Austin R. Kelly’s roots in Texas agriculture run deep—not through inheritance, but through ambition. A 7th Generation Texan, born and raised in Comanche County, Austin comes from the working-class backbone of the agricultural industry.

Meet Austin

Austin's expertise is backed by a strong academic foundation from Texas A&M University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, double-majoring in Rangeland Ecology & Management and Ecological Restoration, and triple-minoring in Soil & Crop Sciences, Plant Pathology & Microbiology, and Watershed Management. He is currently completing his doctoral studies in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology.

Austin R. Kelly | ARK Ecological Consulting

He taught numerous botany and ecology courses at Texas A&M University from 2017 to 2024. He also coached the nationally recognized Texas A&M Plant Identification Team and serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration.

Austin R. Kelly was born and raised in Comanche County, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University, with double majors in rangeland ecology and management and ecological restoration, and is completing doctoral studies in ecology and conservation biology. He serves on the board of directors for the Texas Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration.

Austin R. Kelly - ARK Ecological Consulting

Austin R. Kelly is the founder and President of ARK Ecological Consulting. With a profound passion for the natural world, he established the company to provide expert botanical and environmental consulting services across the United States.

Beyond his consulting work, he is also a dedicated educator and enjoys making educational videos on topics like plants, wildlife, and ecology. He taught numerous botany and ecology courses at Texas A&M University from 2017 to 2024.

Austin R. Kelly is the founder and president of ARK Ecological Consulting, which provides botanical and environmental consulting services. He previously taught botany and ecology courses at Texas A&M University.

Austin is the founder and president of ARK Ecological Consulting, which provides botanical and environmental consulting services. He previously taught botany and ecology courses at Texas A&M University.

2026 Texas General Election

Open-Source Knowledge: We don't need to spend tax dollars on new studies; we need to unshackle the research that already exists. My administration will compile, organize, and publish a transparent review of current scientific literature, giving Texans unfiltered access to the facts about brush control and water yield.

Issues/Solutions

What do you see as the greatest challenge for Texas in the next 5 years?
Water security and rapid land fragmentation threaten our state’s agricultural future. We must defend private property rights while encouraging voluntary rangeland conservation and voluntary stewardship models. Enabling proactive, market-based resource management ensures Texas agriculture remains resilient and productive amid intense population growth and resource demands.

Q&A: Get to know the candidates running for Texas agriculture commissioner

Defense is a Valid Government Function: Even a Libertarian believes in defense. Stopping a foreign blight or a contagion is one of the few legitimate roles of the TDA. We will pivot funding away from marketing and into biosecurity monitoring.

Early Detection, Not Late Regulation: Instead of fining a landowner because they already have an invasive weed, we will focus resources on prevention at the border and early detection networks.

Scientific Triage: As an Ecologist, I will prioritize threats that actually destroy economic value (like CWD or feral hogs) rather than wasting resources on "nanny state" quarantines that punish producers without stopping the pest.

Plans to publish a review of scientific research on brush control and water yield.

Supports voluntary rangeland conservation and stewardship models while defending private property rights.

Plans to focus invasive-species resources on border prevention and early-detection networks rather than landowner fines.

- Plans to publish a review of scientific research on brush control and water yield.
- Supports voluntary rangeland conservation and stewardship models while defending private property rights.
- Plans to focus invasive-species resources on border prevention and early-detection networks rather than landowner fines.

Energy & the Environment

How will you work to promote biosecurity and eradicate the New World Screwworm from Texas?
I will prioritize sound ecological science and coordinate targeted monitoring with livestock producers to maintain early-detection networks. By leveraging targeted sterile insect technique biological controls and streamlining producer reporting without imposing heavy-handed bureaucratic mandates, we can stop outbreaks efficiently while safeguarding ranching operations.

How will you ensure Texas consumers can access safe, nutritious agricultural products while supporting farmers and producers?
I will eliminate unnecessary red tape and protectionist rules that restrict direct-to-consumer sales, cottage foods and local processing. Expanding free-market competition empowers producers to innovate and lowers consumer costs. Transparent labeling and market accountability ensure Texans have reliable access to high-quality, nutritious food choices.

What will you do to ensure Texas children can access healthy food at school and throughout the year?
I will streamline state nutrition program administration to cut overhead costs and redirect resources toward real food quality. I support incentivizing local school districts to partner directly with Texas agricultural producers, expanding access to fresh, wholesome food while supporting local farm economies without top-down federal micromanagement.

Plans to use monitoring, sterile-insect controls, and streamlined producer reporting to address New World screwworm outbreaks.

Plans to remove rules restricting direct-to-consumer food sales, cottage foods, and local processing.

Plans to streamline state nutrition-program administration and direct resources toward food quality.

Supports incentives for school districts to buy food directly from Texas agricultural producers.

- Plans to use monitoring, sterile-insect controls, and streamlined producer reporting to address New World screwworm outbreaks.
- Plans to remove rules restricting direct-to-consumer food sales, cottage foods, and local processing.
- Plans to streamline state nutrition-program administration and direct resources toward food quality.
- Supports incentives for school districts to buy food directly from Texas agricultural producers.

