirl Christmas tradeshow showcases more than 40 vendors offering an array of Western-themed gifts in a 150,000 sqft space. Door prizes include restaurant gift certificates, corn hole boards, and a free night at Palo Duro Glamping. Santa Claus will be on site Saturday, Nov. 26 from 1 to 3 p.m., and painting parties will be held on Saturday at 2 and 4 p.m.

Get all your western-themed Christmas shopping done and enjoy live barrel racing all in one location this year at the Cowgirl Christmas shopping experience and tradeshow.

USDA previews crop and revenue loss assistance for agricultural producers

WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced plans for additional emergency relief and pandemic assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is preparing to roll out the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two as well as the new Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP), which are two programs to help offset crop and revenue losses for producers.

ERP Phase Two will assist eligible agricultural producers who suffered eligible crop losses, measured through decreases in revenue, due to wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture and qualifying droughts occurring in calendar years 2020 and 2021. PARP will assist eligible producers of agricultural commodities who experienced revenue decreases in calendar year 2020 compared to 2018 or 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PARP will help address gaps in previous pandemic assistance, which was targeted at price loss or lack of market access, rather than overall revenue losses.

Producers who are eligible for assistance through ERP Phase One have until Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, to contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center to receive program benefits. In the coming weeks, USDA will provide additional information on how to apply for assistance through ERP Phase Two and PARP. In the meantime, producers are encouraged to begin gathering supporting documentation including:

  • Schedule F (Form 1040); and

  • Profit or Loss from Farming or similar tax documents for tax years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 for ERP and for calendar years 2018, 2019 and 2020 for PARP.

Producers should also have, or be prepared to have, the following forms on file for both ERP and PARP program participation:

  • Form AD-2047, Customer Data Worksheet (as applicable to the program participant);

  • Form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan for an individual or legal entity;

  • Form CCC-901, Member Information for Legal Entities (if applicable); and

  • Form AD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification.

In addition to the forms listed above, underserved producers are encouraged to register their status with FSA, using Form CCC-860, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource, Beginning and Veteran Farmer or Rancher Certification, as certain existing permanent and ad-hoc disaster programs provide increased benefits or reduced fees and premiums. To learn more, visit usda.gov.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency accepting offers for State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiatives

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is conducting signup for the Conservation Reserve Program’s (CRP) State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) Initiatives. Farmers and landowners in the Prairie SAFE Project area may be eligible to participate. The SAFE projects are available through CRP’s Continuous Signup.

The goal of the Prairie SAFE Project is to reconnect geographically and reproductively isolated populations of Lesser Prairie Chickens, Northern Bobwhite and other grassland species by creating, restoring, and maintain 250,000 acres of native prairie habitat patches and corridors. Farmers and landowners in 71 counties may offer eligible land for enrollment, including Potter, Randall, Crosby, Hansford, Dallam, Armstrong, Hartley, Deaf Smith, Moore, Dickens, Hemphill, Donley, Hutchinson, Childress, Gray, Hall, Collingsworth, Lamb, Hale and Parmer. For accepted offers, a wildlife conservation plan must be developed.

The CRP program pays a yearly rental payment in exchange for farmers and landowners removing environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and planting species that will improve environmental quality. Financial assistance through the SAFE projects may include:

  • 10-15 years of annual rental payments

  • Payments of up to 50% cost-share for practice establishment

Practices enrolled through CRP Continuous Sign-up will also receive:

  • A 50% Practice Incentive Payment

  • Sign-up Incentive Payment equal to 32.5% of first full year’s annual rental payment

  • A Climate Smart Annual Practice Incentive of 3, 5, or 10 based on the practice cover

Payments up to 90% of established Soil Rental Rate may be possible for:

  • Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds

  • Permanent Wildlife Habitat

Farmers and landowners interested in learning more about the Prairie SAFE Project can contact the Potter/Armstrong County FSA office at 806-468-8600 ext. 2.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo business briefs