Iowa Corn Promotion Board to Hold Director Elections for USDA Crop Reporting Districts 1, 3, 6 and 9

JOHNSTON, Iowa- April 14, 2017 - Since 1978, Iowa corn growers have elected their peers to serve on the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) to oversee the investment of funds generated by the Iowa corn checkoff program.  On July 18, 2017, corn growers in Crop Reporting Districts 1, 3, 6 and 9 can vote at their local county ISU extension office for their representation on the Iowa Corn Promotion Board for a 3-year term. The Board's primary priorities and responsibilities include domestic and foreign market development, research into news and value-added corn uses, and education on corn and the farmers who grow it.  Corn producers within Districts 1, 3, 6 and 9 who have produced and marketed 250 bushels of corn or more in Iowa in the previous marketing year (September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016) and are interested in running for a position may still file a petition with the ICPB. Petitions can be obtained by contacting the Iowa Corn office and must contain the signatures of 25 corn producers from the same district as the prospective candidate. Completed and notarized petitions must be delivered to the Iowa Corn office no later than 4:30 p.m. on April 28, 2017. Once all grower petitions have been received, a final list of candidates will be generated and all names will be listed on the election ballots.  Anyone who has produced and marketed 250 bushels of corn or more in Iowa in the previous marketing year is eligible to vote in the election. Producers unable to visit the local ISU extension office on July 18 may vote by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots can be requested beginning May 31, requests must be made no later than June 26 by contacting the Iowa Corn office at (515)225-9242 or on our website at www.iowacorn.org/about. Absentee ballots must be postmarked or returned to the Iowa Corn Office no later than July 18. Results of the election will be made public on July 21.  Current candidates are as follows: USDA Crop Reporting District #1 (Buena Vista, Clay, Cherokee, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sioux) * Kelly Nieuwenhuis, O'Brien County * John Schott, Pocahontas County USDA Crop Reporting District #3 (Allamakee, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek) * Greg Alber, Buchanan County * Ryan Oberbroeckling, Clayton County  USDA Crop Reporting District #6 (Benton, Cedar, Clinton, Iowa, Jackson, Jones, Johnson, Linn, Muscatine and Scott) * Pete Brecht, Linn County * Daron Oberbroeckling, Scott County  USDA Crop Reporting District #9 (Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Louisa, Lee, Mahaska, Van Buren, Wapello, and Washington) * Heath Greiner, Davis County * Stan Nelson, Des Moines County - 30 - The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB), works to develop and defend markets, fund research, and provide education about corn and corn products. For more information, visit iowacorn.org.