Farmers who would like to run for a three-year term on the Illinois Corn Marketing Board can now start circulating nominating petitions, as elections will be held on July 7, 2016. Kayla Peter, Operations Manager for Illinois Corn Marketing Board, told Regional Radio News one of the districts in the Regional Radio listening area that is open for election is District 12, which includes Coles County.

Petitions are also available at county Extension offices, and petitions should have 200 signatures of producers residing in the counties within the district. Interested corn farmers must be 18 years old, have produced and marketed corn, reside in the district to be represented and have submitted a valid petition by the filing deadline to be eligible for election. Those elected will serve a three year term beginning August 1, 2016.

For more information or to request a petition, call the Illinois Department of Agriculture at 524-9130 or go online to www.agr.state.il.us/. You can also submit a letter to Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Marketing and Promotion, P.O. Box 19281, State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL 62792-9281.