Food and Fiber Economics
Vol. 43, No. 1, October 24, 2016
Referendum to Establish a Texas Grain Indemnity Fund
Mark Welch, Extension Economist-Grain Marketing
The Texas Legislature has acted to allow the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture to conduct a referendum whether to establish a grain indemnity fund for the state of Texas, statute available at http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/AG/htm/AG.41.htm#41.201.
What is Texas Grain Producer Indemnity Fund?
The purpose of the fund is to indemnify corn, grain sorghum, wheat, and soybean producers as a result of the failure of a grain buyer. If passed, producers of these four crops would pay 0.2% of the gross sales price of grain to the Texas Grain Producers Indemnity Board. Assessments would begin February 1, 2017.
Who is Eligible to Vote?
Persons eligible to vote are landowners and producers who have produced corn, grain sorghum, wheat, or soybeans in the last 36 months preceding the close of voting.
Where Will Voting Take Place?
Voting will be held at local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension County offices from December 5 through 9, 2016. Persons eligible to vote are landowners and producers who have produced corn, grain sorghum, wheat, or soybeans in the last 36 months preceding the close of voting.
Where Can I Get More Information?
More information on the Grain Indemnity Fund Referendum is available from the Texas Department of Agriculture, either by contacting Stuart Strnad at (512) 463-3285, or visiting their website, https://texasagriculture.gov/Home/ProductionAgriculture/TexasGrainProducersIndemnityBoard.
Information is also available from the Texas Grain Producers Indemnity Board, (806) 763-0327 or their website, http://www.texasgrainindemnity.org/.