The Texas Wheat Producers Board announces an upcoming election to fill five positions in four voting districts where current members’ seats are expiring. The election will seek to fill one position each in Districts I, II, and III, and two positions in District IV.
Elected board members are responsible for the allocation of funds from the statewide wheat producer assessment. These funds are applied to wheat research, education and market development to serve wheat farmers across Texas.
In addition to the election, eligible producers will vote on a referendum to establish a refundable assessment on small grains silage sold in Texas. The proposed referendum would limit the maximum assessment rate to $0.16 per ton through 2027, with the maximum allowable rate set at $0.24 per ton thereafter. This measure responds to the growth of small grain silage production in the state and seeks to provide resources to serve producers managing forage-based production systems. The elected board will set the assessment rate annually with the goal of balancing a conservative budget and adequately funding programs to enhance farmer profitability.
“The versatility of wheat production in Texas allows farmers to adapt to market demands, like the growing need for small grain silage in certain regions of the state,” said Chet Creel, a farmer from Newcastle and chairman of the Texas Wheat Producers Board. “This assessment will support needed investment and research in small grain silage production systems, providing value back on the farm.”
Terms expiring in 2025 include Bryan Clift of District I, Eddie Womack of District II, Chet Creel of District III, and Ken Davis and Tyler Norman of District IV. These districts consist of the following counties:
District I: Dallam, Sherman, Ochiltree, Lipscomb, Hansford, Roberts, Moore, Hartley, Hutchinson and Gray
District II: Carson, Potter, Oldham, Deaf Smith, Randall, Armstrong, Briscoe, Swisher, Castro, Parmer, Hale and Floyd
District III: Childress, Hardeman, Foard, Knox, Throckmorton, Haskell, Archer, Baylor, Wilbarger, Wichita, Young and Clay
District IV: All other counties in Texas
Any producer living within the respective district who is engaged in the business of producing or causing wheat and/or small grain silage to be produced for commercial purposes, is eligible to vote. This includes owners of farms and their tenants and sharecroppers who are subject to paying the refundable assessment.
Any person qualified to vote may seek nomination for election to a six-year term on the board. Qualified persons must reside in the district in which they seek nomination and submit a nomination form to the board signed by the nominee and ten other eligible voters in that district. Nomination forms can be requested by phone at (806) 352-2191 and must be received by March 1, 2025, in order to be valid.
The voting period will run from March 17, 2025 to March 31, 2025. The election will be held by mail-in ballot. Ballots will be available for eligible voters at local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offices or obtained by contacting the board. Ballots must be mailed to the polling place at 5405 West I-40, Amarillo, Texas 79106, with a postmark date no later than March 31, 2025.
For more information, contact the Texas Wheat Producers Board office at (806) 352-2191, by email at info@texaswheat.org or visit http://www.texaswheat.org.
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