By CINDY LADAGE
Illinois Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — While not as attention-grabbing as the presidential election, for those who work in the soybean and wool industries, commodity board elections are an important topic.

Those who sit on these boards make decisions that affect fellow producers. For this reason, farmers may want to think if they or someone they know wishes to seek a seat on the Illinois Soybean Assoc. (ISA) Program Operating Board or the Illinois Sheep and Wool Marketing Board.

The funds for the boards are used for research and promotions to create markets for their industries, Acting Illinois Agriculture Director Tom Jennings said.

“I encourage producers who would like a voice in these important decisions to pass a petition and gather the required number of signatures to get their name on the election ballot,” he said.
Jeff Squibb of the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) added, “Eligible producers who would like to run for a three-year term on either of the two boards can now start circulating nominating petitions.”

Interested parties may contact their county extension offices or the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The deadline to complete and return a petition is May 15 for the ISA Board and May 30 for the Sheep and Wool Board.

The first requirement to petition for either board is to be at least 18 years of age. The second is to have produced and marketed the pertinent commodity during the 2007 commodity year. Finally, a candidate must reside in the district to be represented and have submitted a petition by the filing deadline.

Elections for the two boards will be held July 8. Counties holding elections for the ISA Board are: Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, Carroll, Ogle, DeKalb, Lee, Knox, Peoria, Marshall, Putnam, Fulton, Tazewell, Ford, Iroquois, Vermilion, Mason, Logan, Cass, Menard, Morgan, Sangamon, Pike, Scott, Calhoun, Greene, Macoupin, Jersey, Montgomery, Bond, Fayette and Marion.

Counties holding elections for the Sheep and Wool Board are: Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, Carroll, Ogle, DeKalb, Kane, Cook, DuPage, Whiteside, Lee, Bureau, Putnam, LaSalle, Stark, Marshall, Peoria, Woodford, Tazewell, Madison, Bond, Fayette, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, St. Clair, Clinton, Washington, Marion, Jefferson, Clay, Wayne, Richland, Edwards, Lawrence, Wabash, Randolph, Perry, Franklin, Hamilton, White, Monroe, Jackson, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Alexander, Pulaski and Massac.

For more information, call the IDOA at 217-782-6675 (TDD:  217-524-6858), or write to the IDOA Bureau of Marketing and Promotion, P.O. Box 19281, State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL 62794-9281.