Public Health

What would your top priorities be if elected?
My top priorities are cutting burdensome regulations, defending property rights, and ending wasteful government spending. I will modernize [Texas Department of Agriculture] operations through market-driven solutions, remove bureaucratic barriers for independent farmers and ranchers and champion transparent, fiscally responsible management to foster sustainable agricultural innovation across Texas.

The Solution:

Deregulation: Aggressively cut the bureaucratic red tape surrounding the hemp industry, cottage food production, and local meat processing.

Food Freedom: End the war on raw commodities and small-scale producers. If you grew it, you have the right to sell it. If you want to buy it, you have the right to eat it. The government has no place at your dinner table.

Food Freedom: End the war on raw commodities and small-scale producers. If you grew it, you have the right to sell it. If you want to buy it, you have the right to eat it. The government has no place at your dinner table.

Market Access: Eliminate pay-to-play licensing schemes that protect big corporate ag while crushing the family farm.

No Trespassing: A hardline stance against TDA surveillance or warrantless inspections. Your land is your castle.

Stop the Seizures: Oppose the use of eminent domain for private gain or state convenience.

Right to Farm: Strengthen protections for landowners against nuisance lawsuits and zoning overreach. You shouldn't need a permit to be productive on your own property.

Stop the Seizures: Oppose the use of eminent domain for private gain or state convenience.

Right to Farm: Strengthen protections for landowners against nuisance lawsuits and zoning overreach. You shouldn't need a permit to be productive on your own property.

The Solution:

The Audit: Launch a full, forensic audit of the TDA on Day 1. We will identify every wasted dollar and every redundant position.

Fee Reduction: Our goal is to cut TDA operating costs and pass those savings directly back to Texas farmers in the form of lower fees.

The Audit: Launch a full, forensic audit of the TDA on Day 1. We will identify every wasted dollar and every redundant position.

Fee Reduction: Our goal is to cut TDA operating costs and pass those savings directly back to Texas farmers in the form of lower fees.

Lean Government: Run the Department like a business, not a slush fund.

Roll Back the Fees: In 2016, the TDA raised fees on farmers and ranchers to cover a budget shortfall, collecting millions more than was necessary to run the programs. I will return that money to the producers by slashing licensing costs across the board.

Fix "Go Texan": Currently, the "Go Texan" marketing program acts like a "pay-to-play" scheme, where you have to pay the state to get the badge. We will audit the program to ensure it actually helps Texas producers, rather than just funding TDA promotional trips.

Prioritizes reducing agricultural regulations, defending property rights, and reducing government spending.

Proposes cutting regulations for hemp, cottage food, and local meat-processing businesses.

Proposes eliminating licensing systems he says favor large agricultural companies over family farms.

Opposes using eminent domain for private gain or state convenience.

Proposes strengthening protections for landowners against nuisance lawsuits and zoning restrictions.

Plans a forensic audit of the Texas Department of Agriculture to identify waste and redundant positions.

Plans to reduce Texas Department of Agriculture operating and licensing fees for farmers and ranchers.

Plans to audit the Go Texan marketing program to assess whether it benefits Texas producers.

- Prioritizes reducing agricultural regulations, defending property rights, and reducing government spending.
- Proposes cutting regulations for hemp, cottage food, and local meat-processing businesses.
- Proposes eliminating licensing systems he says favor large agricultural companies over family farms.
- Opposes using eminent domain for private gain or state convenience.
- Proposes strengthening protections for landowners against nuisance lawsuits and zoning restrictions.
- Plans a forensic audit of the Texas Department of Agriculture to identify waste and redundant positions.
- Plans to reduce Texas Department of Agriculture operating and licensing fees for farmers and ranchers.
- Plans to audit the Go Texan marketing program to assess whether it benefits Texas producers.

Economy

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Austin R. Kelly

- Plans to focus invasive-species resources on border prevention and early-detection networks rather than landowner fines.

- Proposes cutting regulations for hemp, cottage food, and local meat-processing businesses.
- Proposes eliminating licensing systems he says favor large agricultural companies over family farms.
- Opposes using eminent domain for private gain or state convenience.
- Proposes strengthening protections for landowners against nuisance lawsuits and zoning restrictions.
- Plans a forensic audit of the Texas Department of Agriculture to identify waste and redundant positions.
- Plans to reduce Texas Department of Agriculture operating and licensing fees for farmers and ranchers.
- Plans to audit the Go Texan marketing program to assess whether it benefits Texas producers.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

Clayton Tucker

Nate Sheets

- The agriculture commissioner heads the Texas Department of Agriculture, guiding policies on farming, food safety, and rural development.
- They promote Texas agricultural products and help Texas farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses reach wider markets.
- The commissioner enforces rules on weights and measures, pesticides, pasture pests and plant diseases, and food programs (including school meals).
- They work on economic support for rural communities and help with disaster relief tied to agricultural losses or challenges.
- The commissioner is elected statewide for a four-year term and can be re-elected without term limits.
- As of 2026, the position’s salary is about $140,938 per year.

Oversees farming, food safety, and rural development. 