GG 36
Eliminate the Texas Food and Fibers Commission
Summary
The mission and duties of the Texas Food and Fibers Commission (TFFC) and Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (TAES) overlap. The TFFC should be eliminated and all state agricultural research should be coordinated through TAES, a very large and well-funded agency that is fully able to assume the commission’s duties.
Background
The Legislature created the Texas Food and Fibers Commission (TFFC) in 1941 to promote the state’s cotton crop. Its focus subsequently was expanded to include Texas oilseed products and wool, mohair and other textiles. TFFC’s present mission is to promote the production, use and quality of Texas natural fibers and food protein products by supporting and coordinating cooperative research at Texas state-supported universities.The agency has four commissioners (the chancellor of Texas A&M University and the presidents of Texas Tech University, Texas Woman’s University and the University of Texas at Austin) and only three staff members. Employees from the commissioners’ universities supplement the very small agency workforce. These employees work to attract state, federal and private support for applied agricultural research.
In fiscal 2002, TFFC received nearly $1.6 million in general revenue funding. The agency also receives about $180,000 in federal funds each year as well as $3.3 million from other funds.
The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
The Legislature established the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (TAES) in 1887. TAES has nine commissioners and a staff of 2,269. Its fiscal 2002 budget was $66.6 million, with $54.4 million coming from general revenue. The agency’s mission is to conduct research and administer regulatory programs for the benefit of Texas consumers and the state’s agricultural industry—substantially the same charge as TFFC’s.TAES is internationally known for developments in breeding and innovative biotechnology methods relating to the improvement of grains, vegetables, timber, natural fibers and livestock.
Recommendation
The Texas Food and Fibers Commission (TFFC) should be eliminated. The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (TAES) should assume its duties and coordinate all state food and fiber research efforts.TAES has a very large staff and budget and could oversee any necessary activities that TFFC conducted with its current resources.
Fiscal impact
This estimate eliminates all general revenue funding for TFFC. TAES would assume its duties regarding the procurement of federal and other funds for agricultural research. Because TAES would assume TFFC’s functions, current federal and other research funding would not be affected.
Fiscal Year Savings to General Revenue Change in FTEs 2004 $1,550,000 -3 2005 $1,550,000 -3 2006 $1,550,000 -3 2007 $1,550,000 -3 2008 $1,550,000 -3
