Kansas Commodity Commissions
The passage of HB 2674 (K.S.A. 2-3001) by the 2000 Kansas Legislature changed the structure of the commodity commissions (corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat and sunflowers) effective July 1, 2000. Under this new structure, each commission is considered an "instrumentality of the state." The commissions manage their operations in the private sector, and conduct elections for producers to vote on the commissioners they want to manage their crop's research, promotion and education programs funded with check-off funds.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) remains involved with the commodity commissions through a number of different avenues. With the new structure comes one-point collection, in the shape of a new one-page form for first purchasers to fill out for all five check-off fund assessments. KDA assists in the reporting and record-keeping functions of the commissions. All phases of the election process for the commodities will be developed and conducted through KDA, including public outreach for potential candidates and voters, ballot formation, and follow-through with tallying the ballots and announcing new commission members.
Election Procedure
Upon registering to vote by Dec. 31, either by filling out the Commodity Voter Registration form that can be obtained from your county extension office, your county conservation district office, the Kansas Department of Agriculture, or any of the five grain commodity commission offices (corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat or sunflowers), or by signing a valid candidate petition form; you will receive a ballot by mail by Jan. 15 of that election year. You have until March 1 of that election to submit your ballot to the Kansas Department of Agriculture. The candidate winners will take office April 1. Any challenge of voter eligibility, the petition process or any other election procedure, must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of Agriculture between Feb. 20 and one week after ballots are officially counted and winners announced. The Secretary of Agriculture or designee shall serve as the final arbiter in any disputes that may arise out of the election procedure. Currently, candadites are seeking petitions to register in the 2012 election (Districts 1, 2 and 3).
Statement of Substantial Interest form
2012 Grain Commodity Election Brochure
Who can participate?
Any grower who appropriately registers to vote may vote in an election for any commissioner representing that commodity and district where the grower maintains an official residence. Anyone who is a resident of the state of Kansas, has reached the age of eighteen (18) years before the next election and has been actively engaged in growing corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat or sunflowers within the preceding three (3) years will qualify as a grower. The 2012 election cycle will involve districts 1, 2 and 3.
Commodity Voter Registration form
Who is a first purchaser?
The first purchaser is the person, corporation, association or partnership that makes the first purchase of the commodity from the grower after harvest. Most often, first purchasers are grain elevators or commodity dealers, but can include other businesses like seed dealers, ethanol plants and feedlots.
Commodity Commission Assessment Form
Commodity Contact Information
Kansas Corn Commission
PO Box 446
Garnett, KS 66032
(785) 448-2626
Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission
795 22nd Rd NW
Lebo, KS 66856
(785) 341-6433
Kansas Soybean Commission
1000 SW Red Oaks Place
Topeka, KS 66615
(785) 271-1040
Kansas Sunflower Commission
5840 NW Carlson Rd.
Rossville, KS 66533
(785) 565-3908
Kansas Wheat Commission
217 Southwind Place
Manhattan, KS 66503
(785) 539-0255
