Grain Indemnity Fund referendum deadline approaches

Farmers and ranchers across the Lone Star State who would like to weigh in on the proposed Grain Indemnity Fund have until Friday, Dec. 7 to mail their ballots.

According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, the Texas Grain Producers Indemnity Board is hosting the election, or referendum, for Texas farmers who grow corn, sorghum, soybeans and wheat. They will decide if a refundable assessment should be collected to create a self-funded safety net for farmers should grain elevators fail.

Through the Grain Indemnity Fund, grain farmers who lose their grain in an elevator failure would be eligible to apply to be reimbursed for up to 90 percent of the value of the grain that they’ve lost.

If approved, between .2 and .6 percent of the final sales price of a farmer’s grain will be collected for the fund until such time that the board overseeing the fund deems that there is enough money in the fund to help farmers should an elevator collapse.

Ballots must be postmarked by Friday, Dec. 7 and mailed to the Texas Department of Agriculture. Ballots will be counted by Dec. 17, and the results will be verified by Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Todd Staples.

Ballots are available at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension offices. To find your local office, visit http://counties.agrilife.org.

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