By Blake Jackson
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has officially certified three nominees eligible for the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board's board of directors election. Corn producers in affected districts, encompassing Forest, Florence, Marinette, Langlade, Oconto, Shawano, Door, Outagamie, Brown, Kewaunee, Winnebago, Calumet, Manitowoc, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan counties for District 3; La Crosse, Vernon, Crawford, Richland, Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette counties for District 5; and Sauk and Dane counties for District 6, will have until January 10, 2024, to cast their votes.
The District 3 nominee is Zachary Soltvedt from Seymour, while Mike Berget from Darlington is the nominee for District 5, and Ryan Ripp from Lodi is the nominee for District 6. All candidates, as confirmed by DATCP, meet the eligibility criteria as active corn producers selling corn into commercial channels and residing within their respective districts.
To ensure a fair and efficient voting process, DATCP has sent mail-in ballots to eligible corn producers in the three districts. Those who haven't received a ballot by December 16, 2023, are encouraged to request one via email at DATCPMarketOrders@wisconsin.gov. Completed and signed ballots must be sent to WI DATCP, Marketing Order Program, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708, postmarked on or before January 10, 2024.
The election results will be disclosed in January 2024, and the elected growers will commence their three-year terms starting February 1, 2024. The Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board, consisting of nine producers in nine districts, oversees the allocation of approximately $1.5 million in assessment fees from Wisconsin corn growers. These funds support the corn industry through initiatives such as research, education, and promotion of locally grown corn. To learn more about the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board, visit wicorn.org.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-yasonya
Categories: Wisconsin, Crops, Corn