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, voters are registering to vote in the 2006 election (districts 1, 2 and 3).     

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 2008 election cycle will involve districts 3, 4 and 5.   

Commodity Contact Information

Kansas Corn Commission
PO Box 446
Garnett, KS 66032
(785) 448-2626


Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission
PO Box 243
Paola, KS 66071
(913) 294-4314


Kansas Soybean Commission
2930 SW Wanamaker Drive
Topeka, KS 66614
(785) 271-1030


Kansas Sunflower Commission
1138 K Rd.
Centralia, KS 66415
(785) 868-3831


Kansas Wheat Commission
217 Southwind Place
Manhattan, KS 66503
(785) 539-0255

Kansas Department of Agriculture

Erik Wisner

109 SW 9th St

Topeka, KS 66612

(785) 296-3210