Illinois Department of Agriculture : CANDIDATES ANNOUNCED FOR ILLINOIS COMMODITY BOARDS

The Illinois Department of Agriculture today released the names of the candidates slated the for commodity board elections, which are scheduled for July 7. Producers are encouraged to vote to determine members of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Sheep and Wool Marketing Board and the Illinois Soybean Program Operating Board.

Voting is eligible to anyone who produces and markets commodities of these respective boards. Ballots may be cast at county Cooperative Extension Offices during regular operating hours. It is important to note that the following Cooperative Extension Offices will be closed on Thursday, July 7: Brown County, Menard County, and Gallatin County. To request an absentee ballot, please email David Humphreys ([e-mail]). The Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture must receive the absentee ballots by July 5.

'It is important to have strong representation within our industry,' said Agriculture Director Raymond Poe. 'Commodity boards make important decisions about how state checkoff dollars are expended, which has a direct impact on the promotion and future of these industries.'

Checkoff dollars come from assessments levied at the first point of sale. State law sets assessment for corn at 5/8 of 1 cent per bushel and soybeans at 1/2 of 1 percent of the market value, and wool at 2 1/2 cents per pound.

Following is a list of commodity districts holding elections this year, the counties they include, and candidates' names and hometowns.

ILLINOIS CORN MARKETING BOARD

District Counties in District Candidate and Hometown

District 3 Henderson, Henry, Knox, Mercer Thomas Mueller, Taylor Ridge
Rock Island, and Warren

District 6 Champaign, Ford, Iroquois Dirk Rice, Philo
and Vermilion

District 9 Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike Daniel Cole, Plainville
McDonough, and Schuyler

District 12 Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Roger Sy, Newman
Douglas, Edgar and Jasper

District 15 Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Perry, James Raben, Ridgway
Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson
Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph,
Saline, Union and Williamson

ILLINOIS SOYBEAN PROGRAM OPERATING BOARD

District Counties in District Candidate and Hometown

District 15 Clinton, Madison, Monroe, St. Clair Daryl Cates, Columbia

ILLINOIS SHEEP & WOOL MARKETING BOARD

District Counties in District Candidate and Hometown

District 3 Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry No petitions received
Knox, McDonough, Mercer, Warren
Rock Island

District 6 Christian, DeWitt, Logan, Macon, No petitions received
Mason, McLean, Menard, Moultrie
Montgomery, Sangamon, Shelby

